Method for and apparatus for controlling the execution of host computer application programs through a second computer

Claim 1

A method of simultaneously executing one or more computer application programs in one or more host computer systems under the control of a plurality of secondary computer systems where said computer application programs may be dissimilar to each other, and said host computer systems may be dissimilar to each other, said host computer systems generating presentation information based on said application programs, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of relevant selected parameters in said host computer presentation information; said relevant selected parameters having a variable time of occurrence and context in said presentation information; interpreting selected portions of said host computer system's presentation information in said application programs being executed; providing said interpreted selected portions of said host computer system's presentation information as input to one computer program resident in a selected one of said plurality of secondary computer systems; examining said host information at said selected one of said secondary computer systems to detect the presence therein of one or more of said selected parameters; said examination of said host computer system presentation information being dependent on the time of occurrence and the context of said selected parameters in said host computer presentation information; continuing said operation of said selected one of said secondary computer systems and of the other of said secondary computer systems during examining for said selected parameters; and generating an indication to said selected one of said secondary computer systems of the detection of one or more of said relevant selected parameters in said host computer system presentation information.

Claim 2

A method of simultaneously executing one or more computer application programs in one or more host computer systems under the control of a plurality of secondary computer systems where said computer application programs may be dissimilar to each other, and said host computer systems may be dissimilar to each other, said host computer systems generating presentation information based on said application programs, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a plurality of relevant selected parameters in said host computer presentation information; said relevant selected parameters having a variable time of occurrence and context in said presentation information; interpreting selected portions of said host computer system's presentation information in said application programs being executed; providing said interpreted selected portions of said host computer system's presentation information as input to one computer program resident in a selected one of said plurality of secondary computer systems; examining said host information at said selected one of said secondary computer systems to detect the presence therein of one or more of said selected parameters; said examination of said host computer system presentation information being dependent on the time of occurrence and the context of said selected parameters in said host computer presentation information; continuing said operation of said selected one of said secondary computer systems and of the other of said secondary computer systems during examining for said selected parameters; and generating an indication to said selected one of said secondary computer systems of the detection of one or more of said relevant selected parameters in said host computer system presentation information.