Motorola Mobility, Inc. v. Apple, Inc.

Filing 94

NOTICE by Motorola Mobility, Inc. of Filing Brief on Claim Construction (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Exhibit, # 17 Exhibit, # 18 Exhibit, # 19 Exhibit, # 20 Exhibit, # 21 Exhibit, # 22 Exhibit, # 23 Exhibit, # 24 Exhibit, # 25 Exhibit, # 26 Exhibit, # 27 Exhibit, # 28 Exhibit, # 29 Exhibit, # 30 Exhibit, # 31 Affidavit)(Giuliano, Douglas)

Exhibit 9
to Motorola’s Opening Claim Construction Brief
July 28, 2011

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APPLICATION FOR UNITED STATES
LETTERS PATENT

by

Ian Hendry

Eric Anderson
and

Fernando Urbina

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for

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SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME ADAPTATION
TO CHANGES IN DISPLAY CONFIGURATION

SWECKER & M AntIS . L.L.P.
P.O. Bo~ 1404
Alexandria, Virginia 223]3-1404
[phone]

BURNS, DoANE,

Auorney Docket: P2232-460

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 1

SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME ADAPTATION
TO CHANGES IN DISPLAY CONFIGURATION

Fjeld or the Invention
The presenl invention is directed to computer display systems, and more

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particularly to a display system which is capable of instantaneously accommodating
changes in the configuration of a computer system.

BACKGROUND OF THE IN\'ENTION

As computers become more prevalent in everyday use. particularly

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personal type computers, users are employing them in a variety of different

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situations. Depending upon the panicular siruation, the user may desire to change
the configuration of the display devices connected to the computer. For example,
portable computers of the so-called laptop or notebook type have become
increasingly popular because of their small size and light weight, making them
suitable for use while traveling. Due to the need to keep their dimensions to a

15

minimum, the display screens built into such computers are relati vely smail in
size , and may offer only limited display capabilities. Therefore, when using one
of these ty pes of computers in an office environmem, the user may connect it to a
monitor having a larger display area andlor enhanced display capabilities . Such a
connection might be made, for example, by means of a docking station which

20

enables the portable computer to be conveniently connected to a variety of
peripheral devices. or by inserting a video card in a PC Card slol.
Subsequently, the user might remove the added monitor. for example to
take the computer home or to use it while traveling. In this situation. the built-in
display screen must be used. In other words, the computer must route all

25

information to be displayed to the buill-in screen, rather than the port to which the
external monitor was cormecled. In addi tion, Che displayed information must be

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 2

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
reformatted, or otherwise processed, to accommodate the display parameters of the
bu ilt-in device .
In the past, changes in the configuration of the computer system, such as
the addition or removal of display devices, only became effective upon a' restart, or
5

reboot, of the computenystem. As pan of ilS initial startup procedure, the
computer's operating system detects the presence of each device driver loaded on
the system, and registers each such detected driver to permit communications to be
carried out between the operating system and the device with which the driver is
associated. If a new device and corresponding driver are added to the system after

10

this initialization procedure, the driver is not registered with the operating system,
and therefore communications do not take place until the operating system goes
through its initialization procedure again, e.g. upon the next reboot of the
computer. Hence, if a user adds a monitor to the computer system. the monitor
cannot be used to display information generated by the computer until it has been

IS

rebooted.
U.S. Patent No. 5,682.529 discloses a system for dynamically
accommodating changes in the display configuration of a computer, without the
need to restan the computer. In the system of this patent, changes can be made to
the display environment for a computer system while it is in a sleep mode , in

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which the computer's central processing unit is maintained in a minimal operating
slate. When the computer is "awakened - from this sleep mode, the system of the
'529 pateD! enables the changed configuration to be immediately recognized, and
thereafter utilized in the display of information generated by the computer.
As the capabilities offered by personal computers continue to expand, the

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opportunities for changing the configuration of computers grows in a concomitant
manner. In some situations, users may desire to have changes in the configuration
of the computer's display environment become instantaneously effective, without
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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 3

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
the need to restart the computer or even place it in a sleep mode. For exam ple, the

user may create a sl ide presentation on a notebook computer. During the course of
a meeting, a user may desire to immediately d isplay the slide presentation, by
connecling the computer to a suitable video projector , or the like. It is desirable to
5

be able to"carry OUI this operation without the need to first put the compUler 10
sleep, and thereby reduce the time needed 10 operate within the changed

configuration. It is an objective of the present invention, therefore, to expand

upon the capabilities of the system of the '529 patent, by providing a display

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environment in which so-called "hot plugging" of displays is possible, wherein a

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display becomes immediately available for usc as soon as it is plugged into the
computer system.

SliMMARYOF IHE INYENDON

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In accordance with the present invention, the fo regoing objective is

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achieved by utilizing a device manager to automat ically recognize and react to
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changes in the configuration of a display environment. rather than wait for lIle
computer's operating system to proactively determine the status of the display
environment, fo r example upo n res tarting. When an input/output device is added
to or removed from lIle computer system, an interrupt signal informs the device
manager of lIle fact that a change in configuration has occurred. In response

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thereto, the device manager dete rmines whether lIle changed component relates to
the computer's display function. For example. it may determine whether an added
device is a video card. If so, lIle device manager makes a call to the computer's
dis play manager, to inform it of the fact that the d isplay configuration has
changed. In response to this call, the display manager reconfigures the display

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space for the computer system, to accommodate an additional frame buffer iliat is

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 4

PATENT
Dockel: P2232-460
associated with the added component. With this change in the configuration of the
display space , the added compo~ent becomes immediately available for use.
By means of this approach, the user can add a second monitor or other
hardware component to

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a: computer and

begin to use the monitor as soon as it has

been connected, without the need to reboot the computer or otherwise interrupt its
current operating state.
Further features and advantages of the invention are explained in detail
hereinafter in the context of specific embodiments that are described with reference
to the

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accompanyin~

BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF THE DRAWINGS

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drawings .

lis a block diagram of an overall display system architecture;

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illustrates an example of a display environment;

.Ji!u r~ is a block diagram of a display system ~rchitecture which includes

plural vid

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cards and display devices;

igure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the device

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manager;

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gUTe 5.is a flowchart illustrating the process by which changes in the

configuration of the display

envir~nment

become immediately available to the

user, in accordance with the prinCiples of the invention.

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DETAILED DESCRIYIlON

The present invention is directed to the display environment of ~ computer
system. A block diagram of the overall architecture for a display environment is
illustrated in Figure 1. In this figure, hardware components of the computer
system are illustrated above a dashed line to, and software components are
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depicted below the line. These software components are stored in a suitable

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 5

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
computer-readable medium, such as a magnetic disk, and loaded into the
computer's working memory, i.e. RAM, for execution. The system can include
display devices 12, e.g. monitors, LCD screens and/or plasma displays, although
acrual display devices need not be physically present in order for the principles of
5

the invention

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be operative. Each display device is connected to. and controlled

by. a video card 14 which Qperates in accordance with video driver software 16.
Although depicted as being on a separate substrate . such as a printed circuit board,
the components of at least one video card could be incorporated with other
components on a single substrate, such as the computer 's motherboard.

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One or more software programs, such as application programs 20. generate
information to be displayed on the display devices. Examples of such information
include text. windows and other graphical objects, and control structures such. as
menus and dialog boxes. This information is presented to the display device
through the computer's operating system 18, which also generates its own

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information to be presented on the display. The operating system communicates
with the display device through an associated display driver 13, which constirutes a
software component that corresponds to the hardware of the display device 12.
The operating sY$tem includes a display manager 22, which provides
communication between each of the software components, and dynamicaHy

20

configures the display devices 12. The communication between the va rious
software components and the hardware devices takes place via their associated
drivers, e.g. the video driver and the display driver. In this regard. many video
displays have the capability to provide informati.o n regarding their available modes
of operation andlor timing specifications. Some displays, so-called ·smart

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displays.· are capable of providing infonnation about their modes of operation
directly. for example in response to inquiries. For these types of displays, the
display manager 22' communicates directly with the display device, by means of

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 6

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
the display driver 13, over a communication channel 24. This communication
channel can be a bus within the computer, a serial line, or any other suitable path
for exchanging information between the display manager and the display driver 13
of the d isplay device.

S

In some cases, the display device may not be able to communicate its
capabilities directly . However, through the use of a lookup table or the like, the
display driver 13 can obtain information regarding the display's capabilities, and
provide them 10 the display manager.
The display manager also communicates with other parts of the operating

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system 18 and the other software programs 20 that are running o n the computer.

For example, in response to operator commands, the operating system can instruct
the display manager to add a new devke to a Jist of active displays, or remove a

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device therefrom. In response thereto, tile display manager informs the application
programs 20 of the new display configurations. to enable them to update their

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d isplayed information accordingly.
In one known implementation for computer systems, the display

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envirorunent can generally be considered to be defined by a global coordinate '
space 30, as depicted in Figure 2. Objects and other information to be displayed
can be positioned anywhere within this space, as determined by the user andlo r the
20

software program that generates the infonnation. A reference point in this space,
e.g. its origin or 0,0 coordinate point, is usually established with reference to some
object that is always present in the display. For instance, most graphical user
interfaces include some type of menu bar or other structure which enables the user
to access basic commands to control the computer. The device which displays this

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menu bar is known as the main display device. If the compute r system contains
mUltiple display devices. only one of the devices is designated as the main device,
even if multiple devices contain the menu bar. The origin of the coordinate

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 7

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
display space is typically established with reference to the menu bar. For
example, as illus trated in Figure 2, the 0,0 point 38 in me coordinate space can
coin<;ide with the top left corner of a menu bar 36. The positions of all obj ects ana
other informalion to be displayed in the display space 30 are defined by their
5

coordinates within this space. The operating system receives this coordinate

information, for example from the software programs 20 which generate the
information, and provides it to the display drive r to cause the information to
appear at the appropriate place on the screen of the display device located at the
corresponding position in the display space.

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In the example illustrated in Figure 2, the display environment consists of
twO display devices, 32 and 34, within the global display space 30. A menu bar
36 is displayed at the tOp of the screen for the device 32, which is therefore the
main display device. Accordingly, the origin 38 of the display space coincides
wi th the top left corner of the device 32. As illustrated in Figure 2, the user has

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caused some objects, e.g. wi ndows 40, to be displayed. on the device 32 , and
another object 42 10 be displayed. on the device 34.
Figure 3 illustrates the configuration of the computer system for the
particular example illustrated in Figure 2, which includes two display devices.
Each d isplay device i.s connected to an associated video card, wh ich includes a

20

corresponding video driver. For the sake of simplicity in Figure 3, the display
drivers are not separately illustrated, but are assumed to be present within the
system, in a manner analogous to the arrangement shown in Figure 1. The
embodiment of Figure 3 includes two video cards 14 and 14', respecti vely
associated with the two video display devices 12 and 12 '. Each of the video cards

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communicates with the display manager 22, by means of its associated video driver

16 and 16'.

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 8

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460

Among other components, each video card includes a frame buffer , e.g.
ra ndom access memory, which stores the dala for the image that is displayed on ilS
associated display device 12 . In essence, the display manager 22 assigns the frame

buffer 1 a corresponding portion of the global coordinate space 30. In the
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example of Figure 2. the two frame buffers are assigned to mutually exclusive
portions of the global space. However. some or all of the portion assigned to one

of the frame buffers could overlap with the area assigned to the other frame buffer.
In, lhis case, the same image, or ,portion of an image, appears on both display
devices.

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At any given lime, there could be only one video card connected to die

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compUler, or both cards could be connected . Furthermore. in the case of a
network server or the lik:e, it is possible that no video card would be present over
certain periods of time. Even when both cards are present, onl y one of them may

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have a monitor or other display device connected to it at any particular point in

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time.

