Intel Corporation

David L Anderson

William C DeLeeuw

Rune A Skarbo

Anthony C Salvador

Daniel R Porter

Dale W Boss

Albert L Beard

Terry A Alexander

Host input to a shared application is blocked while a guest has input control. Patch instructions are written over keyboard and mouse event procedures, which are operating system subroutines defining the normal entry points to the system queue for host mouse and keyboard events generated by host-mouse and keyboard drivers. The patch instructions call a patch subroutine which were written into the host-executed application-sharing program. The patch subroutine is operable to determine whether the host has control to enter the mouse and keyboard events into the system queue. If the host is without input control, the patch subroutine drops the events and replaces the patch instructions to their prior position on the keyboard or mouse event procedures. If the host has input rights, the original keyboard or mouse event code is written over the patch instruction and returned for execution. After execution, in which the keyboard or mouse event is deposited, the patch subroutine directs a replacement of the patch instruction over the keyboard or mouse event procedure. In a preferred embodiment, the host is able to take control at any time, to ensure execution of host events.

Blocking host input while a remote guest has input control to a

A method and apparatus for synchronizing the display of the output of one or more applications being shared on participating host and guest computers, where the respective areas available for display of the output are unequal. In one embodiment, the host or a guest may alter the output display on the monitor's of all other guest participants. The host issues a command receivable by participating guests to alter the displayed output on the guest monitors corresponding to display output surrounding a point movable within the output display on the host monitor. A guest wishing to alter the output display on other guest monitors issues a request receivable by the host which in turn issues a command to all guests to update their output displays. The guests can be instructed to update the displays on their monitors to display output surrounding a point, movable under control of the requesting guest, within the output displayed on the requesting guest's monitor. In another embodiment, the output displayed on a guest monitor is updated automatically, as a shared cursor is moved from the boundary of the output displayed on the guest monitor.

Automatic viewport display synchronization during application sharing

A method and apparatus for simplifying active window selection and shared command execution in a computer system generates a menu corresponding to a first application of a plurality of applications which can be executed concurrently in the computer system. The menu identifies a subset of the plurality of applications whose corresponding windows can be made currently active. Additionally, one or more of the subset of applications is installed but is not executing at the computer system. A selection identifying one of the subset of applications is then received, and a window corresponding to the identified one of the subset of applications is made the currently active window. In one embodiment, the menu also includes a set of shared commands which can be executed in the computer system. These shared commands perform the same function for each application of the subset of applications. In this embodiment, upon selection of one of the shared commands from the menu, the selected command is executed.

Method and apparatus for simplifying active window selection,

In application sharing, an activation message to one of an application-sharing application and a shared application is monitored. One or both of the application-sharing application and the shared application are supervised by the application-sharing application based on the activation message. In an embodiment, where the activation message calls for one of an activation or deactivation of the shared application, the application-sharing application respectively renders at least a portion of its own graphical user interface in an active or inactive color. An embodiment further prevents deactivation of an application when the activation message is for an activation of the application-sharing application.

Supervising activations states in application sharing

A method and apparatus for synchronizing viewed information between a first endpoint and a second endpoint of a conferencing environment so that the first and second endpoints display the same location of the viewed information includes one of the endpoints receiving a request to synchronize the viewed information. An identifier of the location to which the document is to be synchronized is also received. The viewed information at the endpoint is then updated to display the identified location. In one embodiment, the first endpoint receives the request to synchronize the viewed information and sends a view synchronization message to the second endpoint. The view synchronization message includes a page identifier corresponding to the identified location and a center point which identifies a location within the page corresponding to the page identifier. Upon receipt of the view synchronization message, the viewed information at the second endpoint is updated to display the identified location.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

David L Anderson