Patent US5600115A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6047288A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6047288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Group environment setting method and system thereof to provide an equivalent environment for plural participants
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-19
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Granted: 2000-04-04
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Expires: 2016-07-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a group environment setting method in a system where plural participants form a group and perform a cooperative operation. Environment setting information for an application environment setting of a cooperative operation is registered in a group unit. When a group is designated by a participant, environment setting information corresponding to the designated group is read from the registered environment setting information, and applied as environment setting information of the participant. A data structure of the environment setting information has a hierarchical structure, and information related to the designated environment setting items is selected from the read environment setting information.
Inventors
- 👤 Takahiro Kurosawa
- 👤 Hiroaki Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99938; Y10S707/99939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A group environment setting method in a network system consisting of plural computers where plural participants constitute a group and perform a cooperative operation, comprising the steps of: registering environment setting information for setting an application environment for the cooperative operation according to a group; reading, when a group is designated by a participant, environment setting information corresponding to the designated group from said registered environment setting information; applying the read environment setting information as environment setting information of said participant who designated the group; and notifying other participants of the read environment setting information so that an equivalent application environment is set for all participants of the designated group before each participant performs the cooperative operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A group environment setting method in a network system consisting of plural computers where plural participants constitute a group and perform a cooperative operation, comprising the steps of: registering environment setting information for setting an application environment for the cooperative operation according to a group; reading, when a group is designated by a participant, environment setting information corresponding to the designated group from said registered environment setting information; applying the read environment setting information as environment setting information of said participant who designated the group; and notifying other participants of the read environment setting information so that an equivalent application environment is set for all participants of the designated group before each participant performs the cooperative operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes plural environment setting items.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 2, wherein said registering of environment setting information is executed in a hierarchical structure; and wherein information satisfying given conditions are selected from the read plural hierarchies of environment setting information for each of the environment setting items.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 3, wherein said hierarchical structure is a multi-information hierarchical structure in which components of the hierarchy include environment setting information for a group unit and environment setting information for an individual unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 3, wherein said given conditions include designation of an inheriting relationship in which environment setting items of an upper hierarchy is inherited by a lower hierarchy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 3, wherein said given conditions include designation of an inheriting relationship distinguishable as to whether or not the environment setting items are to be inherited among hierarchies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 6, wherein said designation of the inheriting relationship can be set for each hierarchy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 3, wherein said environment setting information is registered as a database or a structured document in a file system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 8, wherein said document is structured in accordance with Standard Generalized Markup Language (ISO 8879).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein a set of contents of the cooperative operation and a group is registered in advance so that the group can be uniformly specified from contents of cooperative operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 10, wherein said contents of the cooperative operation are applications which include television conference or cooperative editing operation; and wherein a set of applications and a group are registered in advance so that a group utilizing a certain application can be determined.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes a data access privilege for generation or reading of data related to the cooperative operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 12, wherein said access privilege is designated as: "none": nothing is allowed; "readonly": only reading is allowed; "appendable": no change is allowed but additions of items are allowed; "insertable": no change in each item is allowed, but additions and changes in the relationship among items are allowed; "updatable": changes in each item and relationship among items are allowed; and "deletable": deletion is allowed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes information for privacy protection such as allowance of limited attendants.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes rules for assigning a chairperson privilege or an operation privilege in a cooperative operation tool and the like.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes operation information such as specification of an operation corresponding to a mouse button, menu contents for mouse operation, or warning sound during a cooperative operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes display information which can identify a group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 17, wherein said display information includes any of colors for displaying a mouse cursor, colors for displaying mouse operation menu, screen display modes for participants of a cooperative operation, background filling patterns for screens of participants, frame filling patterns for screens of participants, or frame colors for screens of participants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein said environment setting information includes information for plural applications utilized in various processes of the cooperative operation, further comprising the steps of selecting an application corresponding to a process for the cooperative operation from said plural applications and applying as environment setting information of said participant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The group environment setting method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined part of the environment setting information applied by said participant is redundantly stored and selection of environment setting information is left flexible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer network system for cooperatively performing an operation by plural participants constituting a group, comprising: registering means for registering environment setting information for setting an application environment for the cooperative operation according to a group; reading means for, when a group is designated by a participant, reading environment setting information corresponding to the designated group from said registered environment setting information; applying means for applying the read environment setting information as environment setting information of said participant who designated the group; and notifying means for notifying other participants of the read environment setting information so that an equivalent application environment is set for all participants of the designated group before each participant performs the cooperative operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer network system for cooperatively performing an operation by plural participants constituting a group, comprising: registering means for registering environment setting information for setting an application environment for the cooperative operation according to a group; reading means for, when a group is designated by a participant, reading environment setting information corresponding to the designated group from said registered environment setting information; applying means for applying the read environment setting information as environment setting information of said participant who designated the group; and notifying means for notifying other participants of the read environment setting information so that an equivalent application environment is set for all participants of the designated group before each participant performs the cooperative operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes plural environment setting items.