Screen communications system granting screen modifying requests if no other requests received after first period of time and releasing requests after second period of time
First Claim
1. A screen communications method for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each of said terminals having a display part and an input part, said method comprising the steps of:
- connecting each of said plurality of terminals to a first transmitter which transmits information via a non-delay service switching system and to a second transmitter which transmits information via a storage-and-forward switching system so that information from any one of said terminals may be transmitted to another terminal or to other remaining terminals through said first transmitter, and so that information from said any one of said terminals may be transmitted to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said second transmitter;
upon input of screen modifying data into said any one of said terminals from said input part of said other remaining terminals, performing the following steps, in said anyone of said terminals, of;
transmitting a modifying right request to any other remaining terminal through said first transmitter;
detecting whether or not any modifying right request which has been transmitted from any other terminal has been received through said first transmitter within a first predetermined period of time,transmitting said input screen modifying data to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said second transmitter when no other modifying right request has been received, andreleasing said modifying right of said any one of said terminals when no screen modifying data has been input from said input part of said other remaining terminals for a second predetermined period of time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A screen communication method and system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminal units each having a display part and an input part, wherein each time screen modifying data is input from the display part, each of the terminal units transmits a modifying right request to another terminal unit before transmitting the screen modifying data, and obtains a modifying right under such a condition that each terminal unit receives no screen modifying request from another terminal unit within a predetermined period of time after the transmission of the first modifying right request.
36 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A screen communications method for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each of said terminals having a display part and an input part, said method comprising the steps of:
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connecting each of said plurality of terminals to a first transmitter which transmits information via a non-delay service switching system and to a second transmitter which transmits information via a storage-and-forward switching system so that information from any one of said terminals may be transmitted to another terminal or to other remaining terminals through said first transmitter, and so that information from said any one of said terminals may be transmitted to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said second transmitter; upon input of screen modifying data into said any one of said terminals from said input part of said other remaining terminals, performing the following steps, in said anyone of said terminals, of; transmitting a modifying right request to any other remaining terminal through said first transmitter; detecting whether or not any modifying right request which has been transmitted from any other terminal has been received through said first transmitter within a first predetermined period of time, transmitting said input screen modifying data to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said second transmitter when no other modifying right request has been received, and releasing said modifying right of said any one of said terminals when no screen modifying data has been input from said input part of said other remaining terminals for a second predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A screen communications system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each terminal having a display part and an input part, said system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting information via a non-delay-service-switching system, said first transmitter being connected to each of said plurality of terminals for transmission of information from any one of said terminals to another terminal or to other remaining terminals; and a second transmitter for transmitting information via a storage- and forward switching system, said second transmitter being connected to each of said terminals for transmission of information from said any one of said terminals to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals; wherein each of said plurality of terminals comprises; first transmitting means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said first transmitter when an input operation is made at said input part for modifying the screen, receiving means for receiving modifying right requests from any of said other remaining terminals through said first transmitter, detecting means for detecting whether or not said receiving means for receiving modifying right requests receives any modifying right requests within a first predetermined period of time after transmission of the modifying right request from said first transmitting means, second transmitting means for transmitting said input screen modifying data from said one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said second transmitter if no modifying right requests are received from any of said other remaining terminals within said first predetermined period of time, and releasing means for releasing the modifying right of said one terminal when no screen modifying data has been input from said input part for a second predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A screen communications system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each terminal having a display part and an input part, said system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting information via a non-delay-service-switching system, said first transmitter being connected to each of said plurality of terminals for transmission of information from any one of said terminals to another terminal or to other remaining terminals; and a second transmitter for transmitting information via a storage- and forward switching system, said second transmitter being connected to each of said terminals for transmission of information from said any one of said terminals to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals; wherein each of said plurality of terminals comprises; first transmitting means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said first transmitter when an input operation is made at said input part for modifying the screen, receiving means for receiving modifying right requests from any of said other remaining terminals through said first transmitter, detecting means for detecting whether or not said receiving means for receiving modifying right requests receives any modifying right requests within a first predetermined period of time after transmission of the modifying right request from said first transmitting means, second transmitting means for transmitting said input screen modifying data from said one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said second transmitter if no modifying right requests are received from any of said other remaining terminals within said first predetermined period of time, releasing means for releasing the modifying right of said one terminal when no screen modifying data has been input from said input part for a second predetermined period of time, a third transmitter and a fourth transmitter connected to each of said plurality of terminals, both of said third and fourth transmitters independently transmitting information therethrough, said third transmitter including communication media having a shorter delay time for data transmission than said fourth transmitter, means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals each time screen modifying data is input from said input part, means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from said transmitting means of any of said other remaining terminals, means for transmitting said screen modifying data input from said input part, means for receiving screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other remaining terminals, means for modifying the content of display of said display part based on said screen modifying data input from said input part or that transmitted from any of said other remaining terminals, control means for controlling receiving and releasing of modifying right requests and transmission and reception of modifying data, said control means comprising; means for confirming a modifying right in said terminal when no modifying requests are received from any of said other remaining terminals when a first predetermined time period lapses after transmission of a modifying right request therefrom, means for releasing said modifying right when a second predetermined time period lapses after confirming said modifying right when no data is input from said input part, and means for transmitting screen modifying data from said input part to said means for transmitting screen modifying data after confirming said modifying right. