Apparatus and method for preventing screen savers from shutting down ToL clients

• US 6,384,853 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Beyda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/333,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345/867, 345/700, 345/808, 345/866, 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/321, 713/323
• US Class Current: 715/867
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A telephony-over-LAN client is provided which disables a screen saver during active calls by generating a software interrupt indicative of either false keyboard interrupts or false mouse movements. The ToL client is configured to periodically activate such an interrupt during an active call immediately prior to the end of the timeout period of the screen saver. Alternatively, or in addition to the above-mentioned false keyboard interrupts or mouse movements, a false write to the hard drive might be provided.

Claims

1. A system for operating a telephony-over-LAN (ToL) client terminal, comprising:

a graphical user interface supporting a ToL client window and a screen saver, said screen saver configured to activate upon detecting an absence of predetermined activity for a predetermined time;

means for executing a ToL call between said ToL client terminal and another telephony device; and

means for automatically generating said predetermined activity during execution of said call to prevent activation of said screen saver.

2. A system according to claim 1, said generating means including means for determining said predetermined time and generating said predetermined activity a predetermined period prior to an expiration of said predetermined time.

3. A system according to claim 2, said generating means including means for generating an interrupt.

4. A system according to claim 3, said interrupt comprising a keyboard interrupt.

5. A system according to claim 3, said interrupt comprising a mouse interrupt.

6. A system according to claim 2, said generating means comprising means for saving a file to a storage device.

7. A system according to claim 1, said generating means including means for reading said predetermined time upon an opening of said ToL client window.

8. A system according to claim 7, said generating means configured to deactivate upon a closing of said ToL client window.

9. A system according to claim 1, said generating means including means for determining said predetermined time responsive to one or more signals indicative of a call setup.

10. A system according to claim 9, said generating means including means for deactivating responsive to one or more signals indicative of a call termination.

11. A method for operating a telephony-over-LAN (ToL) client terminal, comprising:

providing a graphical user interface;

providing a screen saver, said screen saver configured to activate upon detecting an absence of predetermined activity for a predetermined period;

generating a ToL client window;

executing a ToL call between said ToL client terminal and another telephony device; and

automatically generating said predetermined activity during execution of said call to prevent activation of said screen saver.

12. A method according to claim 11, said generating including determining said predetermined time and generating said predetermined activity a predetermined period prior to an expiration of said predetermined time.

13. A method according to claim 12, said generating including generating an interrupt.

14. A method according to claim 13, said interrupt comprising a keyboard interrupt.

15. A method according to claim 13, said interrupt comprising a mouse interrupt.

16. A method according to claim 12, said generating including saving a file to a storage device.

17. A method according to claim 11, said generating including reading said predetermined time upon an opening of said ToL client window.

18. A method according to claim 17, said generating including deactivating upon a closing of said ToL client window.

19. A method according to claim 11, said generating including determining said predetermined time responsive to one or more signals indicative of a call setup.

20. A method according to claim 19, said generating including deactivating responsive to one or more signals indicative of a call termination.

21. A client terminal, comprising:

a graphical user interface supporting one or more client windows and a screen saver, said screen saver configured to activate upon detecting an absence of predetermined activity for a predetermined time; and

a processor programmed to automatically generate one or more signals indicative of said predetermined activity to prevent activation of said screen saver.

22. A client terminal according to claim 21, including a power management system, said power management system configured to enter a power down mode upon detecting an absence of predetermined activity for a predetermined time.

23. A client terminal according to claim 22, said processor programmed to automatically generate one or more signals indicative of said predetermined activity to prevent activation of said power down mode.

24. A client terminal according to claim 21, said processor programmed to generate said one or more signals responsive to detection of one or more communications between said client terminal and another device.

25. A client terminal according to claim 24, said one or more signals indicative of a storage device access.

26. A client terminal according to claim 24, said one or more signals indicative of a keyboard input.

27. A client terminal according to claim 24, said one or more signals indicative of a mouse input.

28. A client terminal, compromising:

a graphical user interface;

a power management system configured to cause entry into a power down mode upon detecting an absence of a predetermined activity for a predetermined time; and

a processor programmed to automatically generate one or more signals indicative of said predetermined activity to prevent activation of said power management system.