Interactive video and audio display system network interactive monitor module interface

Abstract

A device for use as an aid to computer users. The device is coupled to an associated personal computer and performs various functions which provide the user with concurrent explanations of running software, searches and multimedia integration without interfering with the functioning of the associated computer or its running software.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A device comprising: 
       a first display;  
       a first processor operatively coupled to said first display;  
       a memory operatively coupled to said first processor;  
       input means for receiving input and operatively coupled to said first processor;  
       bussing means coupled to said device for interfacing with an associated computer having a second processor and a second display;  
       mentor means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for producing on said first display a first explanation of a first computer program executing on said associated computer; and  
       search means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for searching a server for information and retrieving said information.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       diagnostic means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for diagnosing a problem with said associated computer and displaying a second explanation of said problem on said first display.  
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said server is a remote server. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein information includes still images, video images and audio. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising recording means for recording said retrieved information. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first processor is capable of executing a second computer program on said device independent of said first computer program executing on said associated computer. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said input means includes means for recognizing sounds, including voice and music. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said input means includes at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first display includes a split-screen, forming a concave surface. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first display includes a split-screen, forming a convex surface. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first explanation includes audio, video, and still images. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device further includes a port, operatively coupled to said first processor, for receiving an insert carrying specialized information to be utilized in conjunction with said first computer program. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said search means is for retrieving said information directly into said associated computer. 
     
     
       14. A device comprising: 
       a first display having an audio output;  
       a first processor operatively coupled to said first display;  
       a memory operatively coupled to said first processor;  
       bi-directional bussing means coupled to said device for interfacing with an associated computer having a second processor and a second display;  
       mentor means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for producing on said fit display a first explanation of a first computer program executing on said associated computer;  
       diagnostic means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for diagnosing a problem with said associated computer and displaying a second explanation of said problem on said first display means;  
       input means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for receiving input, said input means including means for recognizing sounds;  
       search means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for searching a server for information in response to said input and retrieving said information; and  
       recording means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for recording said retrieved information.  
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said input means includes at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said server is a remote server. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said memory includes RAM and ROM. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 14 , wherein information includes still images, video images and audio. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said first explanation and said second explanation each include audio, video, and still images. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 14 , wherein sounds include voice and music. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said first display includes a split-screen, forming a concave surface. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said first display includes a split-screen, forming a convex surface. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 14 , further including a port, operatively coupled to said first processor, for receiving an insert carrying specialized information to be utilized in conjunction with said first computer program. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said first display is a high-resolution display. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said recording means is a video/audio recorder. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said search means is for retrieving said information directly into said associated computer. 
     
     
       27. A system comprising: 
       a computer system including a second display, a second input means for receiving input, and a second processor for executing a first computer program; and  
       an interactive device, including:  
       a first display;  
       a first processor operatively coupled to said first display;  
       a memory operatively coupled to said first processor;  
       first input means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for receiving input;  
       bi-directional bussing means coupled between said computer system and said interactive device for communicating with said computer system;  
       mentor means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for producing on said first display a first explanation of said fir computer program; and  
       search means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for searching a server for information and retrieving said information.  
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
       diagnostic means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for diagnosing a problem with said computer system and displaying a second explanation of said problem on said first display.  
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said server is a remote server. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 27 , wherein information includes still images, video images and audio. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 27 , further comprising recording means for recording said retrieved information. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first processor is capable of executing a second computer program on said interactive device independent of said first computer program. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first input means includes means for recognizing sounds, including voice and music. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first input means includes at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first display includes a split-screen, forming a concave surface. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first display includes a split-screen, forming a convex surface. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first explanation includes audio, video, and still images. 
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said interactive device further includes a port, operatively coupled to said first processor, for receiving an insert carrying specialized information to be utilized in conjunction with said first computer program. 
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said search means is for retrieving said information directly into said computer system. 
     
     
       40. An interactive device for use with an associated computer, wherein said associated computer includes a second processor, a second input device, and a second display and wherein said associated computer is capable of executing one of a plurality of interactive user applications and displaying on said second display first information, said interactive device comprising: 
       a first display wherein said second display and said first display are simultaneously viewable by a user;  
       a first processor operatively coupled to said first display;  
       a first input device, operatively coupled to said first processor, including at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone for receiving a request input from a user;  
       means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for displaying on said first display in response to said request input second information integrally correlated and dynamically changing with respect to said first information, wherein said second information is different from said first information, and displaying said second information concurrently with the display of said first information, wherein said first information is displayed on said second display in response to one of said plurality of interactive user applications executing on said associated computer.  
     
     
       41. The interactive device of  claim 40 , wherein said first display operates independent of input received by said second input device. 
     
     
       42. The interactive device of  claim 40 , wherein said second information includes still images, video images, and audio. 
     
     
       43. The interactive device of  claim 42  wherein said second information is retrieved from said associated computer. 
     
     
       44. The interactive device of  claim 40 , wherein said means for displaying includes a mentor engine. 
     
     
       45. The interactive device of  claim 40 , further including a search engine, wherein said second information is retrieved from a remote device by said search engine. 
     
     
       46. A device comprising: 
       a first display;  
       a processor operatively coupled to said first display;  
       a memory operatively coupled to said first processor;  
       an input device operatively coupled to said first processor;  
       a bus adapted to be coupled to an associated computer having a second processor and a second display;  
       a mentor engine, operatively coupled to said first processor, to produce on said first display a first explanation of a first computer program executing on said associated computer; and  
       a search engine operatively coupled to said first processor.  
     
