Auxiliary display device driver interface

Abstract

In a main computer system coupled to an auxiliary display device, described is an interface set for implementation by an auxiliary display device driver, to couple the driver to an auxiliary display platform. Commands received from the auxiliary display platform may be handled by code external to the driver, such as a class extension object. For example, the class extension object may interpret and/or translate commands received from the auxiliary display platform into a format understood by the driver code. The auxiliary display device driver may then provide corresponding command information including data to the auxiliary display device via the transport. Event data may be returned from the auxiliary display device driver via the interface set to the class extension object, such that corresponding event information, e.g., received at the auxiliary display device, may be returned to the auxiliary display platform.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . In a computing environment, a method comprising:
 providing an interface set comprising logical auxiliary display operations with at least one interface,   the at least one interface of the interface set being implemented by an auxiliary display device driver to couple the auxiliary display device driver to a separate auxiliary display platform,   the auxiliary display device driver implementing the at least one interface of the interface set to send commands corresponding to logical auxiliary display operations to at least one auxiliary display device,   the auxiliary display device driver implementing the at least one interface of the interface set to send device event data received from the at least one auxiliary display device to the auxiliary display platform; and   calling into the auxiliary display device driver via the at least one interface of the interface set, including making calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform to be performed by the at least one auxiliary display device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising,
 performing security checks via a class extension object and a monitor process, the calling into the auxiliary display device driver via the at least one interface of the interface set comprising:
 communicating with the auxiliary display platform via the class extension object. 
 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , the calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform including at least one logical auxiliary display operation selected from the group consisting of:
 a first operation indicating to the auxiliary display device a designated user of the auxiliary display device;   a second operation requesting from the auxiliary display device an indication of a current designated user of the auxiliary display device;   a third operation indicating to the auxiliary display device a short date format to use;   a fourth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device a long date format to use;   a fifth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device a short time format to use;   a sixth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device a long time format to use;   a seventh operation requesting from the auxiliary display device a default set of applications to be enabled;   an eighth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device an application to be enabled on the auxiliary display device;   a ninth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device an application to be disabled on the auxiliary display device;   a tenth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device a notification for an application on the auxiliary display device, the tenth operation further indicating an expiration time after which the notification should be removed from view on the auxiliary display device, the tenth operation further indicating an identifier for the notification;   an eleventh operation indicating to the auxiliary display device an identifier for an active notification for an application to be removed;   a twelfth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device that all notifications for an application are to be removed;   a thirteenth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device content for an application on the auxiliary display device, the thirteenth operation further indicating an identifier of a renderer associated with the content;   a fourteenth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device an application and a renderer, the fourteenth operation further indicating to the auxiliary display device that all content associated with the application and the renderer is to be removed from the auxiliary display device; and   a fifteenth operation indicating to the auxiliary display device to suppress notifications generated by the auxiliary display device.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , the calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform including the first operation, the second operation, the third operation, the fourth operation, the fifth operation, the sixth operation, the seventh operation, the eighth operation, the ninth operation, the tenth operation, the eleventh operation, the twelfth operation, the thirteenth operation, the fourteenth operation, and the fifteenth operation. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , the calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform including the third operation, the fourth operation, the fifth operation, and the sixth operation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , the calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform including the seventh operation, the eighth operation, and the ninth operation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , the calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform including the tenth operation, the eleventh operation, and the twelfth operation. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , the calls corresponding to commands received from the auxiliary display platform including the thirteenth operation, the fourteenth operation, and the fifteenth operation. 
     
     
         29 . In a computing environment having a main computer system and an auxiliary display device, a system comprising:
 an auxiliary display platform that provides data directed towards the auxiliary display device from one or more application programs;   an auxiliary display device driver that receives the data from the auxiliary display platform and provides corresponding information to the auxiliary display device via a transport;   an interface set comprising logical auxiliary display operations implemented by the auxiliary display device driver, wherein the interface set comprises code that is external to the auxiliary display device driver; and   a class extension object that communicates with the auxiliary display device driver via the interface set, the class extension object configured to process commands received as data from the auxiliary display platform and to call back to the auxiliary display device driver via the interface with corresponding data, for providing as the corresponding information to the auxiliary display device via the transport, wherein the class extension object is also configured to send device event data received by the auxiliary display device driver from the auxiliary display device to the auxiliary display platform,   wherein the interface set includes an interface that is used to create device event data for communicating events received from the auxiliary display device from the auxiliary display device driver to the auxiliary display platform.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the commands received as data from the auxiliary display platform comprise input/output (I/O) control commands, and wherein the class extension object receives the I/O control commands from the auxiliary display device driver via the interface set, interprets the I/O control commands, and calls back to the auxiliary display device driver via the interface with corresponding data translated from the I/O control commands. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a monitor process, wherein the class extension object communicates with the monitor process to perform security checks on the commands received as data from the auxiliary display platform. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the interface and class extension object are provided in at least one auxiliary display-related library. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising an auxiliary display bitmap library. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the interface includes means for providing event data from the auxiliary display device driver to the class extension object to facilitate providing corresponding event information to the auxiliary display platform. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the interface set includes an interface having at least one of: means for registering the auxiliary display device driver with the class extension object, and means for forwarding commands from the auxiliary display device driver to the class extension object. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the interface set includes an interface that is used to execute commands on the device, wherein the interface includes at least one of:
 means for controlling display characteristics on the auxiliary display device,   means for setting system information on the auxiliary display device,   means for providing security information of a calling process,   means for determining capabilities of the auxiliary display device,   means for enabling applications to run on the auxiliary display device,   means for sending a notification to the auxiliary device,   means for removing at least one notification from the auxiliary device,   means for sending application-related content to the auxiliary device,   means for uploading software code to run on the device, and   means for removing at least one set of application-related content from the auxiliary device.   
     
     
         37 . A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions when implemented cause a computing device to perform steps, comprising:
 receiving by a defined interface set comprising logical auxiliary display operations with a call from an auxiliary display device driver, the call including a command related to performing an operation related to an auxiliary display, wherein the defined interface set comprises code that is external to the auxiliary display device driver;   translating by the defined interface set the call and command into data in a data format understood by the auxiliary display device driver; and   calling back the auxiliary display device driver with the data,   wherein the call is received from the auxiliary display device driver via the defined interface set implemented by the auxiliary display device driver, and wherein calling back the auxiliary display device driver comprises returning the data via a call back registered via the defined interface set, and   wherein the defined interface set is used to create device event data for communicating events received from the auxiliary display from the auxiliary display device driver to a separate auxiliary display platform.   
     
     
         38 . The computer storage medium of  claim 37  having further computer-executable instructions which when implemented cause the computing device to perform a step comprising:
 performing security checks related to the command. 
 
     
     
         39 . The computer storage medium of  claim 37  having further computer-executable instructions which when implemented cause the computing device to perform a step comprising:
 determining whether a user may interact with an auxiliary display device via the auxiliary display device driver based on user identification information and a current operating mode. 
 
     
     
         40 . The computer storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the current operating mode may be changed to allow different types of access to the device, and wherein the current operating mode corresponds to one of: a single user mode, a multiple users mode, a mode for a current device user that has data on the device, and a mode that allows access to a current console user of a host computer system on which the auxiliary display device driver runs.