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In the case of a convemional desktop or notebook computer system, one of

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the video cards might be incorporated within the structure of the computer system,
and may not be designed to be repeatedly inserted and removed by the user.
Additional video cards , however, might be capable of being easily inserted into
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and removed from the computer system. For example, the video card might be
implemented in a removable card that conforms to the PC Card standard . This
standard defines lhe form factor fo r relatively small, credit-card shaped 110
devices , which are designed to be easily inserted into and removed from computer
housings, to provide a computer with differe nt capabilities. Included among the

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types of 110 devices that can be·embodied in such a card are modems, facsimi le
devices, network interface cards, wi reless communications devices and hard disk
drives .

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 9

PATENT
Docket: P2232460
Devices of this type which conform to this standard , commonly known as
PC Cards, are designed to be r~adily inserted and removed from the computer
hous,ing. The detection of the presence of such devices, as well as their removal
from the system, is handled by a portion of the computer's operating system that is
5

referred to herein as a device manager. Referring to Figure 4, when a PC Card 44
is inserted into the housing of the computer, it actuates a switch 46, or equivalent
sensor de vice, which sends an interrupt signal IRQ to the device manager 48 . In
response to this interrupt. the device manager determines the type of device which
has been inserted, and informs the operating system 18. In a similar manner,

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whenever the PC Card is removed from the computer housing, an interrupt is also
sent to the device manager, which in turn notifies the operating system that the
device is no longer available.
Another type of change which can be made to the display configuration of

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the computer is the addition or removal of a display device. In the example of
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Figure 3, for instance, either one of the display devices 12 or 12' could be
disconnected from its associated video card 14 or 14 ' . Furthermore, if only one

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display device is present, it could be disconnected from one of the video cards 14

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and connected to the other video card 14'. Whenever a change of lh.is nature
occurs, an interrupt is sent to the device manager 48. For instance, the interrupt
,
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could be generated by the video card, upon detecting that a display device has been
pbysically connected to or disconnected from it. Alternatively, the interrupt could
be provided by a bus that is capable of detecting such a change.
The addition or removal of other types of hardware can also result in a
change in the display configuration of the computer system. For example, a

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graphics accelerator card can be added to the system by means of a PC Card slot.
Again, upon the addition or removal of such a device, an interrupt signal IRQ is
sent to the device manager.

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 10

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
The present invention is particularly directed to the situation in which the
device tbat is added 10 or removed from !.he computer system is related to the
display function. In the past, it was necessary to reboot the computer system in

order for a change in video hardware to become effective. More particularly,

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unless a reboot occurred. the operating system was nOI prompted to undertake any
action which would cause il to detect the presence of a new driver. resulling from
the addition of ao associated hardware device. Hence, it was necessary for the
user to interrupt the operating Slale of the computer in orde r to utilize the

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additional functionality provided by a newly added hardware . Once the operating

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system became aware of the presence of the new driver , it cou ld notify the display
manager to incorporate the presence of the new frame buffer.
In accordance with the present invention, however, the display system can

be immediately responsive to the addition or removal of video hardware, so that
the capabilities of a revised configuration can be employed without the nt!ed to

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change the operating state of the computer. This functionality is accomplished by,

in effect, bypassing the need to have the operating system actively determine the
addition or removal of a display device. Rather, the notification of a change in the
configuration of the display environment is provided directly to the display
manager, so that it can directly account for the presence or absence of a particular
20

video device.
To mis end, whenever a PC Card is added to or removed from me
computer system, me device manager determines whether the card relates to a
display funclion. A similar determination is made whenever an interrupt is
generated that indicates some other type of hardware has been added or removed ,

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e.g . a display monitor. In addition to, or in lieu of interrupts, other approaches
can be employed to determine when a device has been added or removed. For
example, the operating system can periodically poll all of the computer system's

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 11

PATENT
Docket: P2232460
110 ports, to delennine which devices 3rc present and which ones might have been
removed.

