Computer network system and method for operating a network system screen shot and source shot control

• US 8,209,438 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Bauch, Thomas, Lang, Gerhard, Krger, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US11/677,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,952 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A computer network system includes a controlling PC, at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, at least one central terminal having a display, and a video router. The video router is operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display and operative to transmit video or monitor signals from each of the controlled PCs to the at least one central terminal display.

Claims

1. A computer network system, comprising:

a) a controlling PC;

b) at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, said controlled PC configured to control a medical device;

c) a plurality of central terminals having a display, wherein different controlled PCs are simultaneously and independently controllable from at least one of the plurality of central terminals; and

d) a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display to transmit video or monitor signals from each of the controlled PCs to the at least one central terminal display along a path separate from the network, wherein control commands from the controlling PC are transmitted to the at least one controlled PC along a path including the network,

wherein each central terminal includes a user input device communicatively coupled to the controlling PC via a path separate from the at least one controlled PC.

2. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the video router is separated from the controlling PC by a predetermined distance.

3. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen, and signals generated at the touch screen are provided to the controlling PC.

4. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the central terminal further includes at least one keyboard and/or at least one mouse connected to the controlling PC.

5. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the controlled PCs is operatively coupled to or a part of a medical device.

17. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the video or monitor signals are transmitted independent from the data connection.

18. A computer network system according to claim 1, further comprising the network coupled between the controlling PC and the at least one controlled PC.

21. A computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the data connection including the network spans at least between the controlling PC and the at least one controlled PC, and the video router and the data connection are independent of one another.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one controlled PCs comprises graphical user interface (GUI) logic for generating a GUI configured to monitor and/or control a medical device couple to the at least one controlled PC, the GUI being transmitted as the video or monitor signals.

6. A method for operating a network system including a controlling PC, at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, said controlled PC configured to control a medical device, a plurality of central terminals having a display, and a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display, wherein each central terminal includes a user input device communicatively coupled to the controlling PC via a path separate from the at least one controlled PC, comprising:

transmitting control commands from the controlling PC to the at least one controlled PC along a path including the network, said transmitting control commands including simultaneously and/or independently transmitting control commands to different controlled PCs from at least one of the plurality of central terminals; and

transmitting video signals from the at least one controlled PC to the central terminal display via the video router along a path separate from the network.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising using a software module installed on the at least one controlled PC to implement control commands on the controlled PC, wherein implementing control commands includes generating operating system input events from input events generated at the central terminal display or from devices coupled to the controlling PC.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface in front of all other applications on the central terminal display, wherein said graphical user interface is operable to control each of the at least one controlled PCs.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising moving the graphical user interface to a different position on the central terminal display if a part of the display covered by the graphical user interface is designated as being relevant for controlling the respective controlled PC.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising detecting and displaying on the central terminal display and/or on displays of the controlled PCs a warning and/or error message transmitted via the network to the controlling PC.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein detecting includes using pattern recognition to detect the warning and/or error message.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising transferring a user interface of the controlled PC to the central terminal display so as to maintain screen content of the controlled PC.

13. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the controlled PC reacting to an output of another controlled PC, said output transferred over the network.

14. The method according to claim 6, further comprising avoiding conflicts arising from user input from several central terminals of the plurality of terminals by indicating user input activity at one central terminal of the plurality of terminals on the other central terminals of the plurality of terminals through a graphical user interface and/or by blocking user input activity at the other central terminals for a specific period of time.

15. The method according to claim 6, further comprising distributing via the video router a video signal to a plurality of central terminals, and each of the plurality of terminals simultaneously display and operate the same controlled PC.

22. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data connection including the network spans at least between the controlling PC and the at least one controlled PC, and the video router and the data connection are independent of one another.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for operating a network system including a controlling PC, at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, said controlled PC configured to control a medical device, a plurality of central terminals having a display, and a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display, wherein each central terminal includes a user input device communicatively coupled to the controlling PC via a path separate from the at least one controlled PC, and wherein the program instructs a processor to perform the following steps:

transmitting control commands from the controlling PC to the at least one controlled PC along a path including the network, said transmitting control commands including simultaneously and/or independently transmitting control commands to different controlled PCs from at least one of the plurality of central terminals; and

transmitting video signals from the at least one controlled PC to the central terminal display via the video router along a path separate from the network.

19. A computer network system, comprising:

a) a controlling PC;

b) at least one controlled PC controllable by the controlling PC via a data connection including a network, said controlled PC configured to control a medical device;

c) a plurality of central terminals having a display, wherein different controlled PCs are simultaneously and independently controllable from at least one of the plurality of central terminals; and

d) a video router operatively coupled to each of the at least one controlled PCs and the at least one central terminal display to transmit video or monitor signals from each of the controlled PCs to the at least one central terminal display along a path separate from the network,

wherein each central terminal includes a user input device communicatively coupled to the controlling PC via a path separate from the at least one controlled PC.

20. A computer network system according to claim 19, wherein the data connection including the network spans at least between the controlling PC and the at least one controlled PC, and the video router and the data connection are independent of one another.