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US6151020A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Real time bit map capture and sharing for collaborative tools

Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1997-10-24
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Granted: 2000-11-21
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Expires: 2017-10-24
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Abstract

Abstract A new system and method for sharing graphical display information in a collaborative tool is disclosed which samples graphics display information regarding a shared display region on a server system. The disclosed system updates client systems regarding changes in the shared display region responsive to detection of a change in the shared display region contents. The disclosed system further modifies a polling rate used to sample the graphical display information on the server responsive to the frequency of changes to the shared display region. Specifically, in an example embodiment the disclosed system shares a display region among a plurality of users by selecting a first bit map from a series of bit maps used to display the shared display region on a server system. The server system then transmits said first bit map to a client system. The server system periodically selects a subsequent bit map from the series of bit maps at a polling rate. The server system later determines whether said shared display region on the server system has changed. If the shared display region has changed, then the server system transmits a representation of the subsequent bit map to said client system. The server system increases the polling rate responsive to determining that the shared display region on the server system has changed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ricky Samuel Palmer
  • 👤 Lawrence George Palmer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 05:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/1454; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G09; G09G; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/10; G09G2320/103; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising the steps of: capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on a server system; transmitting said first bit map to a client system; capturing a second bit map from said series of bit maps at a polling rate, a polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed; and transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed; and increasing said polling rate responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising the steps of: capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on a server system; transmitting said first bit map to a client system; capturing a second bit map from said series of bit maps at a polling rate, a polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed; and transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed; and increasing said polling rate responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining whether communications between said server system and said client system are blocked; and leaving said polling rate unchanged if communications between said server system and said client system are blocked.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising decreasing said polling rate upon detecting no change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: determining whether communications between said server system and said client system are blocked; and leaving said polling rate unchanged responsive to determining said communications between said server system and said client system are blocked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said server system determines whether said shared display region has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of determining whether said communications between said server system and said client system are blocked includes measuring a round trip delay of a message sent from said server system to said client system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polling rate is increased responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system by a predetermined percentage of the previous polling rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said polling rate is decreased upon detecting no change in said shared display region on said server system by a predetermined percentage of the previous polling rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 67 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said measuring of said round trip delay between said server system and said client system includes placing a time stamp into a message transmitted from said server system to said client system, and said client system returning said time stamp in an acknowledgement message associated with said transmitted message, said acknowledgement message transmitted from said client system to said server system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 170 words
A method of providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising the steps of: executing at least one shared application on a server system forming at least one shared application window, said shared application window displaying at least partially within said shared display region; capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on said server system; transmitting said first bit map to a client system; capturing a second bit map from said series of bit maps at a polling rate, a polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; and determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero, wherein said capturing of said first and second bitmaps are done independent from execution of said shared application.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 170 words
A method of providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising the steps of: executing at least one shared application on a server system forming at least one shared application window, said shared application window displaying at least partially within said shared display region; capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on said server system; transmitting said first bit map to a client system; capturing a second bit map from said series of bit maps at a polling rate, a polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; and determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero, wherein said capturing of said first and second bitmaps are done independent from execution of said shared application.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 131 words
A system for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising: means for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on a server system; means for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; means for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; means for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed; means for transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed; and means for increasing said polling rate responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 131 words
A system for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising: means for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on a server system; means for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; means for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; means for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed; means for transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed; and means for increasing said polling rate responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 38 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising: determining whether communications between said server system and said client system are blocked; and leaving said polling rate unchanged if communications between said server system and said client system are blocked.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising decreasing said polling rate upon detecting no change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 45 words
The system of claim 14 further comprising: means for determining whether communications between said server system and said client system are blocked; and means for leaving said polling rate unchanged responsive to determining said communications between said server system and said client system are blocked.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 57 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said server system determines whether said shared display region has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for determining whether said communications between said server system and said client system are blocked includes means for measuring a round trip delay of a message sent from said server system to said client system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said polling rate is increased responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system by a predetermined percentage of the previous polling rate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 33 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said polling rate is decreased upon detecting no change in said shared display region on said server system by a predetermined percentage of the previous polling rate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 67 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said measuring of said round trip delay between said server system and said client system includes placing a time stamp into a message transmitted from said server system to said client system, and said client system returning said time stamp in an acknowledgment message associated with said transmitted message, said acknowledgment message transmitted from said client system to said server system.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 177 words
