Routing content in a dual-display computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10042601-B2
Application number	US-201715848276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

In some implementations a computing device may comprise at least a first display device and a second display device. The computing device may receive a selection to display protected content. The computing device may determine a display mode associated with the first display device and the second display device. The computing device may determine an orientation (e.g., landscape or portrait) and modify (e.g., by rotating) the content based on the orientation to create modified content. The computing device may determine a routing of the modified content and route the modified content to at least one of the first display device or the second display device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device comprising a first display device and a second display device, an instruction to display protected content;
determining, by the computing device, a routing based at least in part on:
an orientation of the computing device; and
a display mode of the computing device;

instructing, by the computing device, a crossbar switch to select the routing from a plurality of routings; and
sending, by the computing device, the protected content in an unencrypted format to at least one of the first display device or the second display device based at least in part on the routing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the display mode of the computing device comprises an extended display mode wherein the second display device is configured as an extension of the first display device;
receiving a second selection to display second content;
determining that the display mode has been changed from the extended display mode to a clone mode wherein the second display device is configured as a clone of the first display device;
determining a second orientation of the first display device;
modifying the second content based at least in part on the second orientation to create second modified content;
determining a second routing of the second modified content; and
sending, based on the second routing, the second modified content in the unencrypted format to both the first display device and the second display device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third selection to display third content;
determining that the display mode comprises a single display mode wherein one of the first display device or the second display device is used;
determining a third orientation of the computing device;
modifying the third content based at least in part on the third orientation to create third modified content;
determining, based at least in part on the third orientation, a third routing of the third modified content; and
sending, based on the third routing, the third modified content in the unencrypted format to one of the first display device or the second display device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying unprotected content across both the first display device and the second display device by:
sending a portion of the unprotected content from an embedded DisplayPort port of the computing device; and
sending a remaining portion of the unprotected content from a DisplayPort port of the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying unprotected content across both the first display device and the second display device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the protected content in the unencrypted format to either the first display device or to the second display device based at least in part on the routing comprises:
modifying the protected content based at least in part on the orientation of the computing device to create modified content; and
sending the modified content in the unencrypted format to either the first display device or to the second display device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a DisplayPort (DP) port of the computing device outputs a portion of unprotected content; and
an embedded DisplayPort (eDP) of the computing device outputs:
a remaining portion of the unprotected content; and
the protected content in the unencrypted format.

8. A computing device comprising:
a first display device;
a second display device;
a crossbar switch;
one or more processors;
one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving a selection to display protected content;
determining, from a plurality of routings associated with a crossbar switch, a routing of the protected content based at least in part on:
an orientation of the computing device; and
a display mode of the computing device; and

sending, via the routing associated with the crossbar switch, the protected content in an unencrypted format to either the first display device or the second display device.

9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the orientation comprises one of a book orientation, a vertical tablet orientation, a tent orientation, a presentation orientation, a horizontal tablet orientation, or a clamshell orientation.

10. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a location of the first display device relative to the second display device, wherein the location comprises one of a left location, a right location, a top location, or a bottom location.

11. The computing device of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying unprotected content across both the first display device and the second display device by:
sending a portion of the unprotected content from an embedded DisplayPort port of the computing device; and
sending a remaining portion of the unprotected content from a DisplayPort port of the computing device.

12. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving data from at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a magnetic compass, a proximity sensor, a camera, an operating system, or a device driver of the computing device; and
determining the orientation of the computing device based at least in part on the data.

13. The computing device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a DisplayPort (DP) port to output at least a portion of unprotected content; and
an embedded DisplayPort (eDP) port to output:
the protected content in the unencrypted format; and
a remaining portion of the unprotected content.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that are executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving a selection to play protected content on a computing device comprising a first display device and a second display device;
determining a routing of the protected content based at least in part on:
an orientation of the computing device; and
a display mode of the computing device;

selecting the routing from a plurality of routings associated with a crossbar switch; and
sending, based on the routing, the protected content in an unencrypted format to at least one of the first display device or the second display device.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein:
a DisplayPort (DP) port of the computing device outputs a portion of unprotected content; and
an embedded DisplayPort (eDP) of the computing device outputs:
a remaining portion of the unprotected content; and
the protected content in the unencrypted format.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
modifying the protected content based at least in part on the orientation of the computing device to create modified content; and
sending the modified content in the unencrypted format to either the first display device or the second display device.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein modifying the protected content comprises rotating, based at least in part on the orientation of the computing device, the protected content between approximately zero degrees and approximately two hundred and seventy degrees.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp
• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Knepper Lawrence E
• Files Jace W
• Pelissier Gerald R

Classifications

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F21/84

  output devices, e.g. displays or monitors · CPC title

• G09G5/14

  Display of multiple viewports · CPC title

• G06F1/1677

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G06F3/1446 Primary

  display composed of modules, e.g. video walls · CPC title