System for providing a same user interface and an appropriate graphic user interface for computers having various specifications

• US 6,081,265 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hanashima, Katsumi, Yanagisawa, Emiko, Nonaka, Naomichi, Koizumi, Minoru, Nakayama, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/919,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 345/329, 345/332, 345/335, 345/333, 345/334, 345/340, 345/342, 345/346, 395/200.33, 395/200.31, 395/682, 709/201, 709/203, 709/302
• US Class Current: 715/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

Abstract

A method or system to change a display output by a program without modifying the program. The invention also provides a program or computer to accomplish this change in display output. The invention intercepts and converts a graphics display command into the desired configuration and also performs reverse conversion of input data in compliance with computer environment assumed from the program. Additionally the invention converts data exchanged between the program and computer system mutually as needed.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a first computer which executes a first input/output system program which displays output according to a display output command from an application program on a first window and sends input according to a notice of generation of input through a second window for said application program to said application program;

a second computer which executes a second input/output system program which displays said output on a third window having specifications which are different from those of said first window, and sends input, which is inputted through a fourth window having specifications which are different from those of said second window, to said application program; and

a third computer which executes a change program which modifies said display output command, which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window to be appropriate for the specifications of said third window so that said modified display output command causes said second input/output system program to display said output appropriately, and modifies a notice of generation of input, which is appropriate for the specifications of said fourth window to be appropriate for the specifications of said second window, so that said modified notice of generation of input causes said application program to receive an input appropriately.

2. A computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said first window and said second window are the same and said third window and said fourth window are the same.

3. A computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said change program comprises:

an output change function which receives said display output command issued for said first window of said first input/output system program from said application program, and modifies data in said output command, the data being appropriate for said specifications of said third window of said second input/output system program; and

an input change function which receives said notice of generation of input inputted through said fourth window from said second input/output system program, and modifies data in said notice of generation of input, for being appropriate for said specifications of said second window of said first input/output system program.

4. A computer system according to claim 3, wherein said change program comprises at least one conversion table used for modifying data in said display output command and said modified notice of generation of input data.

5. A computer system according to claim 4,

wherein said conversion table is one of a control data conversion table, a spatial data conversion table, an image data conversion table and a character data conversion table.

6. A computer system according to claim 5,

wherein said output change function uses a predetermined value as a size of modified display command when said size is less than a predetermined threshold value in shrinking said display output command which is appropriate for said specifications of said first window to be appropriate for said specifications of said third window.

7. A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth computer which executes a third input/output system program which displays output from said application program on a fifth window with specifications which are different from those of said first window, and sends input, which is inputted through a sixth window with specifications which are different from those of said second window, to said application program; and

wherein said change program

further changes said output, which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window output from said application program, to an output which is appropriate for the specifications of said fifth window, and

changes said input, which is appropriate for the specifications of said sixth window output from said third input/output system program, to an input which is appropriate for the specifications of said second window.

8. A computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said first computer and said third computer are the same.

9. A computer system according to claim 3,

wherein said output change function outputs said modified display output command to said second input/output system program;

and

wherein said input change function outputs said modified notice of generation of input to said application program.

10. A computer program stored on a storage medium which operates between an application program and a first input/output system program, said computer program causes said computer to perform the steps of:

modifying a display output command, which is appropriate for specifications of a first window generated by said first input/output system program, to be appropriate for specifications of a third window generated by a second input/output system program, said third window having specifications which are different from those of said first window so that said modified display output command causes said second input/output system program to appropriately display said output on said third window; and

modifying a notice of generation of input, which is appropriate for specifications of a fourth window generated by said second input/output system program, said fourth window having specifications which are different from those of a second window generated by said first input/output system program, to be appropriate for the specifications of said second window so that said modified notice of generation of input causes said application program to receive an input appropriately;

wherein said steps of modifying a display output command and modifying a notice of generation of input are independent of each other.

