Method for managing top-level windows within a conferencing network system

• US 6,219,044 B1
• Filed: 02/13/1995
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mesterton, Erik P., Fuqua, Todd W., Ansberry, Catherine Malia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US08/387,502
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 395/153, 395/157, 395/158, 395/200, 395/200.1, 395/806, 395/329, 395/330, 395/331, 395/332, 395/340, 395/346, 395/680, 395/971, 395/200.01, 395/200.04, 364/222.2, 364/284.4, 364/927.63, 345/329, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/340
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A method and system for managing top-level windows controlled by a conference enabler is disclosed. The system operates in a conferencing network system having a conference enabler for distributing applications to a plurality of servers. Each server has its own display. The method and system identifies a top-level window sent by the conferenced application. Next, it identifies whether a top-level window is among the requests sent by the conferenced application is a root window. The system then enters a window ID associated with the top-level window into a list of top-level windows. Then, the system provides a slot associated with the top-level window within the list for storing the window configuration of the top-level window as configured by each of the participant servers.

Claims

1. In a conferencing network system having a conference enabler for distributing an application to a plurality of servers, each server having its own display, a method performed by said enabler for managing top-level windows controlled by said conference enabler amongst said plurality of servers, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a top-level window in a window request coming from said conferenced application by identifying whether a window in said request has a root window as a parent;

maintaining a list of top-level windows for each of said servers at said conference enabler;

entering a window ID associated with said top-level window of said window request into said list of top-level windows;

providing a slot, associated with said top-level window of said window request, within said top-level window list for storing the window configuration of said top-level window of said window request as configured by a window manager at each said servers.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring communication between said conferencing application and said plurality of servers for requests to update the state of said top-level window;

monitoring events between said conferencing application and said plurality of serves to identify any changes in a window'"'"'s configuration;

updating said top-level window list with said state or said changes of window configuration.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

requesting event information on behalf of said conferencing application;

updating said top-level window list with information obtained by said step of monitoring.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said step of requesting event information is performed by said enabler without the knowledge of said conferencing application.

5. In a conferencing network system having a conference enabler for distributing an application to a plurality of servers, each server having its own display, a system in said conference enabler for managing top-level windows controlled by said conference enabler amongst said plurality of servers, said system comprising:

means for a identifying top-level window in a window request coming from said conferenced application by identifying whether a top-level window in said request has a root window as a parent;

means for entering a window ID associated with said top-level window of said window request into a list of top-level windows maintained at said conference enabler;

means for providing a slot, associated with said top-level window of said window request, within said top-level window list for storing the window configuration of said top-level window of said window request as configured by a window manager at each of said servers.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising:

means for monitoring communication between said conferencing application and said plurality of servers for requests to update the state of said top-level window;

means for monitoring events between said conferencing application and said plurality of servers to identify any changes in a window'"'"'s configuration;

means for updating said top-level window list with said state or said changes of window configuration.

7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising:

means for requesting event information on behalf of said conferencing application;

means for updating said top-level window list with information obtained by said means for monitoring.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said means for requesting event information is performed by said conferencing enabler without the knowledge of said conferencing application.