Spontaneous use display for a computing system

Patent 5768164 Issued on June 16, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 15, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Hollon, Jr., Richard

Application

No. 632212 filed on 04/15/1996

US Classes:

708/174, Multiple simultaneous outputs361/686Input/output device support

Examiners

Primary: Malzahn, David H.

Foreign Patent References

0 564 092 A2 EP 02/22/1993
67367 B IE 03/22/1996
05053991 JP 03/22/1993

International Classes

G06F 001/16
G06F 003/14

Abstract

A first application running on a portable computer is accessible even when a cover of the portable computer is closed. This is done by providing a spontaneous use display on the cover of the portable computer. The spontaneous use display is visible to a user even when the portable computer is closed. A first subset of pixels within the primary display for the portable computer is mapped to the spontaneous use display. For example, the first subset of pixels within the primary display are located in a first rectangular region of the primary display.