Distributed client/server window presentation

• US 6,462,755 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anthias, Taf
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US09/309,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 345/733, 345/741, 345/748, 345/749, 345/759, 345/764, 345/780, 345/781, 345/788, 345/798-800, 345/803, 345/806, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

This invention addresses the management of window geometry (or layout) in a distributed data processing system. In this invention, a client server model includes an application executing on a client system with graphics being drawn on the server system for the end user. Each client application interacts with the user by defining client windows into which are placed graphical data and where input data may be entered by the user. The application software together with the graphics software is provided in the client processor. The server processor includes the ability to display data to the end user. The application data for display, in the form of a window, includes a special designated area within the window to provide user access to the application.

Claims

1. A computer program product for use in a data processing system, said data processing system including a display terminal, a local processor connected to said display terminal and connected to a local processor memory, a remote processor enabled to execute a plurality of application programs and connected to both said local processor and a remote processor memory, said program product comprising a computer usable medium having:

computer readable program coded embodied in said medium for enabling said remote processor to send window display data generated by said application programs to said local processor;

computer readable program coded embodied in said medium for enabling receipt of said window display data and drawing respective application windows, each of said application windows containing at least one subarea window within its perimeter;

computer readable program coded embodied in said medium for enabling said application programs to designate at least one of said subarea windows as an action field through which a user may access a respective application program;

computer readable program code embodied in said medium for enabling storing said respective application program window display data common to both one of said application windows and said corresponding action field in said local processor memory; and

computer readable program code embodied in said medium for enabling storing window display data defining a remaining portion of said one of said application windows outside said subarea designating said action field, in said remote processor memory.

2. The computer program product as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

computer readable program code embodied in said medium enabling entering user input data for an application program in one of said action fields; and

computer readable program coded embodied in said medium enabling sending said user input data from said local processor to said remote processor for execution.

3. In a data processing system including a display terminal, a local processor connected to said display terminal and connected to a local processor memory, a remote processor enabled to execute a plurality of application programs and connected to both said local processor and a remote processor memory, a method for distributed client/server window presentation comprising:

sending, from said remote processor, window display data generated by said application programs to said local processor;

receiving said window display data at said local processor and drawing respective application windows, each of said application windows containing at least one subarea window within its perimeter;

designating, by said application programs, at least one of said subarea windows as an action field through which a user may access a respective application program;

storing said respective application program window display data common to both one of said application windows and said corresponding action field in said local processor memory; and

storing window display data defining a remaining portion of said one of said application windows outside said subarea designating said action field, in said remote processor memory.

4. The method for distributed client/server window presentation as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

entering, by said user, input data for an application program into one of said action fields; and

sending said input data from said local processor to said remote processor for execution.