11. A computer program according to claim 10,

wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-steps of:

receiving the display output command issued for said first window from said application program, and

generating a modified display output command which is appropriate for said specification of said third window; and

wherein said step of modifying a notice of generation of input includes the sub-steps of;

receiving the notice of generation of input inputted through said fourth window from said second input/output system program, and

generating a modified notice of generation of input which is appropriate for said specification of said second window by said first input/output system program.

12. A computer program according to claim 11, wherein said steps of generating a modified display output command and generating a modified notice of generation of input use at least one conversion table for generating said modified display output command and said modified notice of generation of input, respectively.

13. A computer program according to claim 12,

wherein said conversion table used in said generating step is one of a control data conversion table, a spatial data conversion table, an image data conversion table and a character data conversion table.

14. A computer program according to claim 13, wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-step of:

using a predetermined value as a size of modified display output command when said size is less than a predetermined threshold value in shrinking said display output command which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window to be appropriate for the specifications of said third window.

15. A computer program according to claim 11, wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-step of:

output said modified output command to said second input/output system program; and

wherein said step of changing an input includes the sub-step of;

outputting said modified notice of generation of input to said application program.

16. A computer program according to claim 15,

wherein said storage medium is included in a server connected to a network which is connected to a plurality of computers;

and

wherein said server transfers said computer program stored on said storage medium to said computers connected to said network.

17. A computer on which a program operates in cooperation with an application program being executed by a second computer, wherein a first input/output system program is also being executed on said second computer, and a second input/output system program is being executed on a third computer, said computer comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing said program to be executed by the processor;

wherein said processor when executing said program performs the steps of;

modifying a display output command, which is appropriate for specifications of a first window generated by said first input/output system program, to be appropriate for specifications of a third window generated by said second input/output system program, said third window having specifications which are different from those of said first window so that said modified display output command causes said second input/output system program to appropriately display said output on said third window; and

modifying a notice of generation of input, which is appropriate for specifications of a fourth window generated by said second input/output system program, said fourth window having specifications which are different from those of a second window generated by said first input/output system program, to be appropriate for the specifications of said second window so that said modified notice of generation of input causes said application program to receive an input appropriately; and

wherein said steps of modifying a display output command and modifying a notice of generation of input are independent of each other.

18. A computer according to claim 17,

wherein said first window and said second window are the same and said third window and said fourth window are the same.

19. A computer according to claim 17, wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-steps of:

receiving the display output command issued for said first window from said application program, and

generating the modified display output command which is appropriate for the specifications of said third window; and

wherein said step of modifying a notice of generation of input includes the sub-steps of;

receiving the notice of generation of input inputted through said fourth window from said second input/output system program, and

generating the modified notice of generation of input which is appropriate for the specifications of said second window by said first input/output system program.

20. A computer according to claim 19, wherein said memory stores at least one conversion table which has information used for generating modified display output commands and modified notice of generation of input.

21. A computer according to claim 20,

wherein said conversion table is one of a control data conversion table, a spatial data conversion table, an image data conversion table and a character data conversion table.

22. A computer according to claim 21,

wherein said step of modifying a display output command uses a predetermined value as a size of modified display output command when said size is less than a predetermined threshold value in shrinking said display output command which is appropriate for said specifications of said first window to be appropriate for said third window.

23. A computer according to claim 19, wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-step of:

outputting said modified display output command to said second input/output system program; and

wherein said step of modifying a notice of generation of input includes the sub-step of;

outputting said modified notice of generation of input to said application program.

24. A method for sharing an application program between a plurality of computers, said computers execute a first input/output system program and a second input/output system program respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

modifying a display output command, which is appropriate for specifications of a first window generated by said first input/output system program, to be appropriate for specifications of a third window generated by said second input/output system program, said third window having specifications which are different from those of said first window so that said modified display output command causes said second input/output system program to display said output on said third window appropriately; and

modifying a notice of generation of input, which is appropriate for specifications of a fourth window generated by said second input/output system program, said fourth window having specifications which are different from those of a second window generated by said first input/output system program, to be appropriate for the specifications of said second window so that said modified notice of generation of input causes said application program to receive an input appropriately;

wherein said steps of modifting a display output command and modifying a notice of generation of input are independent of each other.

25. A method according to claim 24,

wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-steps of:

receiving the display output command issued for said first window from said application program, and

generating a modified output display command which is appropriate for the specifications of said third window; and

wherein said step of modifying a notice of generation of input includes the sub-steps of;

receiving the notice of generation of input inputted through said fourth window from said second input/output system program, and

generating a modified notice of generation of input which is appropriate for the specifications of said second window by said first input/output system program.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said steps of generating a modified display output command and generating a modified notice of generation of input use at least one conversion table for generating said modified display output command and said modified notice of generation of input, respectively.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said conversion table used in said steps of modifying a display output command and modifying a notice of generation of input is one of a control data conversion table, a spatial data conversion table, an image data conversion table and a character data conversion table.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said step of generating a modified display output command includes the sub-step of:

using a predetermined value as a size of modified display output command when said size is less than a predetermined threshold value in shrinking said display output command which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window to be appropriate for the specifications of said third window.

29. A method according to claim 25,

wherein said step of modifying a display output command includes the sub-step of:

outputting said modified display output command to said second input/output system program; and

wherein said step of modifying a notice of generation of input further includes the sub-step of;

outputting said modified notice of generation of input to said application program.

30. A computer system comprising:

a first computer which executes a first input/output system program which displays output according to a display output command from an application program on a first window and sends input according to a notice of generation of input through a second window for said application program to said application program;

a second computer which executes a second input/output system program which displays output on a third window with specifications which are different from those of said first window, and sends input, which is inputted through a fourth window with specifications which are different from those of said second window, to said application program; and

a third computer which executes a change program which comprises;

a function for modifying said display output command, which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window to be appropriate for the specifications of said third window so that said modified display output command causes said second input/output system program to display said output appropriately; and

a function for modifying said notice of generation of input, which is appropriate for the specifications of said fourth window to be appropriate for the specifications of said second window so that said modified notice of generation of input causes said application program to receive input appropriately.

31. A computer system according to claim 30,

wherein said first window and said second window are the same and said third window and said fourth window are the same.

32. A computer system according to claim 30,

wherein said function for modifying a display output command comprises:

a function for receiving the display output command issued for said first window of said first input/output system program from said application program; and

a function for modifying the display output command which is appropriate for the specifications of said third window of said second input/output system program; and

wherein said function for modifying a notice of generation of input comprises;

a function for receiving the notice of generation of input inputted through said fourth window from said second input/output system program; and

a function for modifying the notice of generation of input which is appropriate for the specifications of said second window of said first input/output system program.

33. A computer system according to claim 32, wherein said change program comprises at least one conversion table used for generating said modified display output command and said modified notice of generation of input data.

34. A computer system according to claim 33,

wherein said conversion table is one of a control data conversion table, a spatial data conversion table, an image data conversion table and a character data conversion table.

35. A computer system according to claim 34, wherein said function for modifying a display output command uses a predetermined value as a size of modified display output command when said size is less than a predetermined threshold value in shrinking said display output command which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window to be appropriate for the specifications of said third window.

36. A computer system according to claim 30, further comprising:

a fourth computer which executes a third input/output system program which displays output from said application program on a fifth window with specifications which are different from those of said first window, and sends input, which is inputted through a sixth window with specifications which are different from those of said second window, to said application program; and

wherein said change program further comprises;

a function for changing said display output command, which is appropriate for the specifications of said first window output from said application program, to a display output command which is appropriate for the specifications of said fifth window, and

a function for changing said notice of generation of input, which is appropriate for the specifications of said sixth window output from said third input/output system program, to a notice of generation of input which is appropriate for the specifications of said second window.

37. A computer system according to claim 30,

wherein said first computer and said third computer are the same.

38. A computer system according to claim 32,

wherein said function for modifying a display output command further comprises:

a function for outputting said modified display output command to said second input/output system program; and

wherein said function for changing an input further comprises;

a function for outputting said modified notice of generation of input to said application program.