Concurrent display of data from two different display processors and user interface therefore

• US 4,937,036 A
• Filed: 03/21/1988
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Caro, Perry A., Woods, Donald R., Sandman, James G. Jr., Mackey, Kevin J., Hsiao, Jennifer B., Steinbach, Gary R., Beard, Marian H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/170,959
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/721, 340/734, 364/709, 364/188, 364/190, 364/189, 364/131, 364/132, 364/709.09, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/105 where the programme performs an input/output emulation function
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A multiprocessor system comprises concurrent display of video data reflecting the operation of two processors in discrete portions of a single display screen with a user interface adapted for interaction with both processors. One processor controls the entire display while allocating a portion of the display screen for the use of the other processor which processor emulates a target processor system, for example, the IBM PC. To fully emulate another target processor system requires emulation of its screen facility and abstractions used in the display operations of the targeted system. The one processor is a general purpose host computer system having a central processor with real resources including I/O devices, main memory, a video display for displaying information on the display screen of the display and user input means, e.g. a keyboard and a mouse, to the host computer to provide input to the display screen. Also included in the system is at least one emulating computer having a processor emulating the target processor unit with interface means for emulating the previously identified real resources for the emulating processor including means in the host system responsive to the input/output of the emulating processor for sharing of the central processor real resources by the emulating processor.

Claims

1. A multiprocessor system comprising a general purpose host system having a central processor having real resources including I/O devices, main memory, a video display for displaying information on the display screen of said display and user input means to said host computer to provide input to said display screen,

at least one emulating computer having a processor emulating a target processor unit,

a user interface on said display screen including metaphoric objects with which the user can interact by using said input means, said input means to select one of said objects as a focus of attention in order to subsequently invoke manipulative or selected functions relative to selected object and to selectively change the focus of input from one metaphoric object to another,

means to allocate a portion of said host system display screen as an emulated display screen for said emulating processor whereby video information to be displayed by said emulating processor is presented for display in said allocated emulating processor screen portion concurrent with the display of video information by said host system,

means in said interface means to direct user input via said input means as input for either said central processor or said emulating processor,

said input means to also initially change said input focus to either said allocated emulating processor screen portion or to the remaining portion of said central processor display screen prior to interaction with said metaphoric objects in a selected screen portion, the change of said input focus causing subsequent user input via said input means to be directed to said selected screen portion until interrupted by a change in focus input to the other of said screen portions by the user via said input means,

said input means comprising:

(A) stimulus means to monitor user action events received via said input means to determine if a new event is different from a previous event and, if so, queue said new event,

(B) notifier means to dequeue said new event and determines whether said new event is for an input action for said allocated emulating processor screen portion or for said central processor display screen portion relative to current input focus,

(C) table means allocated for each screen portion to translate said new event into a program action upon dequeue and access of said table means by said notifier means, and

(D) means to execute said program action relative to said determined screen portion input focus upon notification from said notifier means.

2. A multiprocessor system comprising a general purpose host computer having a central processor capable of executing under an operating system of a first kind and having real resources including I/O devices, main memory, a video display for displaying information on the display screen of said display and user input means to said host computer to provide input to said display screen,

a user interface on said display screen including metaphoric objects with which the user can interact by using said input means, said input means to select one of said objects as a focus of attention in order to subsequently invoke manipulative or selected functions relative to said selected object and to selectively change the focus of said input from one object to another,

at least one emulating computer having a processor emulating a target processor unit and executing under an operating system of a second kind that is inhomogeneous with the operating system of said first kind,

interface means for emulating real resources of said emulating processor comprising means responsive to the input/output signals of said emulating processor for sharing of said host computer real resources by said emulating processor,

means in said interface means to allocate a portion of said display bitmap memory and a portion of said display screen as an emulated display screen for said emulating processor whereby video information to be displayed by said emulating processor is presented for display in said allocated emulating processor screen portion concurrent with the display of video information by said host system.

means in said interface means to direct user input via said input means to the control of said emulating processor,

said input means to also initially change said input focus to either said allocated emulating processor screen portion or to the remaining portion of said host processor display screen prior to interaction with said metaphoric objects in a selected screen portion, the change of said input focus causing subsequent user input via said input means to be directed to said selected screen portion until interrupted by a change in focus input to the other of said screen portions by the user via said input means,

said input means comprising:

(A) stimulus means to monitor user action events received via said input means to determine if a new event is different from a previous event and, if so, queue said new event,

(B) notifier means to dequeue said new event and determines whether said new event is for an input action for said allocated emulating processor screen portion or for said central processor display screen portion relative to current input focus,

(C) table means allocated for each screen portion to translate said new event into a program action upon dequeue and access of said table means by said notifier means,

(D) means to execute said program action relative to said determined screen portion input focus upon notification from said notifier means'"'"'

(E) said table means for said emulating processor screen portion containing selectable program actions appropriate for said target process and compatible with said operating system of a second kind.