Emulation of data processing display terminals of variable screen size on the display of a text processor

• US 4,463,442 A
• Filed: 10/09/1981
• Issued: 07/31/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Motola, Patrick D., Dachowski, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Watson, Mark P.
• Application Number:
  US06/310,185
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 715/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

An improvement is provided to a text processor having an interactive display terminal. The improvement provides for a combination of said text processor with a data processor and means for conducting data processing sessions utilizing the data processor between text processing sessions carried out by said text processor. During such data processing sessions, the interactive display terminal of said text processor emulates a data processing terminal. The emulated display terminal is connected to the data processor whereby the emulated terminal functions as a display terminal for the data processor. Further, means are provided which are operational during the data processing session to define the outer dimensions of a limited area on the display terminal to correspond to the dimensions of the data processing display terminal screen being emulated.

In accordance with a more particular aspect of the disclosure, means are provided in the text processing system for storing data representative of the outlines of a plurality of different data processing display screen to be emulated together with means for selecting one of the plurality of stored outlines to be displayed on the emulated screen.

Claims

1. In a text processing system having an interactive display terminal and means for conducting text processing sessions involving operations wherein the processing affects only the format of the information, the improvement comprising

means for initiating a data processing session wherein said interactive display terminal emulates a data processing terminal,

means for interrupting the text processing session being conducted,

means for reinitiating the interrupted text processing session at the completion of the data processing session,

data processing means connected to said display terminal and operable during said data processing session, and

means operative during said data processing session to define outer dimensions of a limited area on the display terminal which are equal to the dimensions of the data processing display terminal being emulated.

2. In a text processing system having an interactive display terminal and means for conducting text processing sessions involving operations within the processing affects only the format of the information, the improvement wherein the system further comprises

a data processor for conducting data processing operations,

means for initiating a data processing session,

means for interrupting the text processing session being conducted,

means for reinitiating the interrupted text processing session at the completion of the data processing session,

means activated during said data processing session for operating said interactive display terminal as an emulation of a data processing display terminal,

means for connecting said emulated display terminal to said data processor, whereby said emulated display terminal functions as a display terminal for said data processor, and

means operational during data processing sessions to define outer dimensions of a limited area on the display terminal which are equal to the dimensions of the screen of the data processing display terminal being emulated.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for defining selected outer dimensions of a limited area on the display comprises

means in said text processing system for storing data representative of the outline of a plurality of different data processing display screens to be emulated, and

means for selecting one of said plurality of stored outlines to be displayed as the emulated screen.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of outlines has dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the display screen of the said text processing system.