COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A NETWORK SYSTEM SCREEN SHOT AND SOURCE SHOT CONTROL

• US 20070198001A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Lang, Gerhard, Bauch, Thomas, Kruger, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A computer network system includes a controlling PC, at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, at least one central terminal having a display, and a video router. The video router is operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display and operative to transmit video or monitor signals from each of the controlled PCs to the at least one central terminal display.

Claims

1. A computer network system, comprising:

a) a controlling PC;

b) at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network;

c) at least one central terminal having a display; and

d) a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display to transmit video or monitor signals from each of the controlled PCs to the at least one central terminal display.

2. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the video router is separated from the controlling PC by a predetermined distance.

3. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen, and signals provided by the touch screen are provided to the controlling PC.

4. A computer network system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one keyboard and/or at least one mouse connected to the controlling PC.

5. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the controlled PCs is operatively coupled to or a part of a medical device.

6. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central terminal is a plurality of central terminals, wherein different controlled PCs can be simultaneously and independently controlled from one or more of the plurality of central terminals.

7. A method for operating the network system including a controlling PC, at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, at least one central terminal having a display, and a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display, comprising:

transmitting control commands from the controlling PC to the at least one controlled PC via the network; and

transmitting video signals from the at least one controlled PC to the central terminal display via the video router which is separate from the network.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising using a software module installed on the at least one controlled PC to implement control commands on the controlled PC, wherein implementing control commands includes generating operating system input events from input events generated at the central terminal display or from devices coupled to the controlling PC.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface in front of all other applications on the central terminal display, wherein said graphical user interface is operable to control each of the at least one controlled PCs.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising moving the graphical user interface to a different position on the central terminal screen if a part of the screen covered by the graphical user interface is designated as being relevant for controlling the respective controlled PC.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising detecting and display on the central terminal display and/or on displays of the controlled PCs a warning and/or error message transmitted via the network to the controlling PC.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein detecting includes using pattern recognition to detect the warning and/or error message.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising transferring a user interface of the controlled PC to the central terminal display so as to maintain screen content of the controlled PC.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the controlled PC reacting to an output of another controlled PC, said output transferred over the network.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one central terminal is a plurality of central terminals, further comprising avoiding conflicts arising from user input from several central terminals of the plurality of terminals by indicating user input activity at one central terminal of the plurality of terminals on the other central terminals of the plurality of terminals through a graphical user interface and/or by blocking user input activity at the other central terminals for a specific period of time.

16. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one central terminal is a plurality of central terminals, further comprising distributing via the video routing hardware a video signal to a plurality of central terminals, and each of the plurality of terminals display and operate the same controlled PC simultaneously.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for operating the network system including a controlling PC, at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, at least one central terminal having a display, and a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display, comprising:

code that transmits control commands from the controlling PC to the at least one controlled PC via the network; and

code that transmits video signals from the at least one controlled PC to the central terminal display via the video router which is separate from the network.

18. A method for taking multiple screen shots and/or source shots of a selection from a plurality of images of a plurality of image sources, comprising:

simultaneously initiating the shots while keeping at least 80 percent of the original size and/or resolution of each image; and

forming a plurality of image files including the plurality of images having at least 80 percent of the original size and/or resolution.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the image source is at least one of a display device, a monitor, a video source, a microscope, an endoscope, a C-arm, a computer, a PC, a graphic card or a navigation system.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising selecting one or more screens and/or sources via a central graphical user interface.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising storing each captured image in a separate image file while keeping at least 80% of the original resolution and/or size of the respective image.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising displaying the screen shots and/or source shots as a picture-in-picture view.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising using the screen shots and/or source shots to document a medical procedure.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein initiating the shots includes automatically initiating the shots at predetermined or regular intervals.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for taking multiple screen shots and/or source shots of a selection from a plurality of images of a plurality of image sources, comprising:

code that simultaneously initiates the shots while keeping at least 80 percent of the original size and/or resolution of each image; and

code that forms a plurality of image files including the plurality of images having at least 80 percent of the original size and/or resolution.