SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR CONTROLLING MULTIPLE MACHINES USING A SEAMLESS USER-INTERFACE TO A MULTI-DISPLAY

• US 20100083122A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Peck, Charles C., Kozloski, James R.
• Application Number:
  US12/242,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20100083122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it

Abstract

Controlling multiple computers is accomplished by receiving signals, in a programmable computer implemented switch, from the multiple computers indicating a current position of a cursor displayed on a first display screen associated with a first computer of the multiple computers, where applications are being controlled on the first computer and accessible to a user. Signals from an input device transmitted to a programmable switch cause the cursor to change positions on the first display screen and as the cursor position approaches a boundary in between the first display screen and a second display screen associated with a second computer of the multiple computers, the cursor moves to the second display screen and the programmable switch automatically connects to the second computer, thus allowing the user to access and control applications executing on the second computer.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a first computer and a second computer using a seamless user interface;

the method comprising;

receiving, in an input switch, a first plurality of signals from the first computer and the second computer, wherein an at least one signal of the first plurality of signals indicates a current position state of display of a cursor being rendered on one of a display screen of the first computer and a display screen of the second computer, wherein the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer are communicatively coupled to the first computer and the second computer respectively, and wherein the first computer includes a first device driver and the second computer includes a second device driver;

receiving, from a third device driver a second plurality of signals from an at least one input device, wherein the third device driver is communicatively coupled to the input switch, and wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to the third device driver;

receiving a first input signal of the second plurality of signals from the at least one input device, wherein position data change for the cursor associated with the display screen of the first computer, while the cursor moves in its rendering on the second display screen of the second computer;

wherein the first input signal is one or more of an x-signal and a y-signal, conveying one of movement of a mouse and movement of the cursor, wherein the first input signal from the second plurality of signals is relayed to one of a first application display driver of the first computer and a second application display driver of the second computer, and wherein the first input signal causes the cursor to change the current position state of display on one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer and causes the cursor to move in a plurality of directions and a plurality of distances on one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer, and;

changing, automatically, a switch position of the input switch to communicatively connect to one of the first device driver and the second device driver, when the switch position of the input switch is used to determine that the current position state of display of the cursor reaches a predetermined boundary in the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer, wherein the predetermined boundary is a switching predicate of position states the cursor must satisfy in one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer in order for switching between the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer to be accomplished, wherein the switching predicate is computed on one of the first computer and the second computer, and the input switch, and wherein the input switch receives a switch signal when the switching predicate is satisfied;

performing one of simultaneously displaying and moving the cursor on the display screen of the second computer when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver and simultaneously displaying and moving the cursor on the display screen of the first computer, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the first device driver, thereby creating a seamless transition of cursor rendering between the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer; and

transmitting a third plurality of signals from the at least one input device when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to one of the first device driver and the second device driver respectively, wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to one of the first device driver and the second device driver through the third device driver, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to one of the first device driver and the second device driver respectively.

2. The method of controlling the first computer and the second computer, according to claim 1, wherein the input switch is included in one of the first computer and the second computer.

3. The method of controlling the first computer and the second computer, according to claim 2, wherein the input switch is one of hardwired into one of the first computer and the second computer, and is a plug-in module plugged into one of the first computer and the second computer, and is a software module residing in a program memory of one of the first computer and the second computer.

4. The method of controlling the first computer and the second computer, according to claim 3, wherein the first computer and the second computer include a first network interface and a second network interface respectively, and wherein the first computer and the second computer are communicatively coupled over a computer network connected to the first network interface and the second network interface.

5. The method of controlling the first computer and the second computer, according to claim 4, further comprising receiving, in the input switch, the first plurality of signals from the second computer, transmitted over the computer network, wherein the at least one signal of the first plurality of signals indicates one of the current position state of display of the cursor being displayed on the second computer display screen when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver and the current position state of display of the cursor being displayed on the display screen of the first computer, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the first device driver, wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to the second device driver through the third device driver, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver.

6. The method of controlling the first computer and the second computer, according to claim 5, further comprising transmitting over the computer network the third plurality of signals from the at least one input device to control application programs executing on the second computer, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver.

7. A computer implemented system of controlling a first computer and a second computer using a seamless user interface;

the computer implemented system comprising;

the first computer and the second computer communicatively coupled to a display screen of the first computer and a display screen of the second computer, respectively, wherein the first computer and the second computer contain a first device driver and a second device driver respectively;

an input switch module, which includes a computer processor and an input switch, is communicatively coupled over a computer network to the first computer and the second computer, wherein the input switch module includes a third device driver, which is communicatively coupled to an at least one input device;

a memory, including a program unit, resides in the input switch module, and wherein the program unit contains a program that when executed by the computer processor included in the input switch module, causes the input switch module to perform operations of;

receiving, in the input switch module, a first plurality of signals transmitted from the first computer and the second computer, wherein an at least one signal of the first plurality of signals indicates a current position state of display of a cursor being rendered on one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer;

receiving, from the third device driver a second plurality of signals from the at least one input device;

receiving a first input signal of the second plurality of signals from the at least one input device, wherein position data change for the cursor associated with the display screen of the first computer, while the cursor moves in its rendering on the display screen of the second computer, wherein the first input signal is one or more of an x-signal and a y-signal, conveying one of movement of a mouse and movement of the cursor, wherein the first input signal of the second plurality of signals is relayed to one of a first application display driver of the display screen of the first computer and a second application display driver of the display screen of the second computer, and wherein the first input signal causes the cursor to change the current position state of display on one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer and causes the cursor to move in a plurality of directions and traverse a plurality of distances on one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer;

changing, automatically, a switch position of the input switch to communicatively connect to one of the first device driver and the second device driver, when the position of a throw of the input switch is used to determine that the current position state of display of the cursor reaches a predetermined boundary in the display screen of the first computer and the display of the second computer, wherein the predetermined boundary is a switching predicate of position states the cursor must satisfy in one of the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer in order for switching between the display screen of the first computer and the display of the second computer to be accomplished, wherein the switching predicate is computed on one of the first computer and the second computer, and the input switch, and wherein the input switch receives a switch signal when the switching predicate is satisfied;

performing one of simultaneously displaying and moving the cursor on the display screen of the second computer, when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver and simultaneously displaying and moving the cursor on the display screen of the first computer, when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to the first device driver, thereby creating a seamless transition of the cursor rendering between the display screen of the first computer and the display screen of the second computer; and

transmitting a third plurality of signals from the at least one input device when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to one of the first device driver and the second device driver respectively, wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to one of the first device driver and the second device driver through the third device driver, when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to one of the first device driver and the second device driver respectively.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the input switch module is included in one of the first computer and the second computer.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the input switch module is one of hardwired into one of the first computer and the second computer, and is a plug-in module plugged into one of the first computer and the second computer, and is a software module residing in a program memory of one of the first computer and the second computer.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first computer and the second computer include a first network interface and a second network interface respectively, and wherein the first computer and the second computer are communicatively coupled over the computer network connected to the first network interface and the second network interface.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the computer processor included in a programmable computer implemented switch module, causes the input switch module to further perform operations of:

receiving, in the input switch module, the first plurality of signals from the second computer, transmitted over the computer network, wherein the at least one signal of the first plurality of signals indicates one of the current position state of display of the cursor being displayed on the second computer display screen when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver and the current position state of display of the cursor being displayed on the display screen of the first computer when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to the first device driver, wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to the second device driver through the third device driver, when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the computer processor included in the input switch module, causes the input switch module to further perform operations of:

transmitting, over the computer network, the third plurality of signals from the at least one input device to control application programs executing on the second computer, when the switch position of the throw of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions controlling a multi-display computer system using a seamless user interface, the computer-executable instructions executed by a computer processor causing the computer processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving, in an input switch, a first plurality of signals from a first network computer system and a second network computer system, wherein an at least one signal of the first plurality of signals indicates a current position state of display of a cursor being rendered on one of a standard display screen, associated with the first network computer system, and a display screen of the first network computer system and a display screen of the second network computer system, wherein the standard display screen, and the display screens of the first and second network computer systems are communicatively coupled to the first network computer system and the second network computer system, respectively, wherein the first network computer system includes a first device driver and the second network computer system includes a second device driver, wherein the standard display screen is a full resolution display required for scaling large numbers of a plurality of display screens that may be communicatively coupled to the first and second network computer systems, forming the multi-display system, and wherein the multi-display computer system includes a low resolution display screen embedded in one or more of the display screens of the first and the second network computer systems, wherein one or more of the display screens may operate at resolutions lower than the full resolution display;

receiving, from a third device driver a second plurality of signals from an at least one input device, wherein the third device driver is communicatively coupled to the input switch, and wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to the third device driver;

