Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Picturetel Corporation

Philip May

Christopher J Mairs

A method and system for controlling flow of output data between computers sharing an application program. The application program is executed on a host computer and shared with shadow computers. Each computer has a sharing system for coordinating the sharing of the application program. The sharing system of the host computer requests a flow control system of the host computer for permission to transmit output data. The flow control system of the host computer, upon receiving the request for permission, determines whether the amount of output data currently in transit from the host computer to the shadow computers exceeds the amount that can be in transit. When the amount is not exceeded, the flow control system grants permission to the sharing system of the host computer; and when the amount is exceeded, the flow control system denies permission to the sharing system of the host computer. Periodically, the flow control system calculates a shadow display time that represents time needed to transmit a certain amount of output data to the shadow computers and to process the certain amount of output data at the shadow computers. The flow control system also adjusts the amount of data that can be in transit when the calculated shadow display time is not acceptable so that the host computer and shadow computers can be displaying output data at approximately the same time. The sharing system transmits the output data to the shadow computers when permission is granted.

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Southampton, Bermuda

Philip May