Multiscreen personal computer display method and apparatus

DC CAFC

US 6,522,309 B1
Filed: 02/28/2000
Issued: 02/18/2003
Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
Status: Expired due to Term

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1. A multiple monitor video display method for use with a computer to produce a real-time display on a first monitor and a computer user selected predecessory display on a second monitor and comprising steps of:

processing computer program data into a ported source of display-ready first processed video data signal;

first intercoupling the ported source of first processed video data signal and the first monitor;

first displaying the first processed video data signal on the first monitor as the real time display;

second intercoupling the ported source of first processed video data signal and a translative video adapter (TVA) comprising further steps of;

first enabling the computer user to select a first sample of a first screen portion of the first processed video data signal second intercoupled with a TVA input port;

first storing first video data representing the first sample in a first memory;

advancing the computer program data to usually produce a second screen portion of the first processed video data signal for updating the real-time display on the first monitor;

first reading the first stored said first video data from the first memory;

first converting the first read said first video data signal into a first predecessory video signal; and

, second displaying the first predecessory video signal on a second monitor as the first predecessory display.

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Abstract

A computer providing multiple display capability where one display presents the current document and another display may show a true display of a previously opened document. The computer is a singular processed video data signal source which presents a primary monitor with current video data. A user selected video screen sample of the current processed video data signal is diverted to this invention where it is stored in a memory. Subsequently the stored video screen sample of the processed video data signal is read-out of the memory and reconstituted as an absolute copy of the original processed video data signal and concurrently presented on a secondary monitor. User selection may be attained by a keyboard key-sequence entry, a mouse button click or using an external button-switch. Operation is absolutely independent from operating system constraints, being of equivalent usefulness while running any Operating System versions of Windows®, Unix, MS-DOS, Linux, CP/M86 or Apple-OS. The device is preferably configured as a standalone peripheral, having two video ports connected essentially between the computer'"'"'s “video output” port and the primary monitor'"'"'s “video input” port and a third video port coupled with the secondary monitor'"'"'s “video input” port.

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20 Claims

1. A multiple monitor video display method for use with a computer to produce a real-time display on a first monitor and a computer user selected predecessory display on a second monitor and comprising steps of:
- processing computer program data into a ported source of display-ready first processed video data signal;
  
  first intercoupling the ported source of first processed video data signal and the first monitor;
  
  first displaying the first processed video data signal on the first monitor as the real time display;
  
  second intercoupling the ported source of first processed video data signal and a translative video adapter (TVA) comprising further steps of;
  
  first enabling the computer user to select a first sample of a first screen portion of the first processed video data signal second intercoupled with a TVA input port;
  
  first storing first video data representing the first sample in a first memory;
  
  advancing the computer program data to usually produce a second screen portion of the first processed video data signal for updating the real-time display on the first monitor;
  
  first reading the first stored said first video data from the first memory;
  
  first converting the first read said first video data signal into a first predecessory video signal; and
  
  , second displaying the first predecessory video signal on a second monitor as the first predecessory display.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- - 2. The multiple monitor video display method of claim 1 comprising steps of:
3. The multiple monitor video display method of claim 2 comprising steps of:
- partitioning the first memory into at least two memory bank portions;
  
  said first storing the storable first video data in a first memory bank portion of the first memory;
  
  said second storing the storable second video data in a second memory bank portion of the first memory;
  
  said first reading the first stored said first video data from the first memory bank portion of the first memory; and
  
  , said second reading the second stored said second video data from the second memory bank portion of the first memory.
4. The multiple monitor video display method of claim 3 comprising steps of:
- the first enabling the user to select and divert a third sample of a screen portion of the first processed video data signal intercoupled with the TVA input port;
  
  third storing third video data representing the third sample in a third memory bank portion of the first memory; and
  
  , whereby;
  
  concurrent with a first writing of the first video data into the first memory bank, the second memory bank may be said subsequently read and produce display data for the tertiary monitor and the third memory bank may be subsequently read and produce the display data for the secondary monitor;
  
  concurrent with a second writing of the second video data into the second memory bank, the first memory bank may be said subsequently read and produce the display data for the secondary monitor and the third memory bank may continue to be read and produce the display data for the tertiary monitor; and
  
