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Method and apparatus for interfacing with a host computer system sharing tasks with another user on a client computer system

  • US 5,748,930 A
  • Filed: 05/01/1996
  • Issued: 05/05/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a computer system comprising a plurality of active tasks sharable with a compatibly equipped client computer system coupled to the computer system, a method for interacting with a first user of the computer system to selectively initiate sharing of the active tasks, or to selectively terminate sharing of the sharable active tasks currently being shared, said method comprising the steps of:

  • a) gathering up control information about the active tasks currently being executed on the computer system that are sharable, and identifying the sharable active tasks in a consolidated manner to the first user, by a task sharing manager, using support from a local operating system only;

    b) enabling the first user to interact with the consolidated sharable active task identifications to initiate sharing of the identified sharable active tasks, or to terminate sharing of the sharable active tasks currently being shared, without requiring the first user to bring into view end user interface windows of the affected active tasks, by the task sharing manager;

    c) causing the sharing initiated sharable active tasks to be shared, and causing sharing of the sharable active tasks that are currently shared to be terminated as instructed by the first user, by the task sharing manager, using application sharing service of the local operating system, wherein the application sharing service is equipped to cooperate with a complementary counterpart on the client computer system to enable a second user on the client computer system to interact with the shared active tasks, with the shared active tasks executing on the computer system only; and

    d) requesting the local operating system by the task sharing manager that the task sharing manger be notified of all task activation and termination events, and upon receipt of notification of such an event, the task sharing manager updating the gathered control information for the sharable active tasks, and refreshing the sharable active tasks identified for the first user.

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