Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-05
2001-05-01
Cabeca, John (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C709S224000, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225997
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system capable of accessing a resource in which a state is dynamically changed on a network, and a communication apparatus incorporated into the communication system, said communication apparatus being adapted for receiving state information which is dynamically changed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there is increased particularly in company with generalization of a mobile computing a necessity of owning jointly through a network information representative of a resource, which will be dynamically altered in its state along with a development of network environment, for instance, the state of usage of a user computer.
On the other hand, hitherto, there is implemented a system in which resources, which will be dynamically altered in their state, for example, the state of utilization of the registered hosts, a stock price and the like are monitored, and state information is transmitted at regular intervals or at the time of alteration of the state through a network to an application which is operative on a specific client, and then displayed.
Further, there is implemented a system in which an object existing in a network is expressed by for example, an icon indicative of the associated address, and superposition of the icon and a desk-top object such as another icon, a window and the like makes it possible to perform a process (action) associated with the respective combination. It is possible to utilize such an object in another application by appending it to documents which are able to be distributed through the network, or drag and drop operations for the object into a desk-top of a window system and another window.
Since the utilization of information from resources, which will be dynamically altered in their state, on a network depends on a specific application, it is necessary for the utilization of such information to perform a complicated operation. In a window system capable of dealing with an icon representative of an object indicating a resource existing on a network, a function of dynamically reflecting a state of the resource is not implemented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a communication system and a communication apparatus capable of readily grasping a dynamically changed state.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a communication system comprising:
(1) a first communication apparatus having a state holding unit for holding variable state information and a state informing unit for holding a destination address of the state information to transmit the state information held by said state holding unit to the destination address; and
(2) a second communication apparatus connected via a network to said first communication apparatus having a plotting control for plotting one or a plurality of icons on an application, anyone of the icons being duplicatable between a plurality of mutually different applications, and said plurality of icons being increased in number by duplication, and an icon management unit for receiving the state information transmitted from said first communication apparatus to instruct said plotting control to reflect a state represented by the received state information on one or a plurality of icons plotted by said plotting control.
According to the communication system of the present invention, an icon to be displayed reflects a state per se. Thus, it is possible to readily grasp a state and an alteration of the state. In the event that an icon is duplicated in different applications, the plotting control reflects a state on a plurality of icons. This feature makes it possible to duplicate the icon as one likes, and also possible to readily grasp a state and an alteration of the state from any icon of the icons which are increased in number by the duplication.
In the communication system as mentioned above, it is preferable that said icon management unit has means for designating said first communication apparatus frequency of transmission of the state information, and said state informing unit holds frequency information of transmission of the state information in association with the destination address, and transmits to the destination address the state information at frequency according to the frequency information held in association with the destination address.
This arrangement permits the second communication apparatus to designate frequency in accordance with a type of an application in which the above-mentioned state indication icon exist and an instruction from an application, so that state information is transmitted to the application and the like at suitable frequency, and thereby reducing the load of the network.
In the communication system as mentioned above, it is preferable that said state informing unit holds discrimination information between state information indicating a transmission permission in association with the destination address and state information indicating a transmission prohibition, and transmits to the destination address the state information indicating a transmission permission according to the discrimination information held in association with the destination address.
For example, in such a situation that a network including this communication system spreads in the office and out of the office as well, the above-mentioned arrangement makes it possible to differentiate state information to be distributed to a person in the office and state information to be distributed to a person out of the office. It is acceptable that the discrimination information is determined beforehand in accordance with the receiver destination of the state information. Also it is acceptable that the discrimination information is altered upon receipt of a password from the receiving side of the state information.
Further, in the communication system as mentioned above, it is preferable that said state holding unit alters the state information held by said state holding unit in accordance with information transmitted via the network.
According to this arrangement, for example, in a server and client system in which the first communication apparatus is a server and the second communication apparatus (plural) is a client, a dynamic state of some client is transmitted via a network to the server, and the server distributes the received dynamic state to another client, so that the clients can know mutually their states through icons.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus connected to a network comprising:
a plotting control for plotting one or a plurality of icons on an application, anyone of the icons being duplicatable between a plurality of mutually different applications, and said plurality of icons being increased in number by duplication, and an icon management unit for receiving alterable state information transmitted via the network to instruct said plotting control to reflect a state represented by the received state information on one or a plurality of icons plotted by said plotting control.
This communication apparatus can be used as the second communication apparatus constituting the above-mentioned communication system.
In the above-mentioned communication apparatus, it is preferable that said plotting control consists of an assembly of plotting control units for plotting a plurality types of icons reflecting a state represented by same state information in mutually different modes, and
said icon management unit selects a plotting control unit which is in charge of plotting an icon.
According to this feature, it is possible to vary the plotting control in charge of plotting an icon in accordance with a type of an application or an instruction of the application.
In the above-mentioned communication apparatus, it is preferable that said icon management unit causes said plotting control to erase
Matsui Kazuki
Mitsuoka Madoka
Sugano Hiroyasu
Cabeca John
Fujitsu Limited
Staas & Halsey , LLP
Vu Kieu D.
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