System, method and graphical user interface for identifying image from remote site during screen sharing

• US 20030204628A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ieperen, Taco Van
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

A distributed computer network includes at least two computers. Each of the at least two computers runs an application sharing program to enable an image generated by one computer to be displayed by at least one other computer. At least one of the at least two computers executes an image modifying routine to alter the appearance of an image generated by the one computer prior to display on the at least one other computer. In this manner, a user of the at least one other computer can tell at a glance if an image being presented is an image that has been received from the one computer or is its own desktop graphical user interface.

Claims

1. In a distributed computer network where displayed information is shared between at least two computers, a method of displaying shared images comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one selected portion of an image generated by one computer that is to be shared with at least one other computer; and

visually modifying the at least one selected portion of said image prior to said image being displayed by said at least one other computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one other computer displays said image full screen.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one selected portion of said image includes a task bar.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes scroll bars.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said scroll bars are modified when said scroll bars extend across more than 75% of said full screen.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes windows within said image.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes scroll bars.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said scroll bars are modified when said scroll bars extend across more than 75% of said full screen.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying includes hatching said at least one selected portion.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said modifying further includes labeling said at least one selected portion.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein said modifying includes applying hatching over said task bar.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said modifying further includes labeling said Windows task bar.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said hatching is not applied if said task bar is active on said one computer.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes scroll bars, and wherein said modifying includes applying hatching over said scroll bars.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes windows within said image, and wherein said modifying includes applying hatching over said windows.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said modifying further includes labeling said windows.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying is performed prior to transmission of said image from said one computer to said at least one other computer.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying is performed after transmission of said image from said one computer to said at least one other computer.

19. A distributed computer network including at least two computers, each of said at least two computers running an application sharing program to enable an image generated by one computer to be displayed by at least one other computer, at least one of said at least two computers executing an image modifying routine to alter the appearance of an image generated by said one computer prior to display on said at least one other computer.

20. A distributed computer network according to claim 19 wherein said image modifying routine visually modifies at least one selected portion of said image.

21. A distributed computer network according to claim 20 wherein said at least one selected portion is selected from the group comprising a task bar, scroll bars and tool windows.

22. A distributed computer network according to claim 21 wherein said image modifying routine applies hatching to said at least one selected portion.

23. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said image modifying routine further applies a label when said at least one selected portion is a task bar or a window.

24. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said hatching is not applied when said at least one selected portion is a task bar and said task bar is active.

25. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said one computer, said image being modified prior to transmission to said at least one other computer.

26. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said at least one other computer, said image being modified after transmission by said one computer.

27. A computer readable medium including computer program code for modifying an image generated by one computer prior to display on at least one other computer, said computer program code including:

computer program code for identifying at least one selected portion of said image; and

computer program code for visually modifying the at least one selected portion of said image prior to said image being displayed by said at least one other computer.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein said computer program code for identifying identifies at least one of a task bar, scroll bars and windows in said image.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein said computer program code for identifying identifies all of said task bar, scroll bars and tool windows in said image.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein said computer program code for modifying applies hatching to said at least one selected portion.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said computer program code for modifying applies labeling to said at least one selected portion when said at least one selected portion is said task bar or a window.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said hatching is not applied when said at least one selected portion is a task bar and said task bar is active.

33. A distributed computer network including at least two computers, each of said at least two computers operating in a Windows environment and running an application sharing program to enable a desktop image generated by a host computer to be displayed full screen by at least one guest computer, one of said host computer and at least one guest computer executing an image modifying routine to modify the host computer desktop image prior to display on said at least one guest computer while maintaining generally the overall presentation of the host computer desktop image.

34. A distributed computer network according to claim 33 wherein said image modifying routine modifies at least one selected portion of said host computer desktop image, said at least one selected portion being selected from the group comprising a task bar, scroll bars and windows within said host computer desktop image.

35. A distributed computer network according to claim 34 wherein said image modifying routine applies hatching to said at least one selected portion.

36. A distributed computer network according to claim 35 wherein said image modifying routine further applies a label when said at least one selected portion is a task bar or tool window.

37. A distributed computer network according to claim 36 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said host computer, said host computer desktop image being modified prior to transmission to said at least one guest computer.

38. A distributed computer network according to claim 36 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said at least one guest computer, said host computer desktop image being modified after transmission by said host computer.

39. A distributed computer network according to claim 34 wherein when said at least one selected portion is said task bar, said task bar is not modified if active.

40. A desktop graphical user interface image displayed full screen on a computer monitor including:

at least one of a task bar, a scroll bar and a window; and

a pattern over said at least one of said task bar, scroll bar and window.