Alternate display content controller

A network portal in a computer system for enabling unobscured display of output generated from a network on a video display system, the computer system having an operating system display interface that enables an operating system user interface to display itself on a first display area of the video display system, comprising:

• display area adjuster that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system to create a second display area that is capable of displaying output that is not obscured by output from the operating system display interface and which cannot be controlled by the operating system;
• and
• display transfer facility that writes the output generated from the network to the second display area so that the output generated from the network is displayed in conjunction with the operating system user interface.

A computer-readable memory medium containing instructions for controlling a computer processor of a computer system to display unobscured output of a video display system, the computer system having an operating system display interface that enables an operating system user interface to display itself on a first display area of the video display system, the output for unobscured display generate from a network associated with the computer system, by:

• adjusting the display parameters of the video display system to create a second display area that is capable of displaying output that is not obscured by output from the operating system display interface and which cannot be controlled by the operating system;
• and
• writing the output generated from the network to the second display area so that the output generated from the network is displayed in conjunction with the operating system user interface.

A method in a computer system for displaying designated output on a video display system, the computer system having an operating system display interface that enables an operating system user interface to display itself on a first display area of the video display system, comprising:

• adjusting the display parameters of the video display system in a manner transparent to the operating system to create a second display area that is capable of displaying output that is not obscured by output from the operating system display interface;
• and
• writing the designated output to the second display area so that the designated output is displayed in conjunction with the operating system user interface, wherein the method is performed by one of a service of the operating system and an application program.

A display controller in a computer system having an operating system display interface that enables an operating system user interface to display itself on a first display area of a video display system, comprising:

• display adjustment facility that adjusts the display parameters of the video display system in a manner transparent to the operating system to create a second display area that is capable of displaying output that is not obscured by output from the operating system display interface;
• and
• display transfer mechanism that writes designated output to the second display area so that the designated output is displayed in conjunction with the operating system user interface wherein the display controller is invoked as one of a service of the operating system and an application program.