United States Patent (19)
`Stein
`
`USOO5684952A
`Patent Number:
`11
`45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,684,952
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`54
`
`SUPERWISORY CONTROL, SYSTEM FOR
`NETWORKED MULTIMEDIA
`WORKSTATIONS THAT PROVIDES
`RECONFIGURATION OF WORKSTATIONS
`BY REMOTELY UPDATING THE
`OPERATING SYSTEM
`
`75
`
`73)
`
`Inventor: Michael Victor Stein, San Jose, Calif.
`Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino,
`Calif.
`
`21
`22
`51
`52)
`
`58
`
`Appl. No.: 280,333
`Fed:
`Jul 25, 1994
`Int. Cl. ... G06F 15/177; G06F 15.00
`U.S. C. ................. 395/2001; 395/712; 395/200,09;
`434/.336
`Field of Search ..................................... 364/200, 900,
`364/514, 221, 221.7: 395/159,700, 200,
`200.09, 600, 200.1, 430, 200.17, 650, 200.01,
`712;380/25; 434/336
`
`56
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,820,167 4/1989 Nobles et al. ........................, 434/336
`5,155,847 10/1992 Kirouac et al. .
`... 395/502
`5,241,625 8/1993 Epard et al. ...
`395/82.03
`5,327,551
`7/1994 Kaneko ...........
`... 395/12
`5,410,703 4/1995 Nilsson et al...
`... 395712
`5,421,009 5/1995 Platt ................
`5,437,555 8/1995 Ziv-El ..................................... 434/336
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0399.667A2 11/1990 European Pat. Off..
`0463251A1
`1/1992 European Pat. Off..
`0598511A2 5/1994 European Pat. Off. .
`2231180 11/1990 United Kingdom.
`WO91/O233 2/1991 WIPO.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Brochure for TOEICAI-EX/Model 500 Network System,
`no date.
`Brochure for EdVTNS Educational Visual Network System,
`no date.
`
`Primary Examiner Thomas G. Black
`Assistant Examiner-Greta L. Robinson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane, Swecker &
`Mathis, LLP
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A supervisory control system for a networked multimedia
`computing system permits a teacher or network administra
`torto quickly and easily update system software on selected
`destination workstations with the system software currently
`residing on the master workstation. In one mode of
`operation, only basic system software is updated, while
`user-defined preferences are unchanged. In a second mode
`of operation, both the system software and all user
`controlled settings are replaced, to permit the remote work
`stations to be configured in a desired manner.
`
`16 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Update System. Folder
`This command is used to copy the system software from
`this workstation to the selected workstation.
`O Update Systern Software
`This option will replace the system software on the
`selected Workstations.
`O Update Systern Software and All Settings
`This option will replace the system software and also
`replace the system and application preferences on the
`selected workstations.
`
`Page 1 of 29
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1027
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`- 28
`CABLE TV
`
`
`
`AMPLIFIER
`
`26
`
`SIGNAL
`COMENER
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`1O
`
`teacher
`AV
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`
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`
`I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. f.
`
`Page 2 of 29
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
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`Page 3 of 29
`
`Page 3 of 29
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`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`
`
`9ounouuý
`
`
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`oºpIA MOLIS
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`99
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`
`Page 4 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`N0v.4, 1997
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 18
`Sheet 4 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`5,684,952
`
`
`
`77
`
`Stotus:"KidWorks2"
`Nome:"Stution#05”
`
`Status:"KidPix1.3"
`
`FIG.4
`
`Stolus;"Boiley’sBook...”
`
`Name:"Station#03"
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`ameStation#01
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`Page 5 of 29
`
`Page 5 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 5 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`BEGIN
`OBSERVE
`
`502
`
`500
`
`<> 504
`
`
`
`SELECT FIRST
`W STATIONS
`505
`
`508
`
`COMPRESS SCREEN
`INFORMATION
`510
`
`TRANSM/T TO MASTER
`STATION
`
`SET TIMER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`506
`SEND COMMANDS TO
`SELECTED STATIONS
`
`512
`
`STORE COMPRESSED
`SCREEN INFO,
`
`514
`
`DISPLAY COMPRESSED
`SCREENS
`
`(Os
`
`518
`YES
`SELECT NEXT
`N STATIONS
`
`Page 6 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 6 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`BEGIN BACKGROUND TASK
`
`
`
`
`
`SENDING
`SCREEN TO
`ANOTHER
`STATION?
`YES
`
`WO
`
`606
`
`ANY CHANGES
`MADE TO THIS
`SCREEN?
