Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-30
2002-08-20
Sax, Steven (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06437776
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention is considered to be a special computer application of a new field wherein two or more distinct and separate computer environments can exist on a single video monitor screen performing usual tasks including video conferencing. This invention can encompass more than two separate environments and can be utilized with more than one video monitor to ease the visual separation of such multiple applications in the video monitor screens. These extended applications of separate environments and functions would be based on a single computer system with usual configuration and software. As this is a new field, no classification exists with the usual prior patents and experience.
One object of the invention is to perform video conferencing without overlaying the existing environment, but perform in a separate environment that will allow normal and usual use of the computer while video conferencing. The result of this new application is to offer separate and distinct computer environments in which each can perform all usual tasks and which can be expanded to other computer sites as well in a system for video conferencing or other tasks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The increase in benefits and functions of the modern computer has been continuous and expanding over recent years, and the advent of video conferencing as discussed herein has further expanded this horizon and function. Improvements in computer technology have been dramatic and rapid with regard to the benefits to the user. As the mechanical speed and scope of the computer have increased, so have functions and services, such as video conferencing, increased. It seems now common that computers are connected to telephone lines which expand outside services such as the InterNet and “e-mail” to these machines.
The standard and usual functions and services for computers has been in a single environment which has developed into a variety of functions and currently enhanced through the windows applications. From the basic DOS language there have been many upgrades which have diversified the services for the user and have made the computer easier and faster to use. The upgrade applications include word processing, recordskeepping, accounting, office services, inventories, labels and shipping, as well as banking, payments, and even personal services in a variety of commercially supplied applications. The variety and the competition for these programs has developed into different competing systems using the single monitor screen, and several environments have been built up to serve this single stand alone monitor with some beneficial and some confusing results. In some situations an upgraded DOS program can exist in one environment and yet, divide the monitor screen with an environment using O/S-2, the IBM language in another program.
The convenience offered by the windows programs has proven invaluable to the average user and to users such as airlines and travel agents which benefit from similtaneous multiple interactions showing activities of flight schedules, prices, itineraries, routes, and even hotels and auto rentals to book while on the single screen environment. Windows systems prove equally valuable with program managers, help and instructions, and separate independent work functions that can be drawn up to view in a window. The modern computer system has many upgrades in programs and operating systems that offer a vast array of choices and activities that all function in the single stand alone monitor.
One of these choices is in video conferencing in a single environment wherein a “window” is set aside in a corner or margin that shows the image seen by the small video camera located upon a monitor. This image can be from your site, or from other remote sites anywhere in the world, that have similar video camera capability. To be active in the teleconferencing your image returns to these remote sites when you speak. Although the demands on computer memory and function are high, the acceptance and use of video teleconferencing is increasing.
Since this invention is in a new field of technology which has not previously existed, the development of prior patent experience can cite only examples of patents based upon related fields and the patents that build and serve the development of this technology.
In the basic applications of video conferencing the difficulty of emcompassing several or multiple languages when added onto the single environment such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,043, Oct. 8, 1996 of Siefert is simplified and managed by my invention. My additional environment has as a configuration manager the ability to pass tables and data values to other application tables and sites involving a similar system as cited through U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,699, Aug. 8, 1995 of Ferrand, et al., yet continuing to provide dependent and subordinate tables and field values that operate independently but maintain data linking.
In video conferencing such as cited in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,662, Jul. 30, 1996 of Adams, et al. my new program has expanded this perspective into an additional environment that receives audio, video, and data streams of information and separates the types of data to the appropriate channels for processing. As seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,724, Sep. 17, 1996 of Sampat, et al. wherein the video conferencing will interact and overlay portions of the Windows in the single environment, my invention has a specific application for the video in the additional environment that is separate and yet combines the needed functions. These additional environments can utilize existing data streams and channel products as requisite and as presented by multiple input sources, and combine or unify to interface the controls and functions with a specific integration to a specific program and application. My invention can extend this unique application of an additional environment into multiple additional separate environments and additional video monitors or other visual systems as needed whenever these functions of added environments would be useful and desired. In this multiple configuration many computer tasks can be kept separate and functioning clearly for the user, and yet based upon only one usual computer system and software.
The advantage and convenience of my invention is clear and with the features of the additional environments, and which include the programable single click buttons which can expand the services and functions of computer use. The separated environments allows features as cited in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,796, Jun. 25, 1996 of Wang to locate and establish a menu bar that utilizes custom applications and task managers to provide the needed adaptive and reliable menuing and tool bar configuration. Following the examples of U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,195, Jun. 4, 1996 of Clanton, III, et al., my environment is able to utilize the animated sprites and the smart agents to provide graphical online help to programs, functions, commands, and operations.
The many advantages of the second and additional environments as developed herein will show features that the computer user will appreciate and value in the clarity of the video, the design as user friendly, the competence of the program, the ability to adapt for the various inputs and computer languages, separate tasks and job functions, even in foreign language applications, and the extension of range and function of the user's computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of computers wherein we can have two or more separate environments in which the additional environments are activated while the original environment is available for all usual computer tasks. Thus, two or more separate operations can be maintained simultaneously with all the typical tasks available within each of the separate multiple environments. Environment 2 can maintain video teleconferencing in all of its functions while environment 1 can maintain its usual tasks.
This invention can encompass more than two separate environments and can be utilized on m
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