Referring to Figure 5, upon receipt of an indication thai the re has been a
change in configuration, the device manager fi rst dete rmines at step 50 whether a

5

device has been added or removed . If a device has been added to the system, the

device manager communicates ",(,im the device to detennine its type, at step 52,
and stores daca in a register regarding the identity and type of the device. If the
device responds with an ind)cation that it is a yKleo device. the device manager
issues a call to the display ma nage r 22. at step 54. Approp riate parameters can be

10

included with the call , to indicate the type of device, the size of its frame buffer (if

applicable), its resolution. and the like.
In response to this information, the display manager carries out a number
of operations, depicted in Steps 56-64. First, it registers the added hard ware as a

•

new device, along with the location of its associated drivers in memory, at step 56.

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In some cases, the driver may already be present in memory, but in an inactive
state because the device was not connected to the system at the time of initial boot.
In this case, the display manager switches the dri ver to an active state.
After registering the device, the display manager matches each display
device with an available frame buffer at step 58. If a new video card is inserted,

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for example. the display manager assigns a portion of the global coordinate space
30 to the frame buffer in the video card . If a display device is connected to that
video card , the display manager assigns that device to the frame buffer for that
card, so that the proper data is displayed on the device. If a display device is
disconnected from one video card and connected to a diffe rent video card, the

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display manager

moves objects withi n the globaJ space 30 so that they are

presented to the app ropriate frame buffer

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the display device. For example, the

display manager can move user interface oontrol objects which are specific to that

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PAGE 12

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
display, such as brightness and contrast controls, to the frame buffer associated
with that display. Similarly. if the display has other attribUies associated with it,

such as a cenain name or designation, the display manager ensures that they are
directed to the proper frame buffer.

5

Once the display devices and frame buffe rs are matched up. the display
manager consults a preferences file which indicates whether thai device was

COMecled to the system at some previous time. This file is preferably stored in
pennanem memory, such as a hard disk. and updated each time a video device is

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added to or removed from

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me computer system to change its configuration.

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file stores the state efthe display just prior to the change. For insrance, it may
siore the location of the menu bar and all other objects on the desktop of the user
interface, along with each device that made up the configuration. Ie can store

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relevant operating parameters for the device as well, such as timing values, color

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deplll, and the like. When a new device is added, lIle display manager determines

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whether lIle changed configuration bad existed previously, and if so it attempts to
restore the display environment

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the state that existed the last time that

configuration was present, at step 60. For example, it might move the menu bar
and certain icons to the screen of a newly added display device, if lhey were
previously located on that device before it was disconnected, or set the timing of
20

an added frame buffer.
In addition to lIlese actions, at step 62 the display manager can inform

currentl y executing progranu of the

pr~encc

of the new video device, as described

in detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,682,529, lhe disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference. Furthermore , other software which is nOI executing, but

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which relates

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lIle new device, can be activated. For instance , if a graphics

accelerator card is inserted in a PC Card slot, the software associated with that
card can be automatically launched.

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 13

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PATENT
Docket: P2232-46Q
The display manager also functions at step 64 to rebuild or reconfigure

resources that might be employed by the new device. For example, in some
display modes a table lookup operatio n is carr ied out to determine the colors which
are displayed on the monito r. Differe nt applicatio n programs may utilize di(ferem

5

tables for this purpose. Typically, the window which is in the foreground of a
display controls the panicular table thai is used . Therefore. when windows are
moved onto a new display device, (or instance in accordance wit h the prefe rences
fi le, the dis play manager rebuilds the color lookup table stored in the frame buffer

for that device so that it corresponds 1 the appropriate window .
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If the device manager del.ermines at step SO that a device has been removed
from the system, rather than added, it dete rmines at step 66 whether the removed
hard ware was a video device, fo r example by reference to previously stored
information which indicated the type of card inserted into each PC Card slot, or
the like . If a determination is made that thc removed device was part of the video

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subsystem, the device manager sends a call to the display manage r 22, at step 68,
to inform it of this fact . In response thereto, tne display manager updates the
prefe rences file at step 70, to record tne· relevant parameters that pertain to the
most recent configuration. In addi tion. the display manager can allempt to restore
preferences that pertain to the new condition. Thus, for example, if the computer

20

system had two display devices and one was removed, the preferences file wou ld
be updated to store the relevant data for the two-monitor configuration, and then

searched to determine wbether it contains data fo r a one-monitor configuration.
The display manager then rebuilds the display configuration, at step 72 . For
example, if the re moved device is a video card , the display manager deletes the
2.5

assignment of a portion of the display space to the now- removed frame buffer. In
concert with this action, the display manager can also function 10 move objects that
were previously displayed o n the removed display device to an area associated

EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 14

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
Wilh a remaining display device, as described in greater detail. in U.S. Patent No.
5,682,529. If the removed device had executing software associated with it, the
display manager can cause the software

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shut down .

A special case can occur if ali frame buffers, e.g. video cards, are removed
5

from the system . Since the frame buffer is a memory-mal?ped itO device , a
program or other device could atlempt to address memory that is no longer
present. Typically, when such a situation occurs, the operating system recognizes
it as an error condition, and shuts down the process which attempted co address the
non-existent memory. However, in the system of the present invention. if an

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attempt is made to address memory in a video device, e .g. a frame buffer, the
resulting error condition is treated as an interrupt. This interrupt is relayed to the
display manager to cause it to reconfigure the display environment. and delete the
assignment of display space to the frame buffer which is no longer present.

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Anotber action that can occur upon removal of a display device is to change

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the operating mode of its display driver. More particularly. some display devices

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can operate in one mode in which adjustment of control buttons, such as brightness

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and contrast controls, is accompanied by user interface feedback. e.g. variation of
a Sliding scale on the display. This operating mode requires communication with
the computer's operating system. In another operating mode, referred to as a
20

remote mode, no such user feed?3ck is provided. In the system of the present
i nventio~,

when a display device is to be removed, the display manager instructs

its display driver to switch to the remote mode, so that no attempt is made to affect
the user interface while the device is not present.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a
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hot-plugging capability for video devices, that enables users 10 imme'diately take
advantage of changes in the display configuration of a computer system, such as
the addition of a new video card . This functionality is attained by providi ng

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 15

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
notification of the changed configuration directly to the display manager, rather
than waiting for an action that prompts the operating system to review the current
configuration, such as rebooting the computer.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present

.5

invention can be embodied in other specific fonos without departing from the spirit
or essential characteristics thereof. For example, while one embodiment of the
invention has been described in the context of the insertion and removal of video
cards that are embodied in PC Cards, it will be appreciated that the principles
which underlie the invention are not limited to this particular implementation.

10

Rather, any other suitable mechanism which accommodates the addition and
removal of a video device can benefit from the features of the present invention .
The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be
illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the

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appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come

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within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced
therein.

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EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 16

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

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A method for reconfigul"ing a computer system to accOmmodate

changes in a . Jay environment, comprising the steps of:

the addition or removal of an input/output device in the
compute r system ;

determining wbether

input/outplJt device which has been added

or removed is a video device, in response

t

id detection;

providing a notification to a display

ager that a video device has

been added or removed; and

modifying the a11ocation of display space to display

ices via said

display manager . in accordance with the addition or removal of a video de

•

2.

e.

The method of claim I wherein the video device comprises a video

IJ

card that includes a frame buffer, and said modification step includes ass igning a

r.J

portion of the display space to the frame buffer of an added video card, or deleting

'Il

the assignment of a portion of the display space to a removed video card.

111
III
III

3.

The method of claim I wherein said display manager fu rther carries

out the step of storing a preferences file that identifies the Slatus of displayed
objects prior to a change in the configuration of a computer.

4.

The method of claim 3 wherein, upon detection of the addition ofa

video device, said display manager repositions objects in said display space, in
accordance with a status stored in said preferences file .

5.

The method of claim I wherein said video device is a display

device, and said display manager carries out the step of assigning a respective

-16-

.,

I)
EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 17

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
frame buffer, which corresponds .to an allocated portion of the display space, to a
corresponding display device.

6.

The method of claim I wherein, upon detection of the addition of a

video device, said display manager causes a software program associated with the
added device to be launched.

'1.

The method of claim I wherein said display manager fu rther carries

out the step of rcconfiguring a col!lputer resource to correspond to the status of
objects located in the display space.

8.

The method of claim '1 wherein said computer resource is a color

look-up table.