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said registering means registers said environment setting information in a hierarchical structure; and wherein said applying means includes selection means for selecting information satisfying conditions given by the read plural hierarchies of environment setting information for each of the environment setting items.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein said hierarchical structure is a multi-information hierarchical structure in which components of the hierarchy include environment setting information for a group unit and environment setting information for an individual unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein said given conditions include designation of an inheriting relationship in which environment setting items of an upper hierarchy is inherited by a lower hierarchy.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein said given conditions include designation of an inheriting relationship distinguishable as to whether or not the environment setting items are to be inherited among hierarchies.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 26, wherein said designation of the inheriting relationship can be set for each hierarchy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein said registering means registers said environment setting information as a database or a structured document in a file system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 28, wherein said structured document is structured in accordance with Standard Generalized Markup Language (ISO 8879).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 21, further comprising: second registering means for registering a set of contents of a cooperative operation and a group in advance so that the group can be uniformly specified from contents of a cooperative operation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 30, wherein said contents of the cooperative operation are applications which include television conference or cooperative editing operation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes a data access privilege for generation or reading of data related to the cooperative operation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system according to claim 32, wherein said access privilege is designated as: "none": nothing is allowed; "readonly": only reading is allowed; "appendable": no change is allowed but additions of items are allowed; "insertable": no change in each item is allowed, but additions and changes in the relationship among items are allowed; "updatable": changes in each item and relationship among items are allowed; and "deletable": deletion is allowed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes information for privacy protection such as allowance of limited attendants.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes rules for assigning a chairperson privilege or an operation privilege in a cooperative operation tool and the like.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes operation information such as specification of an operation corresponding to a mouse button, menu contents for mouse operation, or warning sound during a cooperative operation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes display information which can identify a group.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 37, wherein said display information includes any of colors for displaying a mouse cursor, colors for displaying mouse operation menu, screen display modes for participants of a cooperative operation, background filling patterns for screens of participants, frame filling patterns for screens of participants, or frame colors for screens of participants.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein said environment setting information includes information for plural applications utilized in various processes of the cooperative operation, wherein said application means further selects an application corresponding to a process for the cooperative operation from said plural applications and applies as environment setting information of said participant.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 21, further comprising: storing means for redundantly storing a predetermined part of the environment setting information applied by said participant; and instructing means for leaving flexibility in selection of environment setting information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
106 words
An environment setting method of setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising the steps of: storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with an idea of a virtual place where the operation is executed; designating a virtual place to obtain setting information; and setting the operation environment of a program to plural computers in the designated virtual place by utilizing said setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in the designated virtual place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
106 words
An environment setting method of setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising the steps of: storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with an idea of a virtual place where the operation is executed; designating a virtual place to obtain setting information; and setting the operation environment of a program to plural computers in the designated virtual place by utilizing said setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in the designated virtual place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
The setting method in a network environment according to claim 41, wherein memory of said setting information is linked to a user or a user's group; and wherein setting information is obtained in accordance with said place and said user or user's group.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The environment setting method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of changing said setting information.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
115 words
An environment setting method of setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising the steps of: storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining environment setting information according to said specified place from the stored setting information; and setting the operation environment of the program to plural computers in said specified place utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
115 words
An environment setting method of setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising the steps of: storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining environment setting information according to said specified place from the stored setting information; and setting the operation environment of the program to plural computers in said specified place utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
125 words
An environment setting method of setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising the steps of: storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; specifying a user or user's group who executes an operation; specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining environment setting information from the stored setting information according to said specified place; and setting the operation environment of the program to plural computers in said specified place utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
125 words
An environment setting method of setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising the steps of: storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; specifying a user or user's group who executes an operation; specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining environment setting information from the stored setting information according to said specified place; and setting the operation environment of the program to plural computers in said specified place utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
147 words
An environment setting system which performs setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising: storing means for storing setting information of the operation environment in correspondence with an idea of a virtual place where the operation is executed; place designating means for setting an idea of a virtual place and designating a virtual place where the operation is executed; setting information obtaining means for obtaining environment setting information according to said designated virtual place; and operation environment setting means for setting an operation environment of a program to plural computers in the designated virtual place by utilizing said environment setting information obtained by said setting information obtaining means so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
147 words
An environment setting system which performs setting an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising: storing means for storing setting information of the operation environment in correspondence with an idea of a virtual place where the operation is executed; place designating means for setting an idea of a virtual place and designating a virtual place where the operation is executed; setting information obtaining means for obtaining environment setting information according to said designated virtual place; and operation environment setting means for setting an operation environment of a program to plural computers in the designated virtual place by utilizing said environment setting information obtained by said setting information obtaining means so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
42 words
The environment setting system according to claim 46, further comprising: user designating means for designating a user or a user's group, wherein said setting information obtaining means obtains environment setting information in correspondence with said place and said user or user's group.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The environment setting system according to claim 46, wherein said storing means includes a database having environment setting information accompanying each of the place.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The environment setting system according to claim 47, wherein said idea of a virtual place corresponds to an actual place.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
106 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto by reading predetermined data from a storing medium, wherein said storing medium stores setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a user or user's group and an idea of a virtual place where the operation is executed, said environment setting system utilizing said setting information read out from said storing medium so that a same operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said virtual place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
106 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto by reading predetermined data from a storing medium, wherein said storing medium stores setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a user or user's group and an idea of a virtual place where the operation is executed, said environment setting system utilizing said setting information read out from said storing medium so that a same operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said virtual place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
132 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto by reading predetermined data from a storing medium, wherein said storing medium stores: an operation code for designating a user or user's group who executes an operation; an operation code for designating a place where an operation is executed; an operation code for obtaining environment setting information from the stored predetermined data according to said place; and an operation code for setting the operation environment of the program to plural computers in said space utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
132 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto by reading predetermined data from a storing medium, wherein said storing medium stores: an operation code for designating a user or user's group who executes an operation; an operation code for designating a place where an operation is executed; an operation code for obtaining environment setting information from the stored predetermined data according to said place; and an operation code for setting the operation environment of the program to plural computers in said space utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conference system, where a meeting is held, utilizing plural computers connected in a network, comprising a meeting management program having the environment setting system described in claim 47 as a component.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera control system consisting of plural computers connected via a network or communication-controllable camera modules, having the environment setting system according to claim 50 as a component.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
132 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising: storing means for storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; specifying means for specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining means for obtaining environment setting information according to said specified place from the setting information stored in said storing means; and setting means for setting the obtained operation environment of the program to plural computers in the specified space by utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
132 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising: storing means for storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; specifying means for specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining means for obtaining environment setting information according to said specified place from the setting information stored in said storing means; and setting means for setting the obtained operation environment of the program to plural computers in the specified space by utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
147 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising: storing means for storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; first specifying means for specifying a user or user's group who executes an operation; second specifying means for specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining means for obtaining environment setting information according to said specified place from the setting information stored in said storing means; and setting means for setting the obtained operation environment of the program to plural computers in said specified place by utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
147 words
An environment setting system which performs setting of an operation environment of a program in a network environment where plural computers are connected thereto, comprising: storing means for storing setting information of an operation environment in correspondence with a place where the operation is executed; first specifying means for specifying a user or user's group who executes an operation; second specifying means for specifying a place where an operation is executed; obtaining means for obtaining environment setting information according to said specified place from the setting information stored in said storing means; and setting means for setting the obtained operation environment of the program to plural computers in said specified place by utilizing said obtained environment setting information so that an equivalent operation environment of a program is set for all computers in said specified place before each of the computers is operated in a cooperative operation.
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