Selective user coupling for shared object oriented computer system

• US 5,615,336 A
• Filed: 12/30/1992
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Robson, Christopher, Duggan, Hugh, Morel, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Application Number:
  US07/778,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200, 395/425, 395/100, 395/154, 395/156, 395/600, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 719/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented

Abstract

An object based computer system has viewers which may be directed around the object world of the system. A coupling facility is provided whereby viewers may be linked equally or in a hierarchy so that information is passed between them concerning the objects being viewed. Viewers may thus follow one another voluntarily or automatically for mutual working, demonstration or tuition, for example.

Claims

1. An object based computer system, comprising:

at least one computer;

a plurality of objects including at least two semantic objects;

object manager means for managing the plurality of objects;

a plurality of viewers, each viewer being linked to one of the semantic objects wherein a plurality of viewers are linkable to the same semantic object to allow concurrent observation of that semantic object;

presence mechanism means for notifying each viewer linked to the same semantic object of the presence of other viewers currently linked to that semantic object by means of an indication on each of the plurality of viewers linked to the same semantic object; and

navigational coupling means for coupling together two viewers linked to the same semantic object so as to pass a navigational message generated by a first one of the plurality of viewers to a second one of the plurality of viewers so that when the first one of the plurality of viewers becomes linked to another one of the semantic objects then so does the second one of the plurality of viewers whereby the first one of the plurality of viewers leads the second viewer around and between objects in the system.

2. An object based computer system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for allowing a user to select a coupling mode to establish a hierarchical or an equal relationship.

3. An object based computer system as claimed in claim 2, wherein in a hierarchical relationship one viewer is a master and the remaining viewer or viewers coupled thereto are normal.

4. An object based computer system as claimed in claim 3, wherein navigation of a master viewer to view a fresh object causes corresponding and automatic navigation of normal viewers coupled thereto to view the same object.

5. An object based computer system as claimed in claim 3, wherein navigation of a normal viewer to view a fresh object causes display of an information message in the viewers coupled thereto.

6. An object based computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein navigation of a normal viewer to view a fresh object causes display of an information message in the viewers coupled thereto.