Method and system for sharing applications between computer systems
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system of coordinating z-ordering of shared windows on a host computer system with shadow windows on a shadow computer system, the shared windows and the shadow windows having a one-to-one correspondence, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying the shared windows on the host computer system, the shared windows having a z-ordering;
displaying the shadow windows on the shadow computer system, the shadow windows having a z-ordering;
when the z-ordering of the shared windows is modified at the host computer system, sending a notification to the shadow computer system, and upon receiving the sent notification at the shadow computer system, modifying the z-ordering of the shadow windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the shared windows;
sending a notification to the host computer system when the z-ordering of the shadow windows is modified at the shadow computer system; and
modifying the z-ordering of the shared windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the shadow windows upon receiving the sent notification at the host computer system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for coordinating the z-order of windows shared among computers are disclosed. A shared application runs on a host computer and its output is displayed in windows both on the host computer and on shadow computers. The “z-order” on each computer tells which window is logically the “topmost” one displayed (that is, the window not obscured by other windows), which window is logically just below that one, etc., down to the window logically at the “bottom” of the stack. When the z-order of the windows on the host or on a shadow computer is changed, notification of that change is sent to the other computers so that they can adjust their own z-order accordingly.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system of coordinating z-ordering of shared windows on a host computer system with shadow windows on a shadow computer system, the shared windows and the shadow windows having a one-to-one correspondence, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying the shared windows on the host computer system, the shared windows having a z-ordering;
displaying the shadow windows on the shadow computer system, the shadow windows having a z-ordering;
when the z-ordering of the shared windows is modified at the host computer system, sending a notification to the shadow computer system, and upon receiving the sent notification at the shadow computer system, modifying the z-ordering of the shadow windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the shared windows;
sending a notification to the host computer system when the z-ordering of the shadow windows is modified at the shadow computer system; and
modifying the z-ordering of the shared windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the shadow windows upon receiving the sent notification at the host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method in a computer system for coordinating z-ordering of windows on a first computer system and a second computer system, the method comprising:
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displaying the windows on the first computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
displaying the windows on the second computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the first computer system, sending a notification to the second computer system so that the second computer system can modify the z-ordering of its windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the windows at the first computer system;
sending a notification to the first computer system when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the second computer system; and
modifying the z-ordering of the first computer system'"'"'s windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the second computer system'"'"'s windows upon receiving the sent notification at the first computer system. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to coordinate z-ordering of windows on a first computer system and a second computer system, by:
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displaying the windows on the first computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
displaying the windows on the second computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the first computer system, sending a notification to the second computer system so that the second computer system can modify the z-ordering of its windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the windows at the first computer system;
sending a notification to the first computer system when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the second computer system; and
modifying the z-ordering of the first computer system'"'"'s windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the second computer system'"'"'s windows upon receiving the sent notification at the first computer system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for coordinating a z-ordering of windows shared among a group of computers, where each of the computers has a base number for tracking a state of the z-ordering of the windows, the method comprising the steps of:
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initially setting the base numbers to equal values for all of the computers in the group;
changing the z-ordering of the windows at one of the computers;
increasing the value of the base number of the one computer to a new value in response to the changing of the z-ordering;
notifying other computers in the group of the change in the z-ordering at the one computer and the new value of the base number; and
applying the change at each of the other computers in the group and setting the base number to the new value of the base number if the new value of the base number is greater than the base number at the other computer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method on a first computer for coordinating a z-ordering of windows shared between the first computer and a second computer, where each of the computers has a base number for tracking a state of the z-ordering of the windows, the method comprising:
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initially setting the first computer'"'"'s base number to a value equal to the value of the second computer'"'"'s base number;
changing the z-ordering of the windows at the first computer;
increasing the value of the first computer'"'"'s base number to a new value in response to the changing of the z-ordering;
sending a notification to the second computer of the change in the z-ordering at the first computer and the new value of the first computer'"'"'s base number;
receiving a notification from the second computer of a change in the z-ordering at the second computer and a new value of the second computer'"'"'s base number; and
applying the change at the first computer and setting the first computer'"'"'s base number to the received value of the base number if the received value of the base number is greater than the first computer'"'"'s base number. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification