Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphic processing system – Interface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-23
2003-04-29
Tung, Kee M. (Department: 2676)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphic processing system
Interface
C710S107000, C710S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06556208
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a remote image capturing system, and more particularly, relates to a screen image capturing arrangement for use in a system for transmission over a network for remote viewing and remote system management.
BACKGROUND
Computer architectures generally include a plurality of separate devices such as processors, memories, and peripheral devices, interconnected by one or more buses. For example, a host system
100
, such as a server, a workstation or a personal computer (PC), as shown in
FIG. 1
, may include at least a processor
102
, a cache (high-speed static random-access-memory, RAM)
104
, a bridge/memory controller
106
, and a memory (high-speed dynamic RAM)
108
. A local bus may provide a link between the processor
102
, the cache
104
, and the memory (high-speed dynamic RAM)
108
. As opposed to the local bus, system buses may be used as an interconnect transportation mechanism to transport data between highly integrated peripheral devices, peripheral add-in boards, and audio and video subsystems. Examples of add-in boards include a standard network adapter
112
for providing an interface to a computer network N or other communications link, a small computer systems interface (SCSI) adapter
114
for supporting a plurality of storage devices
116
such as disk drives, tape drives, and compact disk read-only-memory (CD-ROM). Also included may be an audio subsystem
118
and a video (graphics) subsystem
120
for supporting audio and video presentations via a monitor
122
and speakers (not shown). Examples of system buses for transporting data between the bridge/memory controller
106
, the standard network adapter
112
, the SCSI adapter
114
, the audio subsystem
118
and the video subsystem
120
, include a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus
110
for high speed applications.
The video subsystem
120
may include a video memory (high-speed dynamic RAM or specialized video RAM) for retaining graphics or character information for display, video registers, and a graphics (video) controller for controlling a visual display of video including animation, full-motion video, still images, and graphics. Some video subsystems
120
for use in a host system may capture individual screen images for presentations and desktop publishing applications. Unfortunately, none of these video subsystems may capture a screen image of a host system for network applications such as, for example, transmission to a remote system over a computer network for purposes of providing remote viewing, system diagnostics and system management. Moreover, neither the video memory nor the graphics controller in a video subsystem for use in a host system may be designed for access by multiple masters. The video subsystem assumes that only a single master (e.g., a host processor) will read and write to video memory to capture a screen image for video redirection from a display monitor, and that no other master will read or write to video memory. Consequently, any attempt to access video memory in a video subsystem for redirection while the host processor accesses such video memory will corrupt the video memory and disturb a screen image of a host system.
One approach to capture a screen image of a host system for transmission to a remote system over a computer network may be to remove the original video subsystem from the host system and incorporate the complete video subsystem including memory and controller into a typical network card. However, there may be two major disadvantages to this approach. The first disadvantage may be the added cost of the standard network card to support the video subsystem. The second disadvantage may be that the host system user is restricted to a particular graphics controller which is offered by a typical network card. Consequently, the host system user may be unable to take advantage of the rapid advances in latest graphics controller performances and capabilities.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a screen image capturing arrangement for use in a host system including a video subsystem. The screen image capturing apparatus may be adapted to track operations of a video subsystem of the host system, and to execute a video capture sequence of operations to capture a screen image provided by a video subsystem of the host system for transmission over a communication link.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5878248 (1999-03-01), Tehranian et al.
patent: 6026218 (2000-02-01), Klingelhofer
patent: 6098143 (2000-08-01), Humpherys et al.
patent: 6321287 (2001-11-01), Rao et al.
Congdon Bradford B.
Reddy Rama U.
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