Method and an apparatus for displaying graphical data received from a remote computer by a local computer

• US 5,210,825 A
• Filed: 04/26/1990
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teknekron Communications Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kavaler, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Michael R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUN, DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US07/514,590
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 364/519, 364/520, 364/521, 364/200, 364/518, 395/145, 395/147, 395/275, 395/200
• US Class Current: 345/636
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• 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

Abstract

In the present invention, a communication system is disclosed. The communication system comprises a remote computer 20 and a local computer 40, linked by communication link 12. The local computer 40 operates a conventional alphanumeric communication program 42 which receives alphanumeric data from the remote computer 20. The local computer 40 also comprises a supervisory program 56 which is Terminate and Stay Resident in memory, and which interrupts the operation of the alphanumeric communication program 42. When a particular command query is generated from the remote computer 20, the supervisory program 56 causes the local computer 40 to respond thereto, indicating the capabilities of the local computer 40 for graphical data display. When graphical data, which has been compressed and encoded in alphanumeric format is transmitted by the remote computer 20 and is received by the local computer 40, and stored in a first memory 44, the local computer 40 decodes the alphanumeric format and decompresses to regenerate the original graphical data. The original graphical data is then stored in a second memory 54 and the display unit 48 is directed to receive the graphical data and to display on the display unit 48.

Claims

1. In an improvement to a local computer linked to communicate with a remote computer, said local computer having means for communicating with said remote computer by transmitting data in alphanumeric format to and receiving data ("received data") in alphanumeric format from said remote computer, wherein said remote computer generating an inquiry to said local computer encoded in said received data, the improvement to said local computer comprising:

means for periodically interrupting said communicating means from communicating with said remote computer to cease receiving any further received data;

means for comparing said received data from said remote computer received by said communicating means in said local computer prior to being interrupted to a stored data said stored data representing said inquiry; and

means for causing said communicating means to transmit a response data in said alphanumeric format to said remote computer in response to said comparison to respond to said inquiry.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein said response data transmitted by said communicating means to said remote computer, in response to said comparison, indicates to said remote computer that said local computer can receive graphical data encoded in alphanumeric data format.

3. The computer of claim 2 further comprising:

a first memory means for storing alphanumeric data format received from said remote computer, via said communicating means; and

display means for displaying alphanumeric data in said alphanumeric data format from said first memory means.

4. The computer of claim 3 further comprising:

a second memory means;

means for translating said received data in alphanumeric format into graphical data in response to said comparison;

means for storing said translated graphical data in said second memory means; and

means for directing said display means for displaying said graphical data from said second memory means.

5. The computer of claim 4, wherein said translating means further comprising:

decoding means for converting said received data in alphanumeric format into a compressed graphical data; and

decompression means for converting said compressed graphical data into said graphical data.

6. In an improvement to a local computer having a first memory means for storing alphanumeric data and display means for displaying said alphanumeric data, said local computer linked to communicate with a remote computer, and having means for communicating with said remote computer by transmitting alphanumeric data to and receiving alphanumeric data ("received alphanumeric data") from said remote computer and storing said received alphanumeric data in said first memory means, wherein the improvement to said local computer comprising:

a second memory means;

means for periodically interrupting said communicating means to access said received alphanumeric data;

means for comparing the received alphanumeric data from said remote computer to a stored alphanumeric data;

means for translating said received alphanumeric data into graphical data in response to said comparison;

means for storing said graphical data in said second memory means; and

means for directing said display means for displaying said graphical data from said second memory means.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein said translating means further comprising:

decoding means for converting said received alphanumeric data into a compressed graphical data; and

decompression means for converting said compressed graphical data into said graphical data.

8. A system for transmitting and receiving graphical data from a remote computer to a local computer comprising:

means for translating said graphical data into alphanumeric data format in said remote computer;

means in said local computer, for communicating with said remote computer by transmitting data in alphanumeric format to and receiving data in alphanumeric format ("received alphanumeric data") from said remote computer;

a first memory means, in said local computer, for storing said received alphanumeric data from said remote computer via said communicating means;

display means for displaying said received alphanumeric data from said first memory means;

a second memory means, in said local computer;

means for periodically interrupting said communicating means to access said received alphanumeric data, in said local computer;

means for comparing said received alphanumeric data from said remote computer to a stored alphanumeric data, in said local computer;

means for translating said received alphanumeric data into graphical data, in said local computer;

means for storing said graphical data in said second memory means, in said local computer; and

means for directing said display means for displaying said graphical data from said second memory means, in said local computer.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein said translating means of said local computer further comprising:

decoding means for converting said received data into a compressed graphical data; and

decompression means for converting said compressed graphical data into said graphical data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said translating means of said remove computer further comprising:

compression means for converting said graphical data into a compressed graphical data; and

encoding means for converting said compressed graphical data into alphanumeric data format.

11. A method of displaying graphical data on a local computer received from a remote computer, wherein said local computer having an alphanumeric communication program for communicating with said remote computer by transmitting data in an alphanumeric format to and receiving data in said alphanumeric format ("received data") from said remote computer, a first memory means for storing said received data, and a display means for displaying said received data from said first memory means, said method comprising:

transmitting a query signal in alphanumeric data format from said remote computer to said local computer;

periodically interrupting said alphanumeric communication program by comparing said received data to a stored data;

causing said local computer to transmit an image capable signal, in said alphanumeric data format, in response to a true comparison;

encoding graphical data in said alphanumeric data format into an encoded graphical data by said remote computer;

transmitting said encoded graphical data from said remote computer to said local computer;

receiving said encoded graphical data by said alphanumeric communication program;

decoding said encoded graphical data; and

displaying said graphical data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of

storing said received encoded graphical data in said first memory means;

storing said decoded graphical data in a second memory means; and

displaying said decoded graphical data from said second memory means.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprises the step of

compressing said graphical data prior to encoding said graphical data.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of

decompressing said encoded graphical data after decoding said encoded graphical data.

15. An apparatus for displaying graphical data on a local computer received from a remote computer, wherein said local computer having an alphanumeric communication program for communicating with said remote computer by transmitting data in an alphanumeric format to and receiving data in said alphanumeric format ("received data") from said remote computer, a first memory means for storing said received data, and a display means for displaying said received data from said first memory means, said apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a query signal in alphanumeric data format from said remote computer to said local computer;

means for periodically interrupting said alphanumeric communication program by comparing said received data to a stored data;

means for causing said local computer to transmit an image capable signal, in said alphanumeric data format, in response to a true comparison;

means for encoding graphical data in said alphanumeric data format into an encoded graphical data by said remote computer;

means for transmitting said encoded graphical data from said remote computer to said local computer;

means for receiving said encoded graphical data by said alphanumeric communication program;

means for decoding said encoded graphical data; and

means for displaying said graphical data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

means for compressing said graphical data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

means for decompressing said encoded graphical data.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

means for storing said received encoded graphical data in said first memory means;

means for storing said decoded graphical data in a second memory means; and

means for displaying said decoded graphical data from said second memory means.