Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral adapting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-01
2001-10-16
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral adapting
C358S296000, C358S296000, C348S416100, C382S234000, C345S205000, C345S205000, C345S419000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304928
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to the field of sharing application programs and, more specifically, to the optimization of the transmission of data from a shared application to 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 between 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 for transmitting display orders (output data) from a host computer system to a shadow computer such that display orders whose visible effect is nullified by a subsequent display order is not transmitted. The Share System executes on both the host and shadow computer systems. The Share System that executes on the host computer system, receives a group of display orders. For each of the received display orders, the Share System determines whether the effect of the display order on the display would be visible after performing all of the display orders. When the effect of the display order on the display would be visible, the Share System transmits the display order to the shadow computer system such that the shadow computer system does not receive display orders that would have no visible effect after performing all of the display orders.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method for transmitting pixel data from a first computer system to a second computer system. The pixel data has a high pixel depth. The first computer system has a first translator for translating pixel data from the high pixel depth to a low pixel depth. The second computer system has a second translator for translating from the high pixel depth to a low pixel depth. The second computer system also has a display device for displaying pixel data in the low pixel depth. The Share System determines whether the first translator or the second translator performs a more accurate translation of the high pixel depth to the low pixel depth. When it is determined that the first translator performs a more accurate translation, the Share System translates the pixel data using the first translator from the high pixel depth to the low pixel depth and sends the pixel data in the low pixel depth from the first computer system to the second computer system. Upon receiving the sent pixel data in the low pixel depth at the second computer system, the Share System displays the pixel data in the low pixel depth. When it is determined that the second translator performs a more accurate translation, the Share System sends the pixel data in the high pixel depth from the first computer system to the second computer system. Upon receiving the sent pixel data in the high pixel depth at the second computer, the Share System translates the pixel data using the second translator from the high pixel depth to the low pixel depth and displays the pixel data in the low pixel depth.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method for transmitting data output from a first computer system to a second computer system. Under control of the second computer system, the Share System sends to the first computer system an identification of each font supported by the second computer system. Under control of the first computer system, the Share System receives the sent identifications of each font supported by the second computer system, receives a request to display text data in a specified font, and checks the received identifications to determine whether the second computer supports the specified font. When it is determined that the second computer system supports the specified font, the Share System sends the text data along with an identification of the specified font to the second computer system. When it is determined that the second computer system does not support the specified font, the Share System generates a bitmap representation of the text data in the specified font and sends the generated bitmap representation of the text data to the second computer program. Under control of the second computer system, the Share System upon receiving the sent text data and the identification of the specified font, displays the text data in the specified font, and upon receiving the sent bitmap representation of the text data, displays the bitmap representation.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method for transmitting representations of bitmaps from a first computer system to a second computer system. The Share System caches bitmaps that are sent twice from the first to the second computer system. After caching a bitmap, the Share System sends an indication of the bitmap that is cached, rather than the bitmap itself.
In another aspect of the present invention, the Share System provides a method in a computer system for compress
Batty John P.
Berry Mark E.
Downes Anthony M.
Hughes Kenneth P.
MacFarquhar Roderick F.
Lee Thomas
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Microsoft Corporation
Peyton Tammara
LandOfFree
Compressing/decompressing bitmap by performing exclusive- or... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Compressing/decompressing bitmap by performing exclusive- or..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compressing/decompressing bitmap by performing exclusive- or... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2576000