  , concurrent with a third writing of the third video data into the third memory bank, the first memory bank may be said subsequently read and produce the display data for the tertiary monitor and the second memory bank may be subsequently read and produce the display data for the secondary monitor.
5. The multiple monitor video display method of claim 3 comprising steps of:
- the first enabling the user to select and divert a third sample of a third screen portion of the first processed video data signal intercoupled with the TVA input port;
  
  third storing the third video data representing the third sample in a third memory bank portion of the first memory; and
  
  , second enabling the user to select between reading video data stored in the second memory bank and the third memory bank and produce the predecessory video signal for immediate coupling with and rendering on the secondary monitor.
6. The multiple monitor video display method of claim 1 comprising steps of:
- interfacing the user with the computer program;
  
  modifying content of the first processed video data signal and the real time display through computer data entries submitted by the user;
  
  maintaining the first predecessory video signal unchanged; and
  
  , presenting the unchanged first predecessory video signal on the secondary monitor as the predecessory display;
  
  whereby the first monitor may be referred to by the user for a primary viewing of the realtime display and the second monitor may be referred to by the user for a secondary viewing of the predecessory display.
7. The antecedent video display method of claim 1 comprising steps of:
- installing a keystroke sequence respondent software program in the computer; and
  
  , recognizing a first pattern of unique keystroke sequence entries and therefrom producing a first selection signal to effectuate the selection of at least one of the first sample and the second sample of the first processed video data signal presented to the input port.
8. The multiple monitor video display method of claim 1 comprising steps of:
- first entering a pragmatical PRINT_SCREEN command in response to the user'"'"'s said selection;
  
  accessing the TVA input port through the computer'"'"'s printer data signal output port usually configured as one of a RS232C serial port COM, a USB port and a parallel port LPT; and
  
  , first reformatting a printer data signal urged by the first entry and delivered through the printer data signal output port into the first predecessory video signal.

9. A multiple screen computer display method for concurrent viewing by a computer operator and including a first monitor displaying current video data and a second monitor presenting a supplementary display of video data, comprising steps of:
- operating a computer under software control to produce a first screen data signal comprising a processed video data signal delivered as a display-ready video signal via a video output port;
  
  intercoupling the display-ready video signal between the video output port, a translative video adapter (TVA) and the first monitor;
  
  first displaying the first screen data signal as a current video signal on the first monitor;
  
  selecting a first sample of the first screen data signal;
  
  first storing data representing the first sample of the first screen data signal in a first memory;
  
  urging the computer to produce a second screen data signal;
  
  second displaying the second screen data signal as the current video signal on the first monitor;
  
  first reading the first stored data from the first memory; and
  
  , first converting the first read said first stored data into a supplementary display video signal; and
  
  , first rendering the supplementary display video signal on the second monitor.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
- - 10. The multiple screen computer display method of claim 9 comprising steps of:
11. The multiple screen computer display method of claim 10 comprising steps of:
- partitioning the first memory into at least a first memory bank and a second memory bank;
  
  first writing the first screen data into the first memory bank portion of the first memory;
  
  second writing the second screen data into the second memory bank portion of the first memory; and
  
  , choosing between at least the first screen data stored in the first memory bank and the second screen data stored in the second memory bank for coupling with and presenting the second rendering on the secondary monitor.
12. The multiple screen computer display method of claim 9 comprising steps of:
- loading a unique keystroke sequence responsive TSR software program into the computer; and
  
  , said selecting the first sample of the first screen data signal in immediate response to a recognition of an entry of the unique keystroke sequence denoting a selection command submitted by the computer operator.

