Method of remote collaboration system

• US 6,662,210 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: FitzPatrick, Catherine M., Carleton, Allison A., Schwartz, Krista S., Pommier, Theresa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/532,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay

Abstract

The invention concerns using multiple computers to hold a conference. Under the invention, an application program can run on a single computer, yet remote participants can issue commands to the program. Remote participants can watch the program operate, because the invention replicates the display window of the running program onto the displays of the remote computers. Any participant can make annotations on the participant'"'"'s own computer display. The invention copies the annotations to the displays of the other participants.

Claims

1. A method for allowing multiple parties to collaborate, comprising:

a) running a program that is stored on a host computer;

b) sharing the running program with at least one remote computer;

c) linking each remote computer and the host computer together using a network;

d) running substantially identical programs on each remote computer, wherein running the program on each remote computer allows a user of each of the remote computers to perform the steps of;

1) selecting and running a program stored in the storage space of that remote computer;

2) providing input to the selected program;

3) showing an output of the selected program selected on the display of at least one of the remote computers,

4) allowing the user of each remote computer to draw at least one annotation image on the display of that user'"'"'s remote computer; and

5) replicating the annotation images on the displays of the computers, wherein one or more of the steps of d)1) through d)5) are accomplished by a computer program which is distinct from the shared program.

2. A method for allowing multiple parties to collaborate, comprising:

a) using a plurality of user computers, each having a display and storage space for programs;

b) running a computer program stored at a host computer other than the plurality of the user computers, wherein the computer program is shared by the host computer and the plurality of user computers;

c) linking the host computer and the plurality of user computers together using a network;

d) running substantially identical. programs on each of the user computers;

e) selecting and running a program stored in the storage space of one of the user computers through use of the substantially identical programs;

f) providing program input to the program selected through use of the substantially identical programs at at least one of the user computers;

g) showing output of the program selected on the display of at least one of the user computers;

h) allowing a user of each of the user computers to draw annotation images on the display of that user'"'"'s computer; and

i) replicating the annotation images on the displays of at least one other of the user computers.

3. A method for exchanging information via computers, comprising:

a) using a plurality of user computers, each having a display and storage space for programs;

b) running a computer program stored at a host computer, wherein the computer program is shared by the host computer and the plurality of user computers;

c) linking the host computer and the plurality of user computers together using a network;

d) running substantially identical programs on each of the computers;

e) selecting and running a program stored in the storage space of one of the computers through use of the substantially identical programs;

f) providing program input to the program selected through use of the substantially identical programs at at least one of the user computers;

g) showing output of the program selected on the display of at least one of the computers;

h) allowing a user of each of the user computers to draw annotation images on the display of that user'"'"'s computer;

i) replicating the annotation images on the display of at least one other of the user computers;

j) having selected ones of the user computers as annotators; and

k) preventing the selected program from responding to program input provided by annotators.