Remote computer interface

• US 6,225,984 B1
• Filed: 05/01/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.(f/k/a Integrated Device Technology, Inc) (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Micro Systems, Inc. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Crawford, Bernard John
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/071,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 345/153, 345/169, 345/173, 345/335, 345/158, 345/966, 345/968, 345/1, 345/2, 345/3, 178/4.1 R, 178/18.03, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/17
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

A remote user interface system for use with a host computer is provided. The remote user interface system includes a host transceiver system attached for communication with a host computer system. The remote user interface system also includes a portable interface tablet having a touchscreen display. Functionally, the host transceiver system gathers audio and video output generated by the host computer system. The audio and video output are sent by the host transceiver system to the portable interface tablet for output to the user. The portable interface tablet also gathers mouse and audio input from the user. These inputs are sent by the portable interface tablet to the host transceiver system and injected into the host computer system as user input.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a host computer system having at least one application program and a local host user interface;

a host transceiver system, the host transceiver system including means for gathering output from the host computer system and means for injecting input into the host computer system;

a redundant user interface remotely coupled to the host computer system, the redundant user interface configured to be used in at least one remote location, the redundant user interface including means for producing output gathered by the host transceiver system from the host computer system, the redundant user interface also including means for gathering user input for injection by the host transceiver system into the host computer system; and

a communications link capable of communicating to and from the at least one remote location configured to send output gathered by the host transceiver system to the redundant user interface, the communications link also configured to send input gathered by the redundant user interface to the host transceiver system,

wherein a user can interactively interface with the at least one application program from either the local host user interface or the redundant user interface.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for gathering output from the host computer system includes means for gathering video output from the host computer system.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for gathering output from the host computer system includes means for gathering audio output from the host computer system.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for injecting input into the host computer system includes means for injecting audio input into the host computer system.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for injecting input into the host computer system includes means for injecting mouse input into the host computer system.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for producing output gathered by the host transceiver system includes a flat panel display.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for gathering user input includes a touch-screen.

8. A method for providing a remote redundant user interface for a host computer comprising:

gathering analog video and audio output from a host computer system, the host computer system having at least one application program and a local host user interface for interactively interfacing with the at least one application program;

digitizing the analog video and audio output to form digitized audio and video output;

processing the digitized audio and video output to form modified digitized audio and video output;

transmitting the modified digitized audio and video output to a portable interface tablet remotely coupled to the host computer system, the portable interface tablet allowing a user to interactively interface with the at least one application program;

receiving digitized audio and pointer input from the portable interface tablet;

converting the digitized audio input to form analog audio input; and

injecting the analog audio and digitized pointer input into the host computer system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein processing includes digital compression.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein processing includes filtering the video output.

11. A method for providing a remote redundant user interface for a host computer comprising the steps of:

gathering analog video and audio output from the host computer system;

digitizing the analog video and audio output to form digitized audio and video output;

processing the digitized audio and video output to form modified digitized audio and video output;

transmitting the modified digitized audio and video output to a portable interface tablet, the video output being transmitted using a video communications protocol where only changed video data is transmitted;

receiving digitized audio and pointer input from the portable interface tablet;

converting the digitized audio input to form analog audio input; and

injecting the analog audio and digitized pointer input into the host computer system.

12. A method for providing a remote redundant user interface for a host computer comprising the steps of:

receiving digitized audio and video output from a host transceiver system;

converting the digitized audio output to form analog audio output;

outputting the analog audio output;

outputting the digitized video output using a video communications protocol where only changed video data is transmitted;

gathering analog audio and pointer input;

digitizing the analog audio and pointer input to form digitized audio and pointer input;

processing the digitized audio and pointer input to form modified digitized audio and pointer input; and

transmitting the modified digitized audio and pointer input to the host transceiver system.