Computer peripheral display and communication device providing an adjunct 3D user interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9959008-B2
Application number	US-201114009610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2011
Priority date	Apr 13, 2011
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A system for providing a visual user environment includes a processing unit, a memory, a primary display device for providing a primary visual interface, and an adjunct communication device for providing an adjunct visual interface. In an embodiment, the adjunct display device is configured to present quasi-3D or 3D images. A process can include detecting an adjunct content event corresponding to adjunct visual content associated with an aspect of an application program; and selectively transferring one of an adjunct content notification and adjunct visual content to the adjunct communication device, wherein the adjunct content event corresponds to one of an application program installation sequence, an application program event, an indication of user proficiency in interacting with the application program, a communication session with a remote system, and a predefined visual sequence that is automatically selected for presentation to the user during one of application program installation and application program execution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing a user with a visual environment corresponding to an application program by way of a computing system comprising an adjunct communication device configured to provide an adjunct visual interface, the adjunct communication device separate from a primary display device, the method comprising:
detecting an adjunct content event corresponding to adjunct visual content associated with an aspect of the application program;
selectively transferring one of an adjunct content notification and adjunct visual content to the adjunct communication device in response to an adjunct content event,
wherein the adjunct content event corresponds to one of an application program installation sequence, an occurrence of an application program event, an indication of user proficiency in interacting with the application program, a communication session with a remote system, and a predefined visual sequence that includes one of video data and animation data that is automatically selected for presentation to the user during one of application program installation and application program execution,
wherein the adjunct communication device comprises a housing, a base, a display unit at least partially residing in the base and a viewing screen mounted within the housing, wherein the viewing screen comprises a viewing surface, wherein the display unit comprises an output surface;
outputting optical signals relative to a first set of optical travel paths using the output surface;
receiving the optical signals using the viewing surface; and
at least partially directing the optical signals relative to a second set of optical travel paths, wherein the second set of optical travel paths defines a viewing angle;
wherein the viewing surface is disposed at an acute angle relative to the output surface;
wherein the viewing surface is slanted towards the viewing angle;
wherein the viewing screen is reflective; and
wherein the viewing surface is curved.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving adjunct visual content from at least one of a cloud computing system, a remote server, a remote database, and a local media repository; and
presenting adjunct visual content using the adjunct visual interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively transferring adjunct visual content to the adjunct communication device comprises performing a direct memory access (DMA) transfer of adjunct visual content from the computing system to the adjunct communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating primary visual content on an ongoing basis during application program execution, the primary visual content corresponding to a current application program execution state; and
outputting primary visual content to the primary display device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the primary visual content provides a main source of visual information for user interaction with the application program.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein outputting primary visual content to the primary display device on an ongoing basis occurs in a substantially uninterrupted manner during transferring adjunct visual content to the adjunct communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct visual content includes first adjunct visual content, the method further comprising:
presenting the first adjunct visual content using the adjunct communication device; and
avoiding the presentation of the first adjunct visual content by the primary display device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising increasing an extent to which the primary display device presents primary visual content as a result of avoiding the presentation of the first adjunct visual content by the primary display device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein increasing an extent to which the primary display device presents primary visual content comprises increasing at least one of an amount of visual information and an amount of visual detail presented by the primary display device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct communication device comprises an adjunct display apparatus configured to present images corresponding to at least two spatial dimensions, and wherein the method further comprises presenting adjunct visual content corresponding to at least two spatial dimensions using the adjunct display apparatus.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct communication device comprises an adjunct display apparatus configured to generate images having one of 3D and quasi-3D characteristics, and wherein the method further comprises presenting adjunct visual content having one of 3D and quasi-3D characteristics using the adjunct display apparatus.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct content event selectively corresponds to visual content for essentially immediate presentation or deferred presentation to the user.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct content event corresponds to user selection of a graphical control displayed by one of the primary display device and a display-enabled user input apparatus that is separate from the adjunct communication device.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct content event corresponds to an automatic determination of a user location relative to a visual navigational aid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct visual content includes a set of predefined visual sequences, and wherein each predefined visual sequence within the set of predefined visual sequences corresponds to a predetermined type of application program outcome corresponding to user interaction with the application program.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein a communication session with the remote system corresponds to communication of one of a pre-recorded message and a request for a live chat session.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the pre-recorded message corresponds to one of a message from a remote user associated with the remote system, an application program upgrade, and an add-on to the application program.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a communication from the remote system; and
generating an adjunct communication notification in response to the communication received from the remote system.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising presenting adjunct visual content using the adjunct communication device while the computing system is in an online mode in which network communication can occur.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising presenting adjunct visual content using the adjunct communication device while the computing system is in an offline mode in which network communication does not occur.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein generating an adjunct communication notification comprises changing a display state of a graphical element displayed by one of the primary display device and a display-enabled user input apparatus separate from the adjunct communication device.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct communication device carries an illumination apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises changing an illumination state of the illumination apparatus in a manner that corresponds to the adjunct content event.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein changing an illumination state of the illumination apparatus comprises selectively generating optical signals in a manner that provides an indication of one of an occur

Assignees

• Tan Min Liang
• Wilson John
• Hahn Patrick
• Razer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Tan Min-Liang
• Wilson John
• Hahn Patrick

Classifications

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F3/1462 Primary

  with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays · CPC title

• G09G2370/022

  Centralised management of display operation, e.g. in a server instead of locally · CPC title

• H04L51/04

  Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] · CPC title

• A63F13/00

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title