Method of operating multiple computers by identical software running on every computer with the exception of the host computer which runs shared program in addition

• US 5,717,856 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: FitzPatrick, Catherine M., Carleton, Allison A., Schwartz, Krista S., Pommier, Theresa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/755,883
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.02, 395/200.03, 395/200.04, 395/330, 395/331, 395/332, 370/260, 379/202, 348/12-15
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

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.

Claims

1. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a single host computer;

b) intercepting a message provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) ascertaining whether the message will modify the display of the host computer, independent of the shared program;

i) if so, causing all other computers to receive the message;

ii) if not, delivering the message to the shared program, and

d) accomplishing steps a) through c) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the message of paragraph (c)(i) causes an image to be drawn on the displays of the other computers, independent of output of the shared program.

3. Method according to claim 1, in which the message of paragraph (c)(ii) includes a command for the shared program.

4. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a single host computer;

b) intercepting a message provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) ascertaining whether the message will modify the display of the host computer, independent of the shared program; and

i) if so, causing all other computers to receive the message;

ii) if not, delivering the message to the shared program,

d) at each computer, intercepting messages generated by the operating system of each computer;

e) ascertaining whether the messages are directed toward the shared program and, if so, causing the shared program to receive the messages;

f) ascertaining whether the messages are effective to generate annotations on the display of each respective computer and, if so;

i) causing the computer at which the message was generated to execute a graphics call;

ii) causing all other computers to receive the same message; and

g) accomplishing steps a), b), c), d), and f) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.

5. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a host computer;

b) intercepting messages provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) when a message is intercepted, ascertaining whether the message

i) is a graphics instruction call and, if so, causing all computers to receive the message;

ii) is intended for the shared program and, if so, directing the message to the shared program, to the exclusion of other computers;

d) any of said multiple computers being effective to operate as said single computer running the shared program; and

e) accomplishing steps a) through c) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.

6. Method according to claim 5, in which the graphics call of paragraph (c)(i) causes a graphic image to be generated on all computers receiving it.

7. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a single host computer;

b) intercepting a message provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) ascertaining whether the message will modify the display of the host computer, independent of the shared program; and

i) if so, causing all other computers to receive the message;

ii) if not, delivering the message to the shared program,

d) any of said multiple computers being effective to operate as said single computer running the shared program; and

e) accomplishing steps a) through c) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.

8. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a single host computer;

b) intercepting a message provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) ascertaining whether the message will modify the display of the host computer, independent of the shared program; and

i) if so, causing all other computers to receive the message;

ii) if not, delivering the message to the shared program,

d) at each computer, intercepting messages generated by the operating system of each computer;

e) ascertaining whether the messages are directed toward the shared program and, if so, causing the shared program to receive the messages;

f) ascertaining whether the messages are effective to generate annotations on the display of each respective computer and, if so;

i) causing the computer at which the message was generated to execute a graphics call;

ii) causing all other computers to receive the same message; and

g) accomplishing steps a), b), c), d), and f) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.

9. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a host computer;

b) intercepting messages provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) when a message is intercepted, ascertaining whether the message

i) is a graphics instruction call and, if so, causing all computers to receive the message;

ii) is intended for the shared program and, if so, directing the message to the shared program, to the exclusion of other computers;

d) any of said multiple computers being effective to operate as said single computer running the shared program; and

e) accomplishing steps a) through c) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.

10. A method of operating multiple computers, each of which is running a message-driven operating system, comprising the following steps:

a) running a shared program on a single host computer;

b) intercepting a message provided by the operating system of the host computer;

c) ascertaining whether the message will modify the display of the host computer, independent of the shared program;

i) if so, causing all other computers to receive the message;

ii) if not, delivering the message to the shared program;

d) any of said multiple computers being effective to operate as said single computer running the shared program, and

e) accomplishing steps a) through c) by substantially identical software running on every computer, with the exception of said host computer, which runs said shared program in addition to said substantially identical software.