Partial Window Visibility Virtual Display Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current operating systems and software applications lack the ability to selectively display only a portion of a software application window, as shrinking the window reduces the data display area due to fixed menu and control bar sizes, making it difficult to view specific parts of an application without clutter.
Innovation Solution
A virtual display module allows users to select and render only specific portions of a software application window on a display device, using a virtual display buffer to maintain the entire image rendering while removing unnecessary menu and control functions from the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the software application window is shrunk to make room for other applications, then the screen space utilization is improved, but the data display area becomes a smaller percentage of the viewing window due to fixed menu and control bar sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the application window rendering into multiple independent regions: the menu bar, control bars, and data display area. By segmenting the window, the system can selectively render only the data display area in a small window, while maintaining the full functionality of the application. This allows the data display area to occupy nearly 100% of the small window space, resolving the contradiction between screen space utilization and data display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the menu bar and control bars from the visible portion of the window when rendering small windows. The system maintains these elements in the virtual display buffer but excludes them from the rendered output when the window is small, effectively removing the elements that consume space without providing proportional value in compact views. This extraction allows the entire visible window area to be dedicated to data display.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire software application window is rendered on a small display area, then the data is presented in a compact view, but the menu and control bars occupy a fixed amount of space reducing the effective data display area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rendering behavior that adapts to window size. The system automatically adjusts what portions of the application window are rendered based on the window's dimensions. When the window is small, only the data display area is rendered; when the window is larger, the menu bar and control bars are included. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize data display area for each window size, resolving the contradiction between window size adaptability and effective data display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the rendering parameters based on window size. The system monitors window dimensions and adjusts the render region parameters accordingly. For small windows, the render region is set to exclude menu and control bar areas; for larger windows, the render region includes these elements. This parameter-based adaptation enables the system to maintain high data display area efficiency across different window sizes.
3Productivity
If multiple application windows are displayed simultaneously, then the user can access multiple applications, but the available screen space for each application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts unnecessary elements (menu bars, control bars) from the rendered output of small windows. By removing these space-consuming elements that are not essential for data viewing, the system maximizes the data display area within the limited space available when multiple windows are displayed simultaneously. This extraction enables more efficient space utilization across multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different rendering qualities to different regions of the window based on local needs. The data display area is rendered with high quality and full resolution, while the menu bar and control bars are either excluded or rendered at lower quality. This local quality differentiation ensures that the most important area (data display) receives maximum space allocation when multiple applications are running.
Data Source
AI summary
A video encoder/adapter comprises a virtual display module for partial rendering of a software application image. The virtual display module presents to the software application a virtual display device upon which the software application window is displayed. From the virtual display device, the user identifies one or more portions of the virtual software application window that are to be rendered on the actual display device.