| Barnes & Noble, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20110206023 | IN-STORE READING SYSTEM - A system and method for providing digital data content to a wireless device. Although a fee is typically charged for access to the digital data content, e.g., electronic books, the system and the method provides controlled access to this content for free while the wireless device is accessing the content in a specified location, e.g., a retail location. A content control server receives a request from the wireless device requesting access to the digital data content. The request is received over a secure connection, preferably a virtual private network (VPN). The content control server monitors how much of the digital data content has been provided to the wireless device, and/or an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content. This content control server uses this monitored data to control, throttle, the provision of the digital data content to the wireless device. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110090234 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF MULTIPLE DISPLAYS FROM A SINGLE VIRTUAL FRAME BUFFER - A system and process for controlling multiple displays from a single graphical stack. Frame data is written to a single virtual frame buffer from a single graphical stack. The frame data is subsequently displaced from the virtual frame buffer to a plurality of display buffers. In this manner, a plurality of displays are updated. The system and process can operate with displays with different display technologies, such as an electronic paper display and a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110090166 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING DIFFERENT GRAPHICAL DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE USER INTERACTIVITY - An electronic device comprising an electronic paper display that displays a first set of data, and a second display that displays a portion of the first set of data displayed on the electronic paper display. Preferably, the second display is a Liquid Crystal Display and displays the portion of the first set of data in color, whereas the portion is displayed on the electronic paper display in monochrome. | 04-21-2011 |