Abstract: Novel methods and devices comprising magnetic particles for detecting or monitoring the coagulation state of a sample are provided.

Abstract: A system for policy-based applications may be developed by using non-device specific policies that are executed on a policy engine. During installation, available sensor devices are identified by metadata that describes the devices within a taxonomy of sensor devices, and a separate device policy may be installed and executed by each sensor device. The policy engine, in conjunction with the sensor devices operating a device policy, may be execute a wide range of applications. In many applications, a sensor device may detect that a first policy engine is not available and send communications to a second policy engine that may be accessed through the Internet.

Abstract: This invention provides for a pet identification tag 10 which includes a display portion 12, an information sheet 16, and a backing portion 14. Also included is an attachment means 18 for attaching said tag 10 to a collar of a pet.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a specific gadget program is installed (e.g., created) on a main host computer system that receives data (e.g., an RSS feed) from a distribution source, in which the feed data contains the information needed to install the gadget. Once installed, gadget is then used to receive content from its corresponding data source and provide the content for display on an auxiliary display device. The feed data may include metadata such as a gadget-related enclosure, from which the installer may register information corresponding to the metadata in a registry or the like, and associate the gadget with one or more particular auxiliary displays. By processing the metadata, the other gadget is installed and then run as needed to handle content data from the corresponding data source, in order to render content on an auxiliary display.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a device pre-enables application programs of a computer system to work with the device when the device is connected to the computer system. A set of data is obtained from a device, such as by an installer at installation time. The set of data includes information that identifies one or more computer system application programs that the device desires to work with when each application program runs. When the data set is obtained, the application program is enabled (e.g., given appropriate permissions) such that the application program may communicate data with the device when the program is run on the computer system. In one implementation, a device driver provides an installer with access to the data set, which may also include additional information such as application configuration parameters. The installer may be automatically run on the computer system upon initial device detection.

Abstract: An auxiliary computing device normally used for remotely controlling a primary device may change its functionality and extend its usefulness based on a usage context. An auxiliary device may change its usage context by connecting differently to a primary device depending on any number of parameters including distance from the device, battery life, connection method, and proximity to other devices. The device may change its usage context by interfacing with a primary device service that communicates with various applications to feed the auxiliary device different information in different usage contexts. Further, the device may control different functions of the primary device based on the usage context.

Abstract: Described is the outputting of a representation of complex state or other information to an output mechanism, such as computer program state data, in which the output of the state information is configurable. The state information is conveyable via the output mechanism, which may be an auxiliary display device, such as at least one LED and/or luminescent strip, and which may be viewed from a large distance relative to text and graphics displays, and/or remotely on a peripheral device. Logic receives state data from a data source such as an application program, and applies configuration data such as rules and/or user defined preferences to selectively control the output to be conveyed. Various state data may be conveyed via differing colors, differing numbers of LEDs illuminated, differing brightness, differing color intensity, differing hue and/or differing flash/pulse patterns. State information that is output is updatable when some state change occurs.

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.

Abstract: A monitoring system (1) for maintaining an optimal environment within interior spaces, including a dehumidification system (10) including a controller having a humidity sensor switch that turns the dehumidifier (12), as well as the plurality of fans (14), on and off based on the ambient humidity of the area in which the dehumidification system (10) is placed. Additionally, the dehumidification system includes a user interface unit (16) that is separate from the dehumidifier (12), and that can be used to operate the dehumidification system (10) from remote locations.

Abstract: The reproduction of one or more selected regions from a primary desktop onto an extended desktop, without any other portion of the primary desktop, is disclosed. The user or a software application may thereby have discretion as to what is and is not presented on the extended desktop. Selected regions may be windows, regions that are custom-defined regardless of whether they include a window, or even pre-defined non-window regions. Because the selected regions are already on the user's primary desktop, the user is always able to view and manipulate the extended desktop, by manipulation of the primary desktop, without having to do anything special. In addition, windows or other regions that are obscured by other object on the primary desktop are not necessarily obscured on the extended desktop. An application programming interface is also described that allows a software application and/or a software developer to access reproduction functionality.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which an auxiliary computing device comprising a display and/or actuator set coupled to a host computer system may be interacted with (e.g., viewed) independent of whether a main display of the host computer system is visible, e.g., whether a laptop lid or tablet lid is open or closed. In one example implementation, the auxiliary device is located above the keyboard and the main display slightly elevated on one or more pivoting supports. This effectively provides an opening in the lid through which the auxiliary device may be viewed.

