Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-10
2001-09-04
Sax, Steven (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285363
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a computer method and system for sharing application programs and, more specifically, to a method and system for sharing application programs between a host computer system and a shadow computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The modern workplace is increasingly reliant on the use of networks. A network is a group of computer systems and associated devices that are connected by communications facilities. A network enables the transfer of electronic information among computer systems. Typically, each of the computer systems has local applications which may be invoked at that computer system. The local applications may receive input from a user at that computer system. Also, a local application displays output at that computer system.
It is useful for a user to be able to share an application invoked at a host computer system with another user at a shadow computer system. For example, sharing an application which generates a word processing document may assist an editor who is working with a writer to publish a document. In particular, the editor may wish to edit the document at the host computer system, while the writer views the document at the shadow computer system. In this manner, the writer may also provide input to the shared application and modify the document based on the editor's comments. Immediately, the editor may review this revised document. In addition, sharing an application may be useful for diagnostic testing by a technical person upon receiving questions from a user. For example, if the user has found that an application is not working properly, then the user may desire to share the application with the technical person. Then, the technical person can attempt to solve the problem, receiving input from the user describing the problem as needed.
Some conventional computer systems allow a user at a host computer system to share an application with a user at a shadow computer system. These conventional computer systems typically display the output of the shared application within a shadow window that is contained within a top-level window. The top-level window is created and controlled by the program that coordinates the sharing of the application. Unfortunately, because the shadow window is not a top-level window, the shadow window may not be minimized or maximized under the control of the operating system.
In addition, these conventional systems typically do not negotiate control of the shared application. Instead, either user may input data to the shared application, and all data is passed in to the application in the order it is entered. Moreover, typically, a user who is sharing an application may either view the application or control it (i.e., provide input to it). Conventional systems do not enable a user who is sharing an application to use non-shared applications. It may be useful, however, for a user to be able to use a non-shared application and still be able to view a shared application.
Also, various computer systems within a network may have differing display resolutions. For example, some computer systems may have a display resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels and other computer systems may have a display resolution of 640 by 480. Thus, it would be useful when sharing an application to accommodate the different display resolutions.
Furthermore, since the user of a shared application at the shadow computer system actually views the output in real time, it is important that the speed of transmission of the output data from the host to the shadow computer systems be optimized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is a Share System that provides a method in a computer system for displaying data generated by a shared application on a host computer system on both a host display of the host computer system and a shadow display of a shadow computer system. The host computer system has a window manager for managing windows displayed on the host display. The shadow computer system has a window manager for managing windows displayed on the shadow display. Under control of the host computer system, the Share System executes the shared application. Then, the Share System registers a host window with the windowing system of the host computer system. Upon registration of the host window, the Share System sends a notification of registration of the host window to the shadow computer system. At the shadow computer system, the Share System receives the sent notification of registration of the host window. Upon receiving the sent notification of registration of the host window, the Share System registers a shadow window with the windowing system of the shadow computer system so that the windowing system of the shadow computer system can send messages to the shadow window and receive data to display in the shadow window.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method in a computer system of coordinating z-ordering of shared windows on a host computer system with shadow windows on a shadow computer system. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the shared windows and the shadow windows. The Share System first displays the shared windows on the host computer system with the shared windows having a z-ordering. Next, the Share System displays the shadow windows on the shadow computer system with the shadow windows having a z-ordering. When the z-ordering of the shared windows is modified at the host computer system, the Share System sends a notification to the shadow computer system. Upon receiving the sent notification, the Share System at the shadow computer system modifies the z-ordering of the shadow windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the shared windows.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method in a computer system for establishing input control of a shared application executing on a host computer system. The shared application has output that is displayed on both a host display of the host computer system and a shadow display of a shadow computer system. Input control indicates whether the shared application is to receive input exclusively from the host computer system or exclusively from the shadow computer system. Initially, the input control is with the host computer system. The Share System detects that a user of the shadow computer system is requesting that the shadow computer system be given input control. The Share system sends a request to the host computer system that input control be changed to the shadow computer system. Then the Share System at the host computer system receives the sent request that input control be changed to the shadow computer system. Next, the Share System changes input control to the shadow computer system so that input generated by the user of the shadow computer system is sent to the shared application and input generated by a user of the host computer system is not sent to the shared application.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method for detaching a computer system from input control of a shared application executing on a host computer system. The shared application has output data that are displayed on the host computer system and shadow computer systems. The Share System first receives an indication from a user at the host computer system to detach from input control of the shared application. Then upon receiving changes to the output data from the shared application, the Share System updates the displayed output data on both the host and the shadow computer systems. Upon receiving input directed by the user of the host computer system, the Share System sends the input to the shared application. Upon receiving input directed by the user of the shadow computer system to the shared application, the Share System discards the received input without sending it to the shared application.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method in a computer system for resolving display resolution difference
Batty John P.
Downes Anthony M.
Hughes Kenneth P.
MacFarquhar Roderick F.
Mairs Christopher J.
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Microsoft Corporation
Sax Steven
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