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A screen communications system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each of said terminals having a display part and an input part, said system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting therethrough a modifying right request from any one of said terminals to another terminal or to other remaining terminals; and a second transmitter for transmitting therethrough screen modifying data from said any one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals; wherein each terminal comprises; means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals each time screen modifying data is input from said input part, means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from said transmitting means of any of said other remaining terminals, means for confirming that said terminal has the modifying right, when said means for receiving modifying right requests has not received a modifying right request within a first predetermined period of time after said means for transmitting a modifying right request has transmitted the modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals through said first transmitter, means for transmitting said screen modifying data input from said input part after confirming that said terminal has the modifying right, means for receiving screen modifying data transmitted from said any of said other remaining terminals, means for modifying the content of display of said display part based on said screen modifying data input from said input part received by said means for receiving screen modifying data, first measuring means for measuring a time period for reciprocal transmission of a modifying right request from said any of said other remaining terminals each time said modifying right request is transmitted to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals, second measuring means for measuring a time period for a continuous, uninterrupted input of said screen modifying data at said input part, means for confirming a modifying right within a time period of measurement by said first measuring means if said modifying right receiving means receives no modifying right request from any one of said plurality of terminals and means for releasing a modifying right within a time period of measurement by said second measuring means of no screen modifying data is input from said input part. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A screen communications system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each of said terminals having a display part and an input part, said system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting therethrough a modifying right request from a particular one of said terminals to another terminal or to other remaining terminals; and a second transmitter for transmitting therethrough screen modifying data from said any one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals when said particular terminal determines that no modifying request from said any other remaining terminals has been received thereat within a predetermined amount of time after transmitting said modifying right request; wherein each terminal further comprises; means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals each time screen modifying data is input from said input part, means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from said transmitting means of any of said other remaining terminals, means for transmitting said screen modifying data input from said input part, means for receiving screen modifying data transmitted from said any of said other remaining terminals, means for modifying the content of display of said display part based on said screen modifying data input from said input part or received by said means for receiving screen modifying data, first measuring means for measuring a predetermined time period every time said modifying right request is transmitted to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals, said predetermined time period being necessary for a modifying right request transmitted from any of said other remaining terminals to be received at any other of said remaining terminals, second measuring means for measuring a time period for a continuous, uninterrupted input of said screen modifying data at said input part, means for confirming a modifying right if, within a time period of measurement by said first measuring means, said modifying right receiving means receives no modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminals, means for releasing a modifying right within a time period of measurement by said second measuring means if no screen modifying data is input from said input part, third measuring means for measuring a total time of the measured time period of said second measuring means and the transmitting time period of said screen modifying data each time said modifying right request receiving means receives a modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminals, and means for confirming, within a predetermined time period measurement by said third measuring means, if said modifying right request receiving means receives no modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminals that another of said other remaining terminals has released a modifying right. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A terminal unit having an input part and a display part for use as one of a plurality of terminal units, each terminal unit being interconnected to a first and a second transmitter, in a screen communications system, said terminal unit comprising:
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first means for transmitting a modifying right request to another terminal unit or to other remaining terminal units through said first transmitter when an input operation is made in said input part for modifying said screen; means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from any of said remaining terminal units through said first transmitter; means for detecting whether or not said means for receiving a modifying right request has received a modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminal units within a first predetermined time period, after transmitting a modifying right request from said transmitting means; second means for transmitting said screen modifying data through said second transmitter from said terminal unit to said another terminal unit or to said other remaining terminal units if no modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminal units has been received within said first predetermined time period; means for receiving said screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other remaining terminal units; means for modifying contents of said display based on the input from said input part or screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other remaining terminal units; and first measuring means for measuring a first predetermined period of time in which a modifying right request transmitted from any of said other remaining terminal units is received at any other of said other remaining terminal units, wherein said first transmitter includes a communication system having a shorter information transmission delay compared to said second transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A terminal unit having an input part and a display part for use as one of a plurality of terminal units, each terminal unit being interconnected to a first transmitter and a second transmitter, in a screen communications system, said terminal unit comprising:
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first means for transmitting a modifying right request to another terminal unit or to other remaining terminal units through said first transmitter when an input operation is made in said input part for modifying said screen; means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from any other remaining terminal units through said first transmitter; means for detecting whether or not said means for receiving a modifying right request has received a modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminal units within a first predetermined time period, after transmitting a modifying right request from said transmitting means; second means for transmitting said screen modifying data through said second transmitter from said terminal unit to said another terminal unit or to said other remaining terminal units if no modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminal units has been received within said first predetermined time period; means for receiving said screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other terminal units; means for modifying contents of the display based on the input from said input part or the screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other remaining terminal units; first measuring means for measuring said first predetermined time period whenever said modifying right request is transmitted to another terminal unit or to other remaining terminal units, said first predetermined time period being necessary for a modifying right request transmitted from any of said terminal units to be received at said another terminal or at said other remaining terminal; second measuring means for measuring a time period for a continuous, uninterrupted input of said screen modifying data at said input part; means for releasing a modifying right if, within a time period of measurement by said second measuring means, if no screen modifying data is input from said input part; third measuring means for measuring a total time of the measured time period of said second measuring means and the transmitting time period of said screen modifying data each time said modifying right receiving means receives a modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminal units; and means for confirming that another of said plurality of terminal units has released a modifying right if, within a predetermined time period measurement by said third measuring means, said modifying right request receiving means receives no modifying right request from any of said other remaining terminal units. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A screen communications method for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminal units each having a display part and an input part, said method comprising the steps of:
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selectively assuming, in each of said terminal units, an initial state, an absence-of-modifying-right state, a presence-of-modifying-right state, a wait-for-modifying-right state or a collision state; in said initial state, transmitting a modifying right request to transit into said wait-for-modifying-right state when the screen modifying date is input from said input part, or, transitting into said absence-of-modifying-right state when a screen modifying request is transmitted from any other remaining of said terminal units; in said wait-for-modifying-right state, transitting into said presence-of-modifying-right state if no modifying right request is transmitted from any of said other remaining terminal units within a predetermined period of time, or, transitting into said collision state if a modifying right request is transmitted from any of said other remaining terminal units within a predetermined period of time; in said presence-of-modifying-right state, transitting into said initial state if no screen modifying data is input from said input part within a predetermined period of time; in said collision state, transitting into said initial state if no screen modifying data is input from said input part within a predetermined period of time; and in said absence-of-modifying-right state, transitting into said initial state of no screen modifying data is transmitted from another of said terminal units within a predetermined period of time.
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26. A screen communications system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each of said terminals having a display part and an input part, said system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting therethrough a modifying right request from any one of said terminals to another terminal or to other remaining terminals; and a second transmitter for transmitting therethrough screen modifying data from said any one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals when said any one terminal determines that no modifying request from any of said other remaining terminals has been received thereat within a predetermined amount of time after transmitting said modifying right request; wherein each terminal comprises; means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals each time screen modifying data is input from said input part; means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from said transmitting means of any of said other remaining terminals; means for transmitting said screen modifying data input from said input part; means for receiving screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other remaining terminals; means for modifying the content of display of said display part based on said screen modifying data input from said input part or received by said means for receiving screen modifying data; and multi-window control means for dividing said display part into a plurality of display areas, said multi-window control means defining, for at least one of said display areas, a screen to be shared with at least one of said other remaining terminals, wherein said first transmitter includes a communication system having a transmission delay shorter than that of said second transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A screen communications system for communicating screen data between a plurality of interconnected terminals, each of said terminals having a display part and an input part, said system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting therethrough a modifying right request from any one of said terminals to another terminal or to other remaining terminals; and a second transmitter for transmitting therethrough screen modifying data from said any one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals when said any one terminal determines that no modifying request has been received thereat within a predetermined amount of time after transmitting said modifying right request; wherein each terminal comprises; means for transmitting a modifying right request to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals each time screen modifying data is input from said input part; means for receiving a modifying right request transmitted from said transmitting means of any of said other remaining terminals; means for transmitting said screen modifying data input from said input part; means for receiving screen modifying data transmitted from any of said other remaining terminals; means for modifying the content of display of said display part based on said screen modifying data input from said input part or received by said means for receiving screen modifying data; confirming means for confirming if said terminal has a modifying right or not; and means for releasing said modifying right of said terminal, wherein said first transmitter includes a communication system having a transmission delay shorter than that of said second transmitter; and wherein said confirming means comprises; first time measuring means for measuring a predetermined first monitoring time period after transmitting said modifying right of said any one terminal to said another terminal or to said other remaining terminals, and means for confirming possession of said modifying right thereof when said modifying right request is not received from any of said other remaining terminals during said predetermined first monitoring time period measured by said first time measuring means; and said means for releasing said modifying right comprises; second measuring means for measuring a time interval between every input and comparing said measured time interval to a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time being a longest input time interval which allows the inputs to be regarded as a continuous and uninterrupted input, and means for releasing said modifying right when no input is received during said period of time measured by said second time measuring means, by judging that said transmission of screen modifying data is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification