Accelerated replication of multiple computer displays
First Claim
1. In a system wherein a GUI runs on a host computer and generates graphic images by issuing GDI calls which make reference to device contexts, the improvement comprising:
- a) maintaining similar device contexts in remote computers andb) maintaining substantially identical first program means on each computer, whichi) allows a single application program to selectively run on any of the computers, and no other computer, which generates a display on the selected computers,ii) replicates the display on all other computers,iii) allows a user of each computer to make annotations, containing graphical images, on the replicated display of each respective computer,iv) allows each respective user to selectivelyA) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to replicated displays of other computers, orB) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system wherein multiple computers engage in a video conference. The invention creates a common visual image which is displayed by all computers. However, the invention does not distribute a bit map of the image to all computers. Instead, the invention distributes the commands from which the image is created.
Further, the distributed commands rely on data structures, which define parameters such as pen color, background color, line width, etc. The data structures are stored in each computer. When a data structure is changed, the invention does not immediately inform all other computers of the change, but waits until necessary.
90 Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a system wherein a GUI runs on a host computer and generates graphic images by issuing GDI calls which make reference to device contexts, the improvement comprising:
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a) maintaining similar device contexts in remote computers and b) maintaining substantially identical first program means on each computer, which i) allows a single application program to selectively run on any of the computers, and no other computer, which generates a display on the selected computers, ii) replicates the display on all other computers, iii) allows a user of each computer to make annotations, containing graphical images, on the replicated display of each respective computer, iv) allows each respective user to selectively A) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to replicated displays of other computers, or B) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising
a) multiple computers which use data records identified as device contexts, together with other data, to generate drawings; -
b) means for maintaining common contents in corresponding device contexts in different computers; and c) a first program means, running on each computer, for i) allowing an application program, different from the first program means, to run on any one of the computers, and no other; ii) copying displayed output of the application program to displays of all other computers; iii) allowing a user of every computer to apply annotations, which contain text and graphical images, to the copied display output of the user'"'"'s computer; and iv) allowing each respective user to selectively A) cause the first program means to copy the annotations made by the user to copied displayed output of other computers, or B) cause the first program means to refrain from copying the annotations made by the user. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification