System for allowing user of any computer to draw image over that generated by the host computer and replicating the drawn image to other computers
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a group of interlinked computers, one of which runs a single instance of a shared program which can be controlled by others, comprising the following steps:
- a) designating each computer as (1) Viewer, (2) Annotator, or (3) Controller;
b) allowing no Viewer to perform annotation or issue commands to said program;
c) allowing Annotators to annotate their own displays, and make copies of the annotations at Viewers, Annotators, and Controllers;
d) allowing no Annotator to operate the shared program; and
e) allowing a Controller toi) operate the shared program orii) act as an Annotator;
wherein one or more of the operations described in paragraphs a, b, c, d, and e are accomplished by a computer program which is distinct from the shared program.
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Abstract
The invention concerns using multiple computers to hold a conference. Under the invention, an application program can run on a single computer, yet remote participants can issue commands to the program. Remote participants can watch the program operate, because the invention replicates the display window of the running program onto the displays of the remote computers. Any participant can make annotations on the participant'"'"'s own computer display. The invention copies the annotations to the displays of the other participants.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of operating a group of interlinked computers, one of which runs a single instance of a shared program which can be controlled by others, comprising the following steps:
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a) designating each computer as (1) Viewer, (2) Annotator, or (3) Controller; b) allowing no Viewer to perform annotation or issue commands to said program; c) allowing Annotators to annotate their own displays, and make copies of the annotations at Viewers, Annotators, and Controllers; d) allowing no Annotator to operate the shared program; and e) allowing a Controller to i) operate the shared program or ii) act as an Annotator; wherein one or more of the operations described in paragraphs a, b, c, d, and e are accomplished by a computer program which is distinct from the shared program. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of operating computers, comprising the following steps:
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a) linking the computers together via one or more data channels; b) running similar operating systems on all computers; c) running one application program on a single computer, which produces output on a display of the single computer, and copying said output to displays of other computers; d) running a program on each computer which does the following; i) allows a pointing device to draw a graphics image over the produced output of the application program on the display of its computer; ii) transmits data to the other computers, via the data channel, concerning the drawn graphics image; iii) receives data concerning graphics images drawn by the other computers, via the data channel, and draws corresponding images on its computer. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method of operating a group of interlinked computers, comprising the following steps:
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a) running a shared program on a computer, which program can be operated by users of other computers, b) allowing a user of a predetermined computer to classify any selected ones of the computers into the following groups; i) a group of Annotators, and a group of Controllers; c) allowing Annotators to annotate their own displays, and cause copies of the annotations to appear on displays of the Controllers; d) allowing no Annotator to influence operation of the shared program; and e) allowing a Controller to i) influence operation of the shared program and ii) annotate its own display; wherein one or more of the operations described in paragraphs a, b, c, d, and e are accomplished by a computer program which is distinct from the shared program. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A system comprising multiple computers, capable of linking together, one of which is a host computer which runs a host program, comprising:
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a) means for allowing a user of any computer to issue commands to the host program which produces an image on the host computer, and copying the image on displays of other computers; b) means for allowing a user of any computer to draw, on the display of the user'"'"'s computer, an image over that generated by the host program, by another program running on the user'"'"'s computer; and c) means for replicating said image on other computers. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for a system comprising multiple computers, capable of linking together, one of which is a host computer which runs a host program, comprising the .steps of:
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a) allowing a user of any computer to issue commands to the host program which produces an image on the host computer, and copying the image on displays of other computers; b) allowing a user of any computer to draw, on the display of the user'"'"'s computer, an image over that generated by the host program, by another program running on the user'"'"'s computer; and c) replicating said image on other computers.
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Specification