Method for continuing executing a program on a second computer after all information related to the program are being copied from a first computer

• US 6,470,396 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Tognazzini, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/984,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/208, 709/212, 709/213, 709/216, 709/218, 705/35, 707/511, 707/201, 714/16
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Claims

1. A method of capturing a program running on a first computer to permit it to run on a second computer, comprising the steps of:

a. providing an element for performing a step of copying all open files from said first computer to said second computer;

b. providing an element for performing a step of copying memory space from said first computer to said second computer;

c. providing an element for performing a step of linking screens of said first computer and said second computer;

d. providing an element for performing a step of copying registers and program counters from said first computer to said second computer; and

e. providing an element for performing a step of beginning executing said program on said second computer.

2. A computer program product comprising:

a. a memory medium; and

b. a computer program stored on said medium, said program comprising instructions for capturing another program running on a first computer to permit said another program to run on a second computer by copying all open files from said first computer to said second computer;

copying memory space from said first computer to said second computer;

linking screens of said first computer and said second computer;

copying registers and program counters from said first computer to said second computer; and

beginning executing said another program on said second computer.