Data-handling and display system capable of supporting multiple application programs and output devices
First Claim
1. An input/output system for enabling a user to interact with a plurality of application programs implemented on one or more computers, the system comprising:
- a) a system memory;
b) a user-responsive display device;
c) interface means for transferring, to a specified application program, data and instructions defined on the display device by a user;
d) means, operatively coupled to the interface means, for electronically communicating with at least one application program operative on a computer to accept display data generated by each application program;
e) memory-partitioning means for defining a plurality of data fields within the system memory, said data fields including;
i. at least one application data buffer for storing display data generated by an application program;
ii. at least one display buffer for storing a display list consisting of raster-image instructions defining the dimensions, positions, orientation, and contents of a display;
f) translation means operatively connected to each application data buffer and each display buffer for converting the data in each application data buffer into a common set of raster-image instructions and storing the instructions in a display buffer; and
g) a display driver operatively coupled to each display buffer and capable of generating a visual image on the display device in response to the raster-image instructions in each display buffer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface system that facilitates user interaction with a plurality of document-management programs, each of which may require different data formats, and convenient output of data generated by such programs to recording or display devices. The invention includes a "front end", which accepts user commands and channels them to a designated application program; and a "back end", which converts output data into a form compatible with a selected output device or display, and which can simultaneously drive display of data from a plurality of application programs. The system operates using a common set of raster-image instructions; output and display data from an application program are converted into this common set of instructions before being provided to a selected output or display device. The system can store multiple display lists in segregated memory partitions, and then combine the lists according to a user-defined "mapping" procedure to produce a single, integrated display.
70 Citations
59 Claims
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1. An input/output system for enabling a user to interact with a plurality of application programs implemented on one or more computers, the system comprising:
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a) a system memory; b) a user-responsive display device; c) interface means for transferring, to a specified application program, data and instructions defined on the display device by a user; d) means, operatively coupled to the interface means, for electronically communicating with at least one application program operative on a computer to accept display data generated by each application program; e) memory-partitioning means for defining a plurality of data fields within the system memory, said data fields including; i. at least one application data buffer for storing display data generated by an application program; ii. at least one display buffer for storing a display list consisting of raster-image instructions defining the dimensions, positions, orientation, and contents of a display; f) translation means operatively connected to each application data buffer and each display buffer for converting the data in each application data buffer into a common set of raster-image instructions and storing the instructions in a display buffer; and g) a display driver operatively coupled to each display buffer and capable of generating a visual image on the display device in response to the raster-image instructions in each display buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification