US5388268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of indicating states of software processes cooperating on a single task
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1994-04-28
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Granted: 1995-02-07
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Expires: 2014-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A visual display system providing an operator simultaneous descriptions of the states of many cooperating sub-processes working on a task and residing in various instruments in a distributed system. A server process is connected to receive and translate status signals from the sub-processes into a standardized language. The translated signals are interpreted by a screen manipulation program. A monitor, connected to the server process, displays the interpreted signals to show the states of the sub-processes. The visual indication on the monitor includes a plurality of representations of indicator lights. Each indicator light indicates the state of one of the sub-processes. Next to each indicator light is an identifier which identifies the sub-process represented by the indicator light. The visual indication also includes two types of meters. One type of meter indicates the speed of one of the sub-processes and the other indicates the amount of data used at any given time by one of the sub-processes. Finally, a picture of each of the operators using the system is also included in the indication. In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented to monitor a rule-based programming environment using the X Window System.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian W. Beach
- 👤 Anand Deshpande
- 👤 Wendy L. Fong
- 👤 Pankaj K. Garg
- 👤 Audrey K. Ishizaki
- 👤 Thuan Q. Pham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/328; G06F11/321; G06F11/322; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/97
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
In a distributed computer system comprising a plurality of instruments, at least one monitor, and executing a server process, a method of indicating the states of a plurality of software sub-processes that are working together on a task selected by an operator, the sub-processes being coupled to said server process, each sub-process performing at least a part of the task, each sub-process having been programmed to generate signals indicating its state, the states of a sub-process comprising executing, ready, waiting, and stopped, and each sub-process residing in one of said plurality of instruments in said distributed computer system before the operator starts the method, the method comprising the steps of: generating by each sub-process a signal indicative of the state of that sub-process, said signal being generated in response to a change in state of said sub-process, said signal being unsolicited by the server process, said signal being expressed in a language convenient for said sub-process, said language not required to be the same language for each sub-process; communicating by each sub-process the generated signals from the sub-processes to the server process; determining by the server process the states of the sub-process, said determining comprising interpreting the signals received from the sub-processes; displaying by the server process, via a screen manipulation program, a visual indication of the states of the sub-processes on a monitor; and repeating from the step of generating until the method is stopped; such that the operator is provided with a visual indication of the states of the sub-processes working on the task.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a distributed computer system comprising a plurality of instruments, at least one monitor, and executing a server process, a method of indicating the states of a plurality of software sub-processes that are working together on a task selected by an operator, the sub-processes being coupled to said server process, each sub-process performing at least a part of the task, each sub-process having been programmed to generate signals indicating its state, the states of a sub-process comprising executing, ready, waiting, and stopped, and each sub-process residing in one of said plurality of instruments in said distributed computer system before the operator starts the method, the method comprising the steps of: generating by each sub-process a signal indicative of the state of that sub-process, said signal being generated in response to a change in state of said sub-process, said signal being unsolicited by the server process, said signal being expressed in a language convenient for said sub-process, said language not required to be the same language for each sub-process; communicating by each sub-process the generated signals from the sub-processes to the server process; determining by the server process the states of the sub-process, said determining comprising interpreting the signals received from the sub-processes; displaying by the server process, via a screen manipulation program, a visual indication of the states of the sub-processes on a monitor; and repeating from the step of generating until the method is stopped; such that the operator is provided with a visual indication of the states of the sub-processes working on the task.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the states of the sub-processes by the server process comprises: translating the communicated signals from each of the sub-process to a standardized language; and using a screen manipulation program to interpret each of the translated signals to form the visual indication of the state of each of the sub-processes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein displaying the visual indication comprises displaying a plurality of representations of indicator lights, one light associated with, and indicating the state of, each sub-process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 3, wherein displaying the visual indication of an indicator light comprises displaying the light in a first state if the associated sub-process is busy and in a second state if the sub-process is idle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 3, wherein displaying the visual indication further comprises displaying a plurality of identifiers, one identifier is next to each indicator light identifying the sub-process represented by the light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein communicating a generated signal from a sub-process to the server process when the state of that sub-process changes such that the server process does not continuously monitor the states of each of the sub-processes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein displaying the visual indication comprises displaying the speed of one of the sub-processes as that sub-process is working on the task.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein displaying the visual indication comprises displaying the amount of data used at any given time by one of the sub-processes as that sub-process is working on the task.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein displaying the visual indication comprises displaying a picture of each operator using the distributed system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-06 | 1998-08-08 | 1999-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-06 | 2002-08-08 | 2003-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-06 | 2006-08-08 | 2007-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |