Method and apparatus for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen during a computer session for later playback

• US 6,674,447 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oridus, Inc. (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Oridus, Inc. (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Kuo-Chun, Chen, Tsung-Yen (Eric), Han, Ching-Chih (Jason), Chiang, Hui-Hwa
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/455,039
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 345/719-726, 345/867, 345/804, 345/802, 345/808, 345/806-807, 345/741-743, 345/769-771, 345/704, 345/765-768, 345/531, 345/545, 345/534, 345/535, 345/537, 345/538, 345/543, 345/546-547, 707/203, 707/204, 711/1-6, 711/162, 711/110-112, 711/114, 711/200-203
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen during a computer session for later playback, comprises receiving a start indication, and automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically during the computer session after the start indication is reached. An apparatus for performing such function comprises a frame buffer for storing snapshots of the computer screen, a FIFO cache memory, a mass storage memory, and programmed means. The programmed means receives a start indication, periodically copies data from the frame buffer to the FIFO cache memory during a computer session after the start indication is reached, and compresses the stored data before storing it the mass storage memory for later playback.

Claims

1. A method for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen in a memory efficient manner during a computer session for later playback, comprising:

receiving a start indication; and

automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, for retrieval and later playback upon command.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said start indication is a start time, and said automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, comprises automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically during a computer session after said start time is reached.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of said predefined rules comprises adjusting said time intervals between snapshots according to differences in the computer screen between successive snapshots.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of said predefined rules comprises adjusting said time intervals between snapshots according to input activity between successive snapshots.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of said predefined rules comprises suspending the recording of snapshots while a screen saver is active on the computer screen.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, comprises:

reading information indicative of said computer screen;

compressing said information; and

storing said compressed information in computer memory.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, comprises automatically recording snapshots of a selected area of said computer screen periodically.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, comprises automatically recording snapshots of a selected window of said computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, comprises recording time stamps along with said snapshots.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a stop indication, and wherein said automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, comprises discontinuing the recording of snapshots after said stop indication is reached.

11. An apparatus for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen in a memory efficient manner during a computer session for later playback, comprising:

a frame buffer for storing snapshots of the computer screen;

a memory; and

programmed means for receiving a start indication and storing data in said memory derived from contents of said frame buffer periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, for later retrieval and playback upon command.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein one of said predefined rules includes adjusting said time intervals between successive storing of data in said memory according to differences in the data being stored.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said programmed means is further for deriving said data by processing said contents of said frame buffer through a compression algorithm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said memory is a mass storage memory, and further including a cache memory, wherein said programmed means is further for copying said contents of said frame buffer into said cache memory, deriving said data by processing said contents of said cache memory through a compression algorithm, and storing said derived data into said mass storage memory.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said cache memory is a FIFO memory, and said programmed means is further for copying said contents of said frame buffer into a first location of said FIFO memory while substantially concurrently deriving said data by processing contents of a second location of said FIFO memory through a compression algorithm, wherein said second location contains contents of said frame buffer at a prior copying.

16. A computer system for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen in a memory efficient manner during a computer session for later playback, comprising:

a frame buffer for storing snapshots of the computer screen;

a memory; and

programmed means for receiving a start indication, storing data in said memory derived from contents of said frame buffer periodically at time intervals adjusted according to predefined rules for reducing memory storage requirements during a computer session after said start indication is reached, and retrieving said stored data from memory for playback upon command.

17. The computer system according to claim 16, wherein one of said predefined rules includes adjusting said time intervals between successive storing of data in said memory according to differences in the data being stored, and adjusting said time intervals between successive storing of data in said memory according to input activity between successive snapshots.

18. The computer system according to claim 16, wherein said programmed means is further for deriving said data by processing said contents of said frame buffer through a compression algorithm.

19. The computer system according to claim 18, said memory is a mass storage memory, and further including a cache memory, wherein said programmed means is further for copying said contents of said frame buffer into said cache memory, deriving said data by processing said contents of said cache memory through a compression algorithm, and storing said derived data into said mass storage memory.

20. The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said programmed means is further for retrieving data from said mass storage memory, processing said retrieved data through a decompression algorithm, and storing said processed data in said frame buffer for playback upon command.