     
       47. The device of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
       a diagnostic engine operatively coupled to said first processor.  
     
     
       48. The device of  claim 46 , wherein 
       said search engine is for searching for and retrieving information from a remote device.  
     
     
       49. The device of  claim 46  wherein said search engine is searching for and retrieving information from said associated computer. 
     
     
       50. An interactive device for use with an associated computer, wherein said associated computer includes a second processor, a second input device, and a second display, and wherein said associated computer is capable of displaying on said second display first information, said interactive device comprising: 
       
         a first display, wherein said second display and said first display are simultaneously viewable by a user;  
       
       
         a first processor operatively coupled to said first display;  
       
       
         a first input device, operatively coupled to said first processor, including at least one of a key entry device, a pointing device, and an audio input device for receiving a request input from a user; and  
       
       
         means, operatively coupled to said first processor, for displaying on said first display in response to said request input second information integrally correlated and dynamically changing with said first information, wherein said second information is different from said first information, and displaying said second information concurrently with the display of said first information, wherein said first information is displayed on said second display in response to a user application executing on said associated computer. 
       
     
     
       51. The interactive device of  claim 50 , wherein: 
       
         said key entry device is either a keypad or a keyboard;  
       
       
         a pointing device includes a mouse; and  
       
       
         an audio input device includes a microphone. 
       
     
     
       52. The interactive device of  claim 50 , wherein 
       
         said second information, although different, is related to said first information, and  
       
       
         said second information is unessential to the display of said first information. 
       
     
     
       53. An interactive device for use with an associated computer, wherein said associated computer includes a second processor and a second display, and wherein said second display displays first information that dynamically changes, said interactive device comprising: 
       
         a first display, wherein said second display and said first display are simultaneously viewable by a user;  
       
       
         a first processor in communication with said first display;  
       
       
         a user input device, in communication with said first processor;  
       
       
         means, in communication with said first processor, for displaying on said first display second information, wherein said second information is:  
       
       
         dynamically changing with said first information so that when said first information changes, said second information changes in a correlated manner,  
       
       
         unessential to the display of said first information, and  
       
       
         related to, but different from, said first information. 
       
     
     
       54. The interactive device of  claim 53 , wherein a user input device is either a key entry device, a pointing device, or an audio input device. 
     
     
       55. The interactive device of  claim 54 , wherein: 
       
         said key entry device is either a keypad or a keyboard;  
       
       
         a pointing device includes a mouse; and  
       
       
         an audio input device includes a microphone. 
       
     
     
       56. The interactive device of  claim 53 , wherein said second information dynamically changes with said first information every time said first information changes. 
     
     
       57. The interactive device of  claim 53 , wherein said second information dynamically changes with said first information at least some of the time when said first information changes. 
     
     
       58. A method, comprising: 
       
         executing an application on a system that includes a second processor, a second user input device, and a second display, and displaying first information related to said application on said second display, where said first information dynamically changes;  
       
       
         displaying second information on a first display that is simultaneously viewable by a user with said second display, wherein said first is associated with a device that includes a first processor and a first user input device, wherein said second information is:  
       
       
         dynamically changing with said first information so that when said first information changes, said second information changes in a correlated manner,  
       
       
         unessential to the display of said first information, and  
       
       
         related to, but different from, said first information. 
       
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 58 , wherein said second information is dynamically changing with said first information every time said first information changes. 
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 58 , wherein said second information is dynamically changing with said first information at least some of the time when said first information changes. 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 58 , wherein said second information is related to, but different from, said first information in that said second information provides an explanation of said first information. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 58 , wherein said second information is related to, but different from said first information in that said second information is supplemental to said first information. 
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 58 , wherein said second information is related to, but different from said first information in that said second information is generated by a separate application from said application executed on said system. 
     
     
       64. A method for use by a device having a first display and a first processor, comprising: 
       
         receiving a signal from a second device that includes a second display and a second processor, where the second device is displaying first information that dynamically changes on said second display;  
       
       
         displaying on said first display, which is simultaneously viewable with said second display, second information in response to said signal, wherein said second information is:  
       
       
         dynamically changing with said first information so that when said first information changes, said second information changes in a correlated manner,  
       
       
         unessential to the display of said first information, and  
       
       
         related to, but different from, said first information. 
       
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 64 , wherein said second information is dynamically changing with said first information every time said first information changes. 
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 64 , wherein said second information is dynamically changing with said first information at least some of the time when said first information changes. 
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 64 , wherein said second information is related to, but different from, said first information in that said second information provides an explanation of said first information. 
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 64 , wherein said second information is related to, but different from said first information in that said second information is supplemental to said first information. 
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 64 , wherein said second information is unessential to the display of said first information in that the processor generating said second information does not control or instruct the second processor in the display of said first information. 
     
     
       70. A storage medium for use with a device having a first display and a first processor and having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by said first processor, perform the steps of: 
       
         receiving a signal from a second device that includes a second display and a second processor, where the second device is displaying first information that dynamically changes on said second display;  
       
       
         displaying on said first display, which is simultaneously viewable with said second display, second information in response to said signal, wherein said second information is:  
       
       
         dynamically changing with said first information so that when said first information changes, said second information changes in a correlated manner,  
       
       
         unessential to the display of said first information, and  
       
       
         related to, but different from, said first information.