Apparatus and method for providing computer display data from a computer system to a remote display device

• US 6,195,797 B1
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry R. Williams
• Original Assignee: Henry R. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Henry R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US09/020,032
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/723, 348/724, 348/488, 348/492, 348/8, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for enabling multiple users to concurrently access a PC-based server in a home local area network using conventional TVs as display devices. A client system includes a TV, conventional input devices, such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a set top box for interfacing the TV to the network. The server maintains a system work area and multiple processes corresponding to user applications. The system work area is partitioned in the server into multiple independent, simultaneously active desktops, one desktop for each of the client systems. Individual processes are mapped to the appropriate desktop. Multiple frame buffers are maintained in the server, such that a different frame buffer is assigned to each client system. Each desktop is rendered within the server and stored in the corresponding frame buffer. The contents of each frame buffer are transmitted over a transmission medium to the set top box of the corresponding client system. Desktop display data is provided by the set top box to the corresponding TV for display to a user.

Claims

1. A device for use in a computer system for allowing the computer system to provide display information to a remote display device, the device comprising:

a first channel modulator for receiving a first color signal generated by the computer system and for modulating the first color signal onto a first radio frequency (RF) channel;

a second channel modulator for receiving a second color signal generated by the computer system concurrently with receiving the first color signal and for modulating the second color signal onto a second RF channel;

a third channel modulator for receiving a third color signal generated by the computer system concurrently with receiving the first and second color signals and for modulating the third color signal onto a third RF channel;

a fourth channel modulator for receiving a first display synchronization signal generated by the computer system and for modulating the first display synchronization signal onto a fourth RF channel;

a fifth channel modulator for receiving a second display synchronization signal generated by the computer system and for modulating the second display synchronization signal onto a fifth RF channel; and

a communications port for transmitting the modulated first, second, third, fourth, and fifth RF channels to the remote display device.

2. A device according to claim 1, the remote display device further comprising:

a connection to a radio frequency communication medium;

a plurality of demodulation units, each of the demodulation units for concurrently demodulating a different one of a plurality of associated color signals received from the RF communication medium, each of the associated color signals modulated on a different one of a plurality of RF channels; and

a display for outputting display information based on the demodulated color signals.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the remote display device comprises a second plurality of demodulation units, each of the second plurality of demodulation units for concurrently demodulating a different one of the first and second display synchronization signals received from the RF communication medium.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the remote display device is an RGB display device, and wherein the first, second, and third color signals are red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color signals, respectively.

5. An apparatus for enabling a display device to display information generated by a remote computer system, the display device configured to input and respond to a plurality of color signals and a plurality of synchronization signals, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating each of three color signals at the remote computer system;

means for modulating each of the three color signals onto a different one of three radio frequency (RF) channels;

means for generating a plurality of synchronization signals at the remote computer system;

means for modulating each of the synchronization signals onto a different one of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels; and

means for transmitting each of the modulated color signals and the synchronization signals onto an RF transmission medium.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for receiving the modulated color signals at an end of the RF transmission medium corresponding to the display device;

means for demodulating each of the modulated color signals; and

means for separately providing each of the demodulated color signals and synchronization signals to the display device, such that the display device generates a display responsive to the demodulated color signals and synchronization signals.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the color signals comprise red, green, and blue color signals.