A system for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising: means for executing at least one shared application on a server system forming at least one shared application window said shared application window displaying at least partially within said shared display region; means for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on said server system; means for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; means for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; and means for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero, wherein said capturing of said first and second bitmaps are done independent from execution of said shared application.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 177 words
A system for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, comprising: means for executing at least one shared application on a server system forming at least one shared application window said shared application window displaying at least partially within said shared display region; means for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on said server system; means for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; means for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; and means for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero, wherein said capturing of said first and second bitmaps are done independent from execution of said shared application.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system of claim 21, further comprising means for transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 160 words
A computer readable program storage device, having computer executable instructions encoded thereon, said computer executable instructions comprising program code, said program code for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, said program code comprising: program code for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on a server system; program code for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; program code for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; program code for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed; program code for transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed; and program code for increasing said polling rate responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 160 words
A computer readable program storage device, having computer executable instructions encoded thereon, said computer executable instructions comprising program code, said program code for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, said program code comprising: program code for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on a server system; program code for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; program code for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; program code for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed; program code for transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed; and program code for increasing said polling rate responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 48 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 23 further comprising: program code for determining whether communications between said server system and said client system are blocked; and program code for leaving said polling rate unchanged if communications between said server system and said client system are blocked.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 31 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 23 further comprising program code for decreasing said polling rate upon detecting no change in said shared display region on said server system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 51 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 25 further comprising: program code for determining whether communications between said server system and said client system are blocked; and program code for leaving said polling rate unchanged responsive to determining said communications between said server system and said client system are blocked.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 61 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 23 wherein said program code for determining whether said shared display region has changed performs an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 49 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 24, wherein said program code for determining whether said communications between said server system and said client system are blocked includes program code for measuring a round trip delay of a message sent from said server system to said client system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 38 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 23, wherein said polling rate is increased responsive to determining a change in said shared display region on said server system by a predetermined percentage of the previous polling rate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 37 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 25 wherein said polling rate is decreased upon detecting no change in said shared display region on said server system by a predetermined percentage of the previous polling rate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 77 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 28 wherein said program code for measuring of said round trip delay between said server system and said client system includes program code for placing a time stamp into a message transmitted from said server system to said client system, and said client system returning said time stamp in an acknowledgment message associated with said transmitted message, said acknowledgment message transmitted from said client system to said server system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 205 words
A computer readable program storage device, having computer executable instructions encoded thereon, said computer executable instructions comprising program code, said program code for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, said program code comprising: program code for executing at least one shared application on a server system forming at least one shared application window, said shared application window displaying at least partially within said shared display region; program code for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on said server system; program code for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; program code for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; and program code for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero, wherein said capturing of said first and second bitmaps are done independent from execution of said shared application.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 205 words
A computer readable program storage device, having computer executable instructions encoded thereon, said computer executable instructions comprising program code, said program code for providing a shared display region among a plurality of users across a computer network, said program code comprising: program code for executing at least one shared application on a server system forming at least one shared application window, said shared application window displaying at least partially within said shared display region; program code for capturing a first bit map used to display said shared display region on said server system; program code for transmitting said first bit map to a client system; program code for capturing a second bit map from a series of bit maps at a polling rate, said polling rate initialized to a predetermined rate; and program code for determining whether said shared display region on said server system has changed by performing an exclusive OR operation (XOR) between a first one of said subsequent bit maps and a second one of said subsequent bit maps, said shared display region having changed if the result of said XOR operation is non-zero, wherein said capturing of said first and second bitmaps are done independent from execution of said shared application.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 36 words
The computer readable program storage device of claim 32, further comprising program code for transmitting a representation of said subsequent bit map to said client system if said shared display region on said server has changed.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer readable program storage device of either claim 32 or claim 33, wherein said computer program readable storage device is a magnetic disk ("floppy disk").
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computer readable program storage device of either claim 32 or claim 33, wherein said computer readable program storage device is a computer memory.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computer readable program storage device of either claim 32 or claim 33, wherein said computer readable program storage device is an optical disk.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5805846A Cited
US5694544A Cited
US5748930A Cited
US5793365A Cited
US5790127A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-11-21 2004-05-22 2004-11-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-11-21 2008-05-22 2008-11-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-11-21 2012-05-22 2012-11-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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