9.

The method of claim I , further including the step of recognizing an

error condition resulting from an attempt to address a frame buffer that has been
removed, providing a notification to said display manager in response to said error
condition, and deleting an allocation of display space to the removed frame buffer .

ili:..

A system which provides hot-plugging capabilities for display

devices, compn .
a video
./

5

vice including a frame buffer. for storing data that defines

an image to be displayed on

associated display device;

a display manager w . h defmes a display space and assigns a
portion of said display space 10 said fram

uffer, and which provides data for

images to be displayed to said frame buffer; a

-17-

t 9
EXHIBIT J
PAGE 18

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460

a device manager which detects the addition or removal of the video
stem, and provides a notification of such addition or
to cause the assignment of a portion of the display

10

I

"-_... -

space to be modified in accordance

--

11.

The system o f claim 10, wherein said display manager launches a

software program associated with the video device in response to notification thaI
the video device has been added.

12.

,r.

The system of claim I I further including a preference file stored in

memory which indicates the status of objects being displayed when a video device

uJ

is removed.

Cl

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i:l r
11 /~'
1
I:l

A system which provides hot-plugging capabilities fo r d isplay

devices, com

III
'Il

ing:
at lea

ne display for displaying images;
er which defines a display space and assigns a

a display m

Ol

portion of said display space

[0

a

lay device, and which provides data fo r

images to be displayed on said display de '

; and

a device manager which detects th

dilion or removal of a display

device in a computer system, and provides a notification

such addition or

removal to the display manager to cause the assignment of a po . n of the display

10
L ____

space to be modified in accordance with a detected addition or remov
···~·'

14.

The system of claim 13 further including a frame buffer which is

associated with an assigned portion of the display space, and wherein said d isplay

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(1

.1

EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 19

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460
manager modifies said assignment by associating said frame buffer with said
display de vice.

15.

The system of claim 13 funher including a preference file slOred in
,

memory which indicates the Status of objects being d isplayed when a display

device is removed.

16.

A computer-readable medium containing a device manager program

and a display manager program, wherein said de vice manager program performs

lIle steps of

,

detecting lIle addition or removal of an input/output device in a

computer system,
determining whether the input/output device is a video device, and

•

providing a notification to the display manager program when a
video device is added or removed;

and wherein said display manager performs the step of:
modifying lIle allocation of display space to display devices in

10

response to said notification from the device manager.

17.

The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said display

manager further performs the steps of storing a preference file relating to the starus
of objects appearing on a display device, and restoring objects to the statuS stored
in the preferences fLle when a video device is added .

19!1

18.

The co puteNeadable medium of claim 16, wherein said display

manager performs the tep of assigning a respective frame buffer to a display

device in response to

id notification.

\

\
c.--,i

-2.•.[
EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 20

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460

19.

The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said display

manager perfonns the further step of launching a software program in response to
said notification.

20.

The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said display

manager performs the further step of reconfiguring at least one compUier resource
in accordance with the modification of the display space allocation.

o
21.
The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said computer
~ ~. ~r~ource is a color look-up table.

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i:)

•

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1:)
ill
.11
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-20-

I

2- (

EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 21

;'

PATENT
Docket: P2232-460

ABSTRAC1' OF THE DISCLOSURE
A hot-plugging capability for video devices is achieved by shifting the

responsibility for recognizing changes in the configuration of a display
environment from a computer's operating system to a device manager. When an
input/output device is added to or removed from the computer system , an interrupt
signal informs a device manager of the fact that a change in configuration has
occurred. In response therCIO, the device manager determines whether the
changed component relates

(0

the computer's display fu nction . If so, the device

manager makes a call to the computer's display manager, to inform it of the fact
thaI the d isplay configuration has changed . In response to this call., the display

. ~:

manager reconfigures the display space for the computer system and notifies

uJ

clients as appropriate, to accommodate display features associated with the added

I~

component, With this change in ,the' configuration of the display space, the added

rJ

.I:l
U,

component becomes immediately available for usc ,

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I~

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III

"

.'

EXHIBIT 9
PAGE 22