Computer graphics data recording and playback system with a VCR-based graphic user interface
First Claim
1. A method of recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device in a first memory file;
time stamping said X-Window commands in said first memory file with a first set of time stamps,at fixed intervals, storing state information in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined;
time stamping said state information in said second memory file with a second set of time stamps;
storing in a third memory file X-Window events generated by a pointer device, said pointer device for graphically interacting with said client program and said display; and
time stamping said X-Window events in said third file with a third set of time stamps.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for recording and playing back computer graphics data, including cursor movement data, and audio data which requires no X-Window command extensions. During recording, the command data stream to a display controller is intercepted, time stamped at regular intervals, and sent to and stored in a first file in a mass storage device. Cursor movement and operation data also is intercepted, time stamped and stored in a second file. During recording, display state data is generated and recorded into a third file at specified intervals. For playback, the system operator is presented with a graphic user interface resembling the control panel of a video cassette recorder. The system operator can play back the recorded information starting from a designated instant by operating the "buttons" on the control panel. For playback, the third file is read and forwarded to the display controller. The first and second files are then merged utilizing the time stamps to ensure synchronization and forwarded in a stream to the display controller for playing back the recorded events.
260 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device in a first memory file; time stamping said X-Window commands in said first memory file with a first set of time stamps, at fixed intervals, storing state information in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; time stamping said state information in said second memory file with a second set of time stamps; storing in a third memory file X-Window events generated by a pointer device, said pointer device for graphically interacting with said client program and said display; and time stamping said X-Window events in said third file with a third set of time stamps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device in a first memory file; time stamping said X-Window commands in said first memory file with a first set of time stamps, at fixed intervals, storing state information in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; time stamping said state information in said second memory file with a second set of time stamps; wherein said step of storing state information comprises storing X-Window CREATE commands; and
furtherwherein said step of storing state information further comprises; intercepting each X-Window command and event directed to said display device; determining which, if any, of said stored CREATE commands have parameters which are affected by said intercepted command or event; and modifying said parameters of said stored CREATE commands which are affected by said intercepted command or event in accordance with said intercepted command or event.
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9. A method of recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device in a first memory file; time stamping said X-Window commands in said first memory file with a first set of time stamps, at fixed intervals, storing state information in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; time stamping said state information in said second memory file with a second set of time stamps; wherein said work station further comprises audio means for providing audio data corresponding to said display on said display device, said method further comprising the steps of; storing in a fourth memory file said audio data; and storing in a fifth memory file time stamps corresponding to said audio data in said fourth memory file. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device in a first memory file; time stamping said X-Window commands in said first memory file with a first set of time stamps, at fixed intervals, storing state information in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; time stamping said state information in said second memory file with a second set of time stamps; wherein said step of storing state information comprises the steps of; identifying commands which may affect the state of the display; identifying parameters of the identified commands which may alter the current state of the display; and updating a table of X-Window CREATE commands with state-affecting parameters in accordance with said identified parameters. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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a work station including a graphic display device for generating a display; means for intercepting X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device; means for storing said X-Window commands in a first memory file with a first set of periodic time stamps; means for storing state information at fixed intervals in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; a pointer device for graphically interacting with said client program and said display; means for storing in a third memory file X-Window events generated by said pointer device; and means for time stamping said X-Window events in said third file with a third set of time stamps. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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a work station including a graphic display device for generating a display; means for intercepting X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device; means for storing said X-Window commands in a first memory file with a first set of periodic time stamps; and means for storing state information at fixed intervals in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; wherein said means for storing state information comprises; means for maintaining a set of state generating commands for generating windows in said display; means for determining those X-Window commands which have an effect on the state of the display; and means for updating said state generating commands in accordance with said determined X-Window commands. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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a work station including a graphic display device for generating a display; means for intercepting X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device; means for storing said X-Window commands in a first memory file with a first set of periodic time stamps; and means for storing state information at fixed intervals in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; wherein said means for storing state information comprises; means for identifying commands which may affect the state of the display; means for identifying parameters of the identified commands which may alter the current state of the display; and means for updating a table of state-affecting parameters in accordance with said identified parameters. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An apparatus for recording an X-Window session in which X-Window commands and events create a display on a display device that is coupled to a client program through a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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a work station including a graphic display device for generating a display; means for intercepting X-Window commands sent from said client program to said display device; means for storing said X-Window commands in a first memory file with a first set of periodic time stamps; means for storing state information at fixed intervals in a second memory file, said state information comprising information from which the state of the display at said fixed interval can be determined; means for playing back a recorded X-Windows session, said means for playing back comprising; means for reading out to said display device said X-Window commands stored in said first memory file starting at a specified starting time using said first set of time stamps to read out said commands with a relative timing corresponding to a relative timing at which they were stored; and means for reading out to said display device said X-Window events stored in said second memory file using said time stamps to synchronize to said reading out of X-Window commands from said first memory file. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification