Patent ID: 7227511

Claim:
In a computer system including a host computer, a main display unit and a remote peripheral device having an auxiliary display unit, the remote peripheral device communicating with the host computer, a method comprising: providing at the remote peripheral device notification of an event received from a source application at the host computer; responsive to a first user input at the remote peripheral device, displaying on the auxiliary display unit information associated with the event; forming a query based upon the first user input; responsive to a second user input at the remote peripheral device, executing the query to cause the source application to be launched by the host computer; displaying on the auxiliary display unit a plurality of first soft labels representing a plurality of applications, including an application associated with the event; responsive to actuation of a first button on the remote peripheral device associated with one of the first soft labels representing the application, displaying on the auxiliary display unit a plurality of second soft labels, each second soft label representing a different function within the application, the second soft labels replacing the first soft labels on the auxiliary display unit; and responsive to actuation of a second button on the remote peripheral device associated with one of the second soft labels, executing a function within the application on the remote peripheral device, wherein the first user input includes actuation of the first button followed by actuation of the second button.