Abstract: Described is a system and method comprising a content format by which client programs running on a main computer system may provide data to various types of auxiliary display devices. The format, which may be XML-based, provides menu pages comprising a list of selectable items, content pages comprising text and images, and dialog pages providing text, images and one or more actionable options. The text and images may be accompanied by requested formatting information, e.g., specifying emphasis, color, alignment, wrapping and/or fit to the screen. An auxiliary device can parse the content to display as much as possible, particularly information recognized (via content tags) as significant, and use the formatting information to the extent of its capabilities. Virtual buttons may be defined for page navigation and/or item selection. Pages of the content format may be cached for operation when the main computer system is offline from the auxiliary display device.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which the operation of an auxiliary computing device, comprising a display and/or actuator set, may be automatically modified based on detected state data. For example, user input may be routed from the actuator set to the host computer system when the host computer system is in an online state, or to the auxiliary computing device when the host computer system is offline. State may be determined based on one or more various criteria, such as online or offline, laptop lid position, display orientation, current communication and/or other criteria. The auxiliary display and/or actuator set may be embedded in the host computer system, or each may be separable from it or standalone, such as a remote control or cellular phone.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved systems and methods for communicating information between an auxiliary display device and a primary display device. Methods and systems for automatic cross-display coordination between an auxiliary and primary display device through the use of executable command lines are provided. In at least one embodiment, a user of a user computer may determine what features of an application are associated with executable command lines and displayed on an auxiliary device. In yet other embodiments, an API is provided to allow a user to select or manually enter command lines to execute on a primary display device. Yet further aspects of the invention, the auxiliary display device is used to remotely produce a visual output on a primary display device.

Abstract: Described is a system and method including an auxiliary display platform having an interface (API) set that provides a way for client applications running on a main computer system to interact with various types of auxiliary displays, irrespective of differences between various device implementations. Interaction includes displaying content and notifications provided by the application, and returning events to the application. In one implementation the API set comprises a set of COM objects that register and perform configuration checks of a client application, send content and notifications to attached devices, and return events from the attached devices. The application may send data to an endpoint corresponding to a communication destination (e.g., a particular auxiliary device application) and a contract (e.g., a format) for the data. The platform and API set thus provide an abstraction layer for applications to provide information independent of any particular auxiliary device implementation.

Abstract: In response to a user instruction to initiate media playback, which instruction may come from a dedicated media playback hardware button or from a user interface on a display screen, a computer operating system activates a predesignated media playback user account. The account may be limited to access of media playback applications and files located within shared directories. The operating system also launches a media playback application in response to the user instruction to initiate media playback. Instead of activating an account in response to a media playback instruction, the operating system can execute a media player application within a login screen.

Abstract: Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and/or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts a notification into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the notification as desired for its particular hardware device before the notification is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output notifications on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.

Abstract: Described is a method and system a system and method for dynamically and intelligently configuring a computer system's video-related settings upon connection of a monitor, and/or reconfiguring upon disconnection. A monitor configuration may include one or more display mechanisms, their video settings, relative positioning, and may include power scheme data. When a monitor is plugged into or unplugged from a computer system, a monitor manager component is notified and determines the current configuration, such as based on monitor identifiers. The current configuration is searched against persisted monitor configurations seeking a match. If previous monitor configuration data is found, the previous monitor configuration is applied. If not an exact match, configuration data is constructed based on similar configuration data that is persisted, or by querying for capabilities and iterating as necessary to find a video mode that the video card and monitor can use.

Abstract: An auxiliary computing device wakes an associated main computer system to obtain data as needed, on-demand and/or in anticipation of demand. The wakeup operation is ordinarily temporary to fetch data, whereby only a small amount of power is consumed by the main computer system. In one implementation, a control channel between the auxiliary device and the main computer system is used to signal a wakeup. A main data channel is used to obtain the data, whereby the auxiliary device has access to a larger amount of data than it can cache. Moreover, the components of the main computer system may be leveraged, such as to use the main computer system's digital rights management mechanisms. Additional data may be intelligently requested by the auxiliary device while the main computer system is powered up, e.g., to buffer media, and/or request a synchronization of calendar data, email data, and so forth.

Abstract: Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and/or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts the information into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the information as desired for its particular hardware device before the information is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output information on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.