US5704042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accelerated replication of multiple computer displays
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1993-09-28
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Granted: 1997-12-30
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Expires: 2013-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A system wherein multiple computers engage in a video conference. The invention creates a common visual image which is displayed by all computers. However, the invention does not distribute a bit map of the image to all computers. Instead, the invention distributes the commands from which the image is created. Further, the distributed commands rely on data structures, which define parameters such as pen color, background color, line width, etc. The data structures are stored in each computer. When a data structure is changed, the invention does not immediately inform all other computers of the change, but waits until necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 John Hester
- 👤 Krista S. Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/14; G06F3/1454; H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L12/1827; H04L65/00; H04L65/40; H04L65/403; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1095; H04L67/50; H04L67/75; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; G09; G09G; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/04; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1101; H04L67/131; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a system wherein a GUI runs on a host computer and generates graphic images by issuing GDI calls which make reference to device contexts, the improvement comprising: a) maintaining similar device contexts in remote computers and b) maintaining substantially identical first program means on each computer, which i) allows a single application program to selectively run on any of the computers, and no other computer, which generates a display on the selected computers, ii) replicates the display on all other computers, iii) allows a user of each computer to make annotations, containing graphical images, on the replicated display of each respective computer, iv) allows each respective user to selectively A) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to replicated displays of other computers, or B) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a system wherein a GUI runs on a host computer and generates graphic images by issuing GDI calls which make reference to device contexts, the improvement comprising: a) maintaining similar device contexts in remote computers and b) maintaining substantially identical first program means on each computer, which i) allows a single application program to selectively run on any of the computers, and no other computer, which generates a display on the selected computers, ii) replicates the display on all other computers, iii) allows a user of each computer to make annotations, containing graphical images, on the replicated display of each respective computer, iv) allows each respective user to selectively A) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to replicated displays of other computers, or B) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improvement according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of transmitting changes in the host's device contexts to the remote computers, without redundancy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improvement according to claim 2 and further comprising the step of transmitting the changes only after a GDI call was issued which requires a changed device context.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
System according to claim 1, and further comprising: c) informing a new remote computer, which connects with the host and said remote computers while said application program is running, of the current status of the device contexts.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
152 words
A system comprising a) multiple computers which use data records identified as device contexts, together with other data, to generate drawings; b) means for maintaining common contents in corresponding device contexts in different computers; and c) a first program means, running on each computer, for i) allowing an application program, different from the first program means, to run on any one of the computers, and no other; ii) copying displayed output of the application program to displays of all other computers; iii) allowing a user of every computer to apply annotations, which contain text and graphical images, to the copied display output of the user's computer; and iv) allowing each respective user to selectively A) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to copied displayed output of other computers, or B) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
152 words
A system comprising a) multiple computers which use data records identified as device contexts, together with other data, to generate drawings; b) means for maintaining common contents in corresponding device contexts in different computers; and c) a first program means, running on each computer, for i) allowing an application program, different from the first program means, to run on any one of the computers, and no other; ii) copying displayed output of the application program to displays of all other computers; iii) allowing a user of every computer to apply annotations, which contain text and graphical images, to the copied display output of the user's computer; and iv) allowing each respective user to selectively A) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to copied displayed output of other computers, or B) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 5 in which the means for maintaining c) detects changes in a predetermined device context; and d) notifies other computers of the changes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 6 in which the notification is done without transmitting redundant data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
System according to claim 5, and further comprising: c) means for informing a computer, which connects with the multiple computers while said application program is running, of the current status of the device contexts.
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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) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |