Secondary user interface

Abstract

A method for creating and accessing a graphical user interface in the overscan area outside the area of the display normally utilized by the common operating systems. This normal display area is generally known as the “desktop”. The desktop serves as a graphical user interface to the operating system. The desktop displays images representing files, documents and applications available to the user. The desktop is restricted in the common environments to a predetermined set of resolutions (e.g., 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768) as defined by VGA and SVGA standards. Displayable borders outside this area are the overscan area.

1 . A method for displaying an image on a video display system in an area outside of a display area generated with a video mode having two dimensions, each dimension having a number of pixels, in a computer system running an operating system which presents a user interface fully occupying said display area, comprising: 
 adjusting parameters for said video display system to increase the number of pixels in a dimension of said video display system by a number of pixels less than or equal to the difference between the number of pixels specified in said video mode and a maximum number of pixels which said video display system can effectively display;    within said computer system, addressing video display memory for said pixels;    writing said image to said video display memory; and    displaying said image from said video display memory onto said video display system along side said display area.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is vertical; said video display system presents said image below said display area.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said image includes a movable pointer that moves in relation to user input.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said pointer has a tip that is positioned below a hot spot associated with said tip.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is horizontal; said video display system presents said image to the right of said display area.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is both horizontal and vertical and said video display system presents said image on a vertical side of said display area and on a horizontal side of said display area.  
   
   
       7 . A device for displaying an image on a video display system in an area outside of a display area generated with a video mode having two dimensions, each dimension having a number of pixels, in a computer system running an operating system which presents a user interface fully occupying said display area, comprising: 
 means for adjusting parameters for said video display system to increase the number of pixels in a dimension of said video display system by a number of pixels less than or equal to the difference between the number of pixels specified in said video mode and a maximum number of pixels which said video display system can effectively display;    means for, within said computer system, addressing video display memory for said increased pixels;    means for writing said image to said video display memory; and    means for displaying said image from said video display memory onto said video display system along side said display area.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is vertical and said video display system presents said image below said display area.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said image includes a movable pointer that moves in relation to user input.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is horizontal; said video display system presents said image to the right of said display area.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is both horizontal and vertical and said video display system presents said image on a vertical side of said display area and on a horizontal side of said display area.  
   
   
       12 . A computer program storage device containing a computer program which, when run on a computer system, accomplishes the following method for displaying an image on a video display system in an area outside of a display area generated with a video mode having two dimensions, each dimension having a number of pixels, in a computer system running an operating system which presents a user interface fully occupying said display area: 
 adjusting parameters for said video display system to increase the number of pixels in a dimension of said video display system by a number of pixels less than or equal to the difference between the number of pixels specified in said video mode and a maximum number of pixels which said video display system can effectively display;    within said computer system, addressing video display memory for said increased pixels;    writing said image to said video display memory; and    displaying said image from said video display memory onto said video display system along side said display area.    
   
   
       13 . The computer program storage device of  claim 12  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is vertical and said video display system presents said image below said display area.  
   
   
       14 . The computer program storage device of  claim 13  wherein said image includes a movable pointer that moves in relation to user input.  
   
   
       15 . The computer program storage device of  claim 14  wherein said pointer has a tip that is positioned below a hot spot associated with said tip.  
   
   
       16 . The computer program storage device of  claim 12  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is horizontal; said video display system presents said image to the right of said display area.  
   
   
       17 . The computer program storage device of  claim 16  wherein said image includes a movable pointer which moves in relation to user input and said pointer has a tip which is positioned to the right of a hot spot associated with said tip.  
   
   
       18 . The computer program storage device of  claim 12  wherein the dimension of said video display system in which the number of pixels increased is both horizontal and vertical and said video display system presents said image on a vertical side of said display area and on a horizontal side of said display area.