Remote multiple-user editing system and method
DCFirst Claim
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1. A computer file editing system for a plurality of users at different remote locations, comprising:
- a plurality of personal computers, one for each of the users, each of said plurality of personal computers including computer file display means, at least one of said personal computers being designated host computer for given file editing operations and having multi-tasking processing means for coordinating the execution of said file editing operations comprising edits of less than the entirety of a given computer file inputted by at least the user of one of said personal computers, and for coordinating the transfer of data corresponding with and limited to said file editing operations from said host computer to the display means of the others of said plurality of personal computers whereby said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer are performed in a predetermined manner by said host computer; and
interconnecting means for electrically interconnecting said host computer with the others of said plurality of personal computers to permit transmission of electrical signals corresponding with said file editing operations therebetween;
wherein said plurality of users are permitted to concurrently view said given computer file and, subject to practical system limitations, said computer file display means, multi-tasking processing means and interconnecting means operate so that said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer to said display means occur on a substantially real-time basis relative to said edit inputs to permit said plurality of users at said different remote locations to review with their respective display means said edits made to said given computer file substantially contemporaneously with the corresponding input of said edits and execution of said file editing operations.
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Abstract
The user of any of a plurality of personal computers linked over an analog or digital network is able to edit a file in one of the personal computers. This one personal computer is a personal computer capable of multi-tasking which effectively permits multi-user access to the file. The host personal computer effectively performs polling of the remote personal computers for input to be added to the file or functions to be performed on the file. In the analog configuration, the personal computers use high-speed modems and data compression/decompression techniques.
209 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer file editing system for a plurality of users at different remote locations, comprising:
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a plurality of personal computers, one for each of the users, each of said plurality of personal computers including computer file display means, at least one of said personal computers being designated host computer for given file editing operations and having multi-tasking processing means for coordinating the execution of said file editing operations comprising edits of less than the entirety of a given computer file inputted by at least the user of one of said personal computers, and for coordinating the transfer of data corresponding with and limited to said file editing operations from said host computer to the display means of the others of said plurality of personal computers whereby said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer are performed in a predetermined manner by said host computer; and interconnecting means for electrically interconnecting said host computer with the others of said plurality of personal computers to permit transmission of electrical signals corresponding with said file editing operations therebetween; wherein said plurality of users are permitted to concurrently view said given computer file and, subject to practical system limitations, said computer file display means, multi-tasking processing means and interconnecting means operate so that said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer to said display means occur on a substantially real-time basis relative to said edit inputs to permit said plurality of users at said different remote locations to review with their respective display means said edits made to said given computer file substantially contemporaneously with the corresponding input of said edits and execution of said file editing operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for contemporaneously editing a given computer file by any of a plurality of users, comprising:
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a plurality of personal computers, one for each of the users, each of said personal computers including means for inputting edits to said given computer file and means for displaying said given computer file, at least one of said personal computers being designated host computer for given file editing operations and having multi-tasking processing means interconnected with the input means and display means of said plurality of personal computers for coordinating the execution of said file editing operations comprising edits of less than the entirety of said given computer file from the inputting means of any of said personal computers and the transfer of data corresponding with and limited to said file editing operations from said at least one of said personal computers to said display means of the others of said plurality of personal computers; and interconnecting means comprising a non-dedicated digital communications system for transferring said data digitally between said host computer and said others of said plurality of personal computers; wherein said plurality of users are permitted to concurrently view said given computer file and, subject to practical system limitations, said inputting means, display means, multi-tasking processing means and interconnecting means operate so that said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer occur on a substantially real-time basis relative to said edit inputs to permit said plurality of users at their respective remote locations to review with their respective display means said given computer file reflecting said edits made thereto substantially contemporaneously with the corresponding input of said edits and file editing operations. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An interactive editing system for a plurality of users at different remote locations for permitting any of the users to orally provide file editing instructions comprising edits to less than an entire given computer file, and for permitting substantially contemporaneous viewing of the editing, relative to the edit inputs, by all of the users, comprising:
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voice communication means, in one-to-one correspondence with the users, for transmitting audio signals representative of any user'"'"'s voice and said orally provided file editing instructions to each of the others of said plurality of users; a personal computer, having multi-tasking processing means and a display, for use by one of the users to input and execute the editing instructions orally provided by the others of said plurality of users; a plurality of remote terminals, one for use by each of the remaining ones of said plurality of users and each having a display; and interconnecting means for electrically interconnecting said personal computer with each of said remote terminals and for transferring data corresponding with the file editing instructions, comprising edits to less than an entire given computer file, between said personal computer and said displays of said remote terminals; wherein said plurality of users are permitted to concurrently view said given computer file and, subject to practical system limitations, said file editing instruction execution and said corresponding data transfer to said displays occur on a substantially real-time basis relative to said edit inputs to permit said plurality of users at said different remote locations to view with their respective displays edits made to a given computer file substantially contemporaneously with said edit inputs and the execution of said file editing instructions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A computer file editing system for a plurality of users at different remote locations, comprising:
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a plurality of personal computers, one for each of the users, each of said plurality of personal computers including display means, at least one of said personal computers being designated host computer for given file editing operations and having multi-tasking processing means for coordinating the execution of said file editing operations comprising edits of less than the entirety of a given computer file inputted by at least the user of one of said personal computers, and for coordinating the transfer of data corresponding with and limited to said file editing operations from said host computer to the display means of the others of said plurality of personal computers whereby said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer are performed in a predetermined manner by said host computer; and interconnecting means for electrically interconnecting said host computer with the others of said plurality of personal computers to permit transmission of electrical signals corresponding with said file editing operations therebetween; a plurality of voice communication means, in one-to-one correspondence with said plurality of personal computers, for transmitting audio signals representative of any user'"'"'s voice to each other user; wherein said plurality of users are permitted to discuss and concurrently view said given computer file and, subject to practical system limitations, said display means, multi-tasking processing means and interconnecting means operate so that said file editing operations and said corresponding limited data transfer to said display means occur on a substantially real-time basis relative to said edit inputs to permit said plurality of users at said different remote locations to review with their respective display means said edits made to said given computer file substantially contemporaneously with the corresponding input of said edits and execution of said file editing operations.
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Specification