Remote collaboration among host computer running host program and remote computers each running application program
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating one or more computers, each having a display, comprising the following steps:
- a) running an application program on each of a plurality of remote computers coupled to a host computer running a host program, wherein the application programs provide output on the remote computers'"'"' displays;
b) applying a first tool to annotate the display of a first one of the remote computers and independently applying a second tool to annotate the display of a second one of the remote computers; and
c) communicating between the application programs and the host program to selectively cause the replication of the annotated displays at others of the remote computers.
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Accused Products
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.
97 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating one or more computers, each having a display, comprising the following steps:
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a) running an application program on each of a plurality of remote computers coupled to a host computer running a host program, wherein the application programs provide output on the remote computers'"'"' displays; b) applying a first tool to annotate the display of a first one of the remote computers and independently applying a second tool to annotate the display of a second one of the remote computers; and c) communicating between the application programs and the host program to selectively cause the replication of the annotated displays at others of the remote computers.
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2. In a computer system which includes one or more computers linked together by one or more data channels, the improvement comprising:
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a) means for running an application program on each of a plurality of remote computers coupled to a host computer running a host program; b) means for applying a first tool to annotate the display of a first one of the remote computers, and independently applying a second tool to annotate the display of a second one of the remote computers; and c) means for communicating between the application programs and the host program to selectively cause the replication of the annotated displays at others of the remote computers.
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3. A method of remote collaboration in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
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a) running a host program on a host computer; b) running an application program on each of a plurality of remote computers coupled to the host computer, wherein the application program provides an image on the remote computer'"'"'s display; c) independently annotating an image generated by the host program and displayed on one or more of the remote computers by the application program; and d) communicating between the application programs and the host program to selectively cause the replication of the annotated image at others of the remote computers. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A remote collaboration system, comprising:
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a) a host computer executing a host program; b) a plurality of remote computers, coupled to the host computer, c) each of the remote computers executing an application program; d) each of the application programs providing an image on its respective remote computer'"'"'s display; e) each of the application programs independently allowing annotation of an image generated by the host program and displayed on its respective remote computer; and f) each of the application programs communicating with the host program to selectively cause the replication of the annotated image at others of the remote computers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification