Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling a docking station comprise establishing, by the wireless access point, a USB connection tunnelled over a local area wireless network connection with the mobile device, receiving, by the wireless access point over the USB connection, a request for an Internet Protocol (IP) or a Media Access Control (MAC) network address of the display controller, transmitting, by the wireless access point in response to the request, the IP or the MAC network address of the display controller to the mobile device over the USB connection, and receiving, by the wireless access point, the at least video data addressed to the IP or the MAC network address of the display controller and switching the at least video data addressed to the IP or the MAC network address of the display controller directly to the display controller without passing via the USB controller.

Abstract: A number of computing devices are controlled from a touchscreen display system using a Touch Intermediator Machine (TIM) receiving information indicating the location of one or more touches on a connected touchscreen panel. The TIM determines whether the pattern of touches received matches one of a pre-programmed set of interface manipulation gestures. If so, the TIM alters the user interface presented on the connected touchscreen display system depending on the gesture detected. If not, the TIM determines the connected computing device associated with the location of the touch received and updated coordinates of the touch received within an area on the touchscreen display system associated with the connected computing device. The TIM transmits information to the relevant connected computing device regarding the touch received. The computing device processes the information to determine the pattern of touches received and responds according to predetermined instructions for user interaction.

Abstract: A method of displaying a portion of an image (13) on a mobile device (15b) having a screen by communicatively coupling the mobile device (15b) to a computer device (11) displaying an image (13) on a display (12) under the control of the computer device (11), receiving image data relating to the image (13) from the computer device (11), and displaying an area (16b) of the image (13) on the screen of the mobile device (15b), the area (16b) having a magnification factor compared to the image (13). The magnification factor may be selected by the user according to the level of detail that is required and therefore allows the user to view the magnified area (16b) more privately, which may be appropriate in a presentation context where a member of the audience has difficulty seeing the screen and wishes to instead view the presentation or magnified sections of it on a hand-held device.

Abstract: A number of computing devices (13) are controlled from a touchscreen display system (11) using a Touch Intermediator Machine (TIM) (12) receiving information indicating the location of one or more touches on a connected touchscreen panel (11). The TIM (12) determines whether the pattern of touches received matches one of a pre-programmed set of interface manipulation gestures. If so, the TIM (12) alters the user interface presented on the connected touchscreen display system (11) depending on the gesture detected. If not, the TIM (12) determines the connected computing device (13) associated with the location of the touch received and updated co-ordinates of the touch received within an area on the touchscreen display system (11) associated with the connected computing device (13). The TIM (12) transmits information to the relevant connected computing device (13) regarding the touch received.

Abstract: A method of displaying a portion of an image (13) on a mobile device (15b) having a screen by communicatively coupling the mobile device (15b) to a computer device (11) displaying an image (13) on a display (12) under the control of the computer device (11), receiving image data relating to the image (13) from the computer device (11), and displaying an area (16b) of the image (13) on the screen of the mobile device (15b), the area (16b) having a magnification factor compared to the image (13). The magnification factor may be selected by the user according to the level of detail that is required and therefore allows the user to view the magnified area (16b) more privately, which may be appropriate in a presentation context where a member of the audience has difficulty seeing the screen and wishes to instead view the presentation or magnified sections of it on a hand-held device.

Abstract: A system to enable a computer to provide output to a display over a general-purpose data transmission medium, such as USB. The system includes provision of a plurality of display interface components, each display interface component adapted to receive display data and transmission of the display data to the display via the general-purpose data transmission medium. Each component is associated with a respective stage of operation of the system. The system is configured to use a respective one of the display interface components during each of a plurality of distinct operational stages.

Abstract: A method of determining which of at least two connected mobile devices is to function as a host device, wherein the mobile devices first determine which of them is to act as an initial host device and which is to act as an initial peripheral device. The initial host device then receives instructions from a user as to which of the mobile devices is to be the host device. If the instructions indicate that the initial host device is to be the host device, the initial host device controls, as host device, the initial peripheral device as a peripheral device, and if the instructions indicate that the initial peripheral device is to be the host device, the initial host device passes control to the initial peripheral device to enable the initial peripheral device to control, as host device, the initial host device as a peripheral device.

Abstract: A method, at a host device (10), of managing memory (28) of a display control device (16), the memory (28) being used for storing display data sent from the host device (10) to the display control device (16) for display. The method involves maintaining a map (18) at the host device (10) corresponding to the memory (28) at the display control device, the map (18) indicating locations corresponding to addresses of the memory (28) at which data is stored or not. The map (18) is used to determine a size of a portion of the display data, and a location on the map (18) where the portion of display data would fit into the memory. An address in the memory (28) corresponding to the determined location on the map (18), together with the portion of display data, is then sent to the display control device (16), and the location on the map (18) corresponding to the address in the memory (28) is updated to indicate that the address has data stored in it.

Abstract: A method of determining which of at least two connected mobile devices is to function as a host device, wherein the mobile devices first determine which of them is to act as an initial host device and which is to act as an initial peripheral device. The initial host device then receives instructions from a user as to which of the mobile devices is to be the host device. If the instructions indicate that the initial host device is to be the host device, the initial host device controls, as host device, the initial peripheral device as a peripheral device, and if the instructions indicate that the initial peripheral device is to be the host device, the initial host device passes control to the initial peripheral device to enable the initial peripheral device to control, as host device, the initial host device as a peripheral device.

Abstract: A method, at a host device (10), of managing memory (28) of a display control device (16), the memory (28) being used for storing display data sent from the host device (10) to the display control device (16) for display. The method involves maintaining a map (18) at the host device (10) corresponding to the memory (28) at the display control device, the map (18) indicating locations corresponding to addresses of the memory (28) at which data is stored or not. The map (18) is used to determine a size of a portion of the display data, and a location on the map (18) where the portion of display data would fit into the memory. An address in the memory (28) corresponding to the determined location on the map (18), together with the portion of display data, is then sent to the display control device (16), and the location on the map (18) corresponding to the address in the memory (28) is updated to indicate that the address has data stored in it.

Abstract: A system to enable a computer to provide output to a display over a general-purpose data transmission medium, such as USB. The system includes provision of a plurality of display interface components, each display interface component adapted to receive display data and transmission of the display data to the display via the general-purpose data transmission medium. Each component is associated with a respective stage of operation of the system. The system is configured to use a respective one of the display interface components during each of a plurality of distinct operational stages.