Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1995-02-13
2001-04-17
Hong, Stephen S. (Department: 2176)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219044
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates, in general, to a conference enabled networking system and, more specifically, to the management of windows within a conferenced enabled window application distributed over a networking system. More specifically still, the present invention relates to a method of tracking the size and location of top-level windows for conference enabled X-windows applications for participants in a conference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Windows are the most fundamental of all resources formed by an X-windows application. Windows are grouped into hierarchial relationships, each having a parent (with the exception of the root window) and zero or more children. Application “top-level” windows are created as children of the root window. A window manager, if present, typically reparents these windows underneath one of its own windows in order to provide border controls for the application. From the conferencing enabler's perspective, the window is still considered to be a top-level window even though it may have been reparented by the window manager. Accordingly, a top-level application window may be defined as being one whose parent window is not owned by the application. Every application has at least one primary top-level window. “Pop-out” windows, such as, for example, pull-down menus and dialog boxes, are also generally implemented as top-level windows by X applications.
Top-level windows are of interest to the X conferencing enabler primarily for two reasons: input focus switching, and positioning of pull-down menus. Conference applications are made aware of the state, which include location, size, color, contents, etc., of top-level windows on the input focus X server. Since the application “thinks” that it is only talking to one server, it makes sense to return replies and events containing relevant window information from the input focus server. When the input focus is switched, the enabler must be able to inform a conferenced application of the different window configurations as they exist on the new input focus display. Top-level window locations are also used to correctly position pull-down menus belonging to a conferenced application for each participant.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method for allowing an X windows conferencing enabler to track top-level window configurations for participants in a conference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a conference enabled networking system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a conferenced enabled networking system with management of windows within a conferenced enabled window application distributed over a networking system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of tracking the size and location of top-level windows for conference enabled X-windows applications for participants in a conference.
The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. According to the present invention, a method and system for managing top-level windows controlled by a conference enabler is disclosed. The invention operates in a conferencing network system having a conference enabler for distributing applications to a plurality of servers. Each server has its own display. In the invention, the system identifies a top-level window sent by the conferenced application. Next, it identifies whether a top-level window is among the requests sent by the conferenced application is a root window. The system then enters a window ID associated with the top-level window into a list of top-level windows. Then, the system provides a slot associated with the top-level window within the list for storing the window configuration of the top-level window as configured by each of the participant servers.
The system further monitors communications between the conferencing application and several servers to update the step of the top level window. This monitoring includes the monitoring of events between the conferencing application and the servers to identify any changes in the window's configuration. Then, the system updates the top-level window list with the information regarding either the state or window configurations. The invention also may request event information on behalf of the conferencing application and update the top-level window list with this information while the conferencing application has no knowledge of this occurrence.
The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
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Ansberry Catherine Malia
Fuqua Todd W.
Mesterton Erik P.
Felsman Bradley Vaden Gunter & Dillon, LLP
Hong Stephen S.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lee Monica D.
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