13. A multiple screen computer display apparatus, comprising:
- a computer means including a first processed video data signal output port;
  
  a primary monitor means coupled with the first processed video data signal output port and producing an immediate display of the processed video data signal;
  
  a translative video adapter (TVA) means functionally distinct from data processing and video signal processing activities of the computer means and coupled with the first processed video signal path ordinarily coupled between the primary monitor means and the computer means, including;
  
  first operative means enabling a user to first select and capture a first page sample from the first processed video data signal path;
  
  first conversional means for adapting the first page sample of the first processed video data signal into a first storable video data signal;
  
  first memory means configured for storing the first storable video data signal;
  
  first retrieval means for iteratively fetching the stored said first storable video data signal;
  
  second conversional means set for reconstituting the fetched said first storable video data signal into a second processed video data signal; and
  
  , secondary monitor means coupled with the second conversional means for producing a first predecessory video data display of the iteratively read said second processed video data signal.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 14. Multiple screen computer display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
15. Multiple screen computer display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
- the first operative means of claim 13 comprising a TSR (transient stay resident) software program providing keystroke sequence recognition of a manual keyboard entry to thereby enable the user to said first select and capture the first page sample from the first processed video data signal path.
16. Multiple screen computer display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
- ancillary selection means including a momentary switch means which may be actuated by the user;
  
  signal conduit means effective for coupling a selection signal produced by the momentary switch means with a selection signal input port coupling with the TVA; and
  
  , selection logic means coupled between the selection signal input port and the first operative means enabling a user to first select and capture a first page sample from the processed video data signal path.
17. The translative video adapter means of claim 13 comprising:
- a plug-in printed circuit means configured to physically and electrically interface with an expansion slot means portion of the computer means, including;
  
  a first video connective means for coupling the video signal data between the computer means said first processed video data signal output port and the plug-in printed circuit means;
  
  a second video connective means for coupling the first processed video data signal between the first video connective means and the primary monitor means; and
  
  , a third video connective means for coupling at least the second processed video data signal with the secondary monitor means.
18. The translative video adapter means of claim 13 further comprising:
- A/D (analog to digital) converter means having an analog input coupled with at least the first page sample of the first processed video data signal and having a digital output port coupled with a write-data input port of the first memory means;
  
  D/A (digital to analog) converter means having a digital input coupled with a read-data output port of the first memory means and having an analog output port coupled with a driver means and therefrom delivering the reconstituted said second processed video data signal that usually couples with the secondary monitor means; and
  
  , memory control logic means coupled with the A/D converter, the D/A converter and the first memory means to determine synchronization of the first memory means write-data, read-data and address control signal lines.
19. The multiple screen computer display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
- a data receiver means coupled with a serial port comprising the computer means;
  
  write processor means for conversion of ASCII and binary serial data received through the serial port into a storable binary format data signal coupled with a write-data input of a third memory means;
  
  data synchronization logic means for receiving control line signals from the serial port and determining a pattern of synchronization control signals for writing into and reading from the third memory means;
  
  character generator means coupled with the third memory means read-data output port and produce video character signals in response to stored binary format data which are read from the third memory means;
  
  clock means establishing timing and general synchronization of at least the data receiver means, third memory means addressing and a video processor means; and
  
  , said video processor means includes a second processed video output which may couple with and render a predecessory display on the secondary monitor means.
20. The multiple screen computer display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
- a data receiver means coupled with a parallel (printer) port comprising the computer means;
  
  the first memory means including the write-data input port coupled with the data receiver means parallel data output port and a read-data output port which may access data stored in predetermined addressable locations within the memory means;
  
  character generator means including an input coupled with the first memory means said read-data output port;
  
  character font memory means coupled with the character generator means;
  
  write and read control logic means including an input coupled with the parallel (printer) port and an output coupled with the video page memory means; and
  
  , video display generator providing a data transfer synchronization between at least the character generator means, read-out of the first memory means and video display scanning rates for the secondary monitor means, including an input coupled with an output signal port of the character generator and an output producing the second processed video data signal for rendering a predecessory display on the secondary monitor means.

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Current Assignee
Secure Axcess LLC (Prism Technologies Group, Inc.)
Original Assignee
Savvystuff Property Trust
Inventors
Weber, Harold J.
Primary Examiner(s)
WU, XIAO MIN

Application Number

US09/515,081
Time in Patent Office

1,086 Days
Field of Search

345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/2.3, 345/3.1, 345/3.2, 345/3.3, 345/3.4
US Class Current

345/1.1
CPC Class Codes

G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of ...

G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to...

Multiscreen personal computer display method and apparatus

First Claim

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Multiscreen personal computer display method and apparatus

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Abstract

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