receiving a first input signal of the second plurality of signals from the at least one input device, wherein position data change for the cursor associated with a first display of one or more displays, while the cursor moves in its rendering on a second display of one or more displays of the second network computer system, wherein the first input signal is one or more of an x-signal and a y-signal, conveying one of movement of a mouse and corresponding to movement of the cursor, wherein the first input signal from the second plurality of signals is relayed over a computer network to one of a first application display driver of the standard computer system, the first network computer system and a second application display driver of the second network computer system, and wherein the first input signal causes the cursor to change the current position state of display on one of the standard display screen, the first network computer display screen and the second network computer display screen and causes the cursor to move in a plurality of directions and traverse a plurality of distances on one or more of the standard display screen and the display screens of the first network computer system and the second network computer system;

changing, automatically, a switch position of the input switch to communicatively coupled to one of the first device driver and the second device driver, when the switch position of the input switch is used to determine that the current position state of display of the cursor reaches a predetermined boundary in the standard display screen of the first network computer system, and the display screen of the first network computer display and the second network computer, wherein the switch position determines coupling between the at least one input device and the first and second device drivers and between the at least one input device and the first and second network computer systems, wherein the predetermined boundary is a switching predicate of position states the cursor must satisfy in one of the first network computer system associated with the standard display screen, and a switching predicate of position states the cursor must satisfy in the second network computer system associated with the first and second network computer displays, in order for switching between the standard display screen, and the first and second network computer displays can be accomplished, and rendered as the cursor switching between the standard display screen, and the first and second network computer displays, wherein the switching predicate is computed on one of the first computer and the second computer, and the input switch, and wherein the input switch receives a switch signal when the switching predicate is satisfied, and wherein the input switch is in a null position, when the input switch does not receive the switch signal when the switching predicate is not satisfied and the cursor is not rendered on the display screen of the first network computer system and the network display screens of the second network computer system; and

performing one of simultaneously displaying and moving the cursor on one or more of the display screens of the second network computer system when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver and simultaneously displaying and moving the cursor on the standard display screen of the first network computer system when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the first device driver, thereby creating a seamless transition of the cursor rendering between the display screen of the first network computer system and one or more display screens of the second computer system.

14. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 13, wherein the input switch is included in one of the first network computer system and the second network computer system.

15. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 14, wherein the input switch is one of hardwired into one of the first network computer system and the second network computer system, and is a plug-in module plugged into one of the first network computer system and the second network computer system, and is a software module residing in a program memory of one of the first network computer system and the second network computer system.

16. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 15, wherein the first network computer system and the second network computer system include a first network interface and a second network interface respectively, and wherein the first network computer system and the second network computer system are communicatively coupled over the computer network connected to the first network interface and the second network interface.

17. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions executed by the computer processor causing the computer processor to perform the method further comprising receiving, in the input switch, the first plurality of signals from the second network computer system, wherein the first plurality of signals is transmitted over the computer network, wherein the at least one signal of the first plurality of signals indicates one of the current position state of display of the cursor being displayed on the display screen of the second network computer when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver and the current position state of display of the cursor being displayed on the display screen of the first network computer when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the first device driver, and wherein the at least one input device is communicatively coupled to the second device driver through the third device driver, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver.

18. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions executed by the computer processor causing the computer processor to perform the method further comprising transmitting over the computer network a third plurality of signals from the at least one input device to control application programs executing on the second network computer, when the switch position of the input switch changes to connect to the second device driver.

19. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 13, wherein functionality of the first network computer system and the functionality of the second network computer system are rendered in a single network computer system and wherein components of the multi-display computer system are icons, text and static data conveyed over the computer network during setup, or periodic samples of the displays.

20. The computer-readable medium controlling the multi-display computer system according to claim 19, wherein, in response to receiving a signal selected from a user of the multi-display computer system, computer-executable instructions cause the cursor to move through the plurality of network computer system display screens operating at resolutions lower than the full resolution display and selects an at least one of the plurality of network computer display screens, wherein selecting the at least one of the plurality of network computer display screens causes an output of the at least one of the plurality of network computer display screens to be input to and displayed on the full resolution display, wherein selecting includes one or more of clicking and right clicking and highlighting and zooming on an image in the at least one of the plurality of network computer display screens, wherein the output is a real-time image, and wherein the cursor moves seamlessly between the multi-display and the full resolution display.