`YES
`CALL SEND RECIANGLE WITH
`THE UPDATE RECTANGLE
`
`
`
`CLEAR CHANGE SCREEN FLAG
`
`608
`
`
`
`610
`CURSOR MOVED
`SINCE LAST TIME WO
`
`
`
`YES
`
`612
`
`
`
`
`
`THERE AN
`OLD CURSOR
`RECIANGLE.2
`
`
`
`
`
`14
`6
`CALL SEND RECIANGLE
`WITH THE OLD
`CURSOR RECTANGLE
`
`616
`
`NO
`
`CALL SEND RECTANGLE WITH
`THE CURRENT CURSOR
`RECIANGLE
`
`
`
`SET THE OLD CURSOR
`RECIANGLE EQUAL TO THE
`NEW CURSOR RECIAWGLE
`618-
`
`DONE
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 7 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 7 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`O is
`
`ADJUST VERTICAL OFFSET
`fN SCREEN
`722
`PROCESSING
`ALL PIXELS IN
`RECTANGLE?
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`724
`
`
`
`
`
`ANY
`PIXELS LEFT IN
`AACKET2
`NO
`DONE
`
`BEGIN SEND RECIANGLE
`Adust rectawolf to 1-702
`FIT ON MAN SCREEN
`
`
`
`COMPUTE A OF
`HORIZONIAL AND VERTICAL
`PXELS TO MAP INTO
`EACH DESTINATION PIXEL
`
`704
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`READ NExt horizontall 70
`AND VERTICAL PIXELS
`FROM THE SCREEW
`
`GET NEXT PXEL
`
`ADD PXEL TO PACKET
`712
`
`708
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`726
`SEND PACKET TO
`DESTINATION STATION
`OVER THE NETWORK
`DONE
`
`SEND PACKET TO
`DESTINATION STATION
`OVER THE NETWORK
`72O
`
`ADJUST HORIZONIAL
`OFFSET IN SCREEN
`
`714
`
`716
`WITH AROW OF
`
`NO
`
`YES
`(2)
`
`FIG 7A
`
`Page 8 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 8 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`BEGIN GET NEXT PIXEL
`
`COMPUTE RED, GREEN, ANDr. 732
`BLUE COLOR COMPONEWIS
`OF SELECTED AXELS
`
`COMPUTE MOST ACCURATE
`RED COLOR VALUE
`
`
`
`COMPUTE MOST ACCURATE
`GREEW COLOR VALUE
`
`734
`
`736
`
`COMPUTE MOST ACCURATE
`BLUE COLOR VALUE
`
`
`
`735
`
`COMBINE RED, GREEN, BLUE
`COLORS INTO A PIXEL
`
`74O
`
`FIG 7B
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Restort Workstation
`Shut Down WorkStotion
`Open Application on Workstation...
`Open Document on Workstation...
`Quit Applications on Workstation
`Send Files to Workstotion...
`Update Systern Folder...
`Change Settings...
`
`
`
`FIG 9
`
`Page 9 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 9 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`BEGIN OBSERVE
`
`ALLOCATE OFFSCREEN
`BUFFERS. f FOR EACH
`DISPLAYED SCREEN
`
`602
`
`
`
`SEWD COMMAND
`TO FIRST N STATIONS
`TO SEND SCREENS
`
`3O4
`
`RECAMGLE BEEN SENT
`FROM SLAME
`STATION?
`
`COPY THE
`UPDATED RECTANGLE
`TO THE SCREEN
`
`303
`
`HAS OTHER
`STATION STATUS
`CHANGED?
`
`UPDATE THE
`STATUS ON SCREEN
`FOR STATION
`
`812
`
`ARE THERE
`MORE STATIONS
`THEN CURRENTLY
`DISPLAYED?
`
`
`
`818
`SEND
`TME TO
`COMMAND
`6i52.ÉlisNES ricit
`N WAWT TO SEE
`STATIONS TO
`NEXTAPREV
`STOP SENDING
`SCREENS
`
`DOES USER
`WANT TO
`QUIT?
`
`YES
`
`SEND COMMAND TO
`CURRENT STATIONS TO
`STOP SENDING SCREENS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND
`COMMAND
`TO NEXT
`STATIONS IN
`GROUP TO
`IART SENDING
`SCREENS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`52O
`
`FIG 3
`
`Page 10 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 10 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`
`
`
`
`uo?d}s}{NoM uo quauunood uedo
`
`
`
`
`
`YERTEIDESTO DOTTEDET! :ouldN
`
`Page 11 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`5,684,952
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(SITTEIG?STO LOG????]:aupN
`
`Page 12 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 12 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`f2O2
`
`BEGIN SEND AND OPEN
`
`USER ENTERS PART
`OF NAME
`
`SEARCH LOCAL STORAGE
`FOR FILES THAT MATCH
`PART OF NAME
`
`DISPLAY ALL FILES FOUND
`AWD INFORMATION ABOUT
`EACH FILE
`
`
`
`
`
`DD USER
`FIND FILE
`TO LAUNCH2
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`SEND FILE TO REMOTE
`STATIONS
`
`SEND COMMAND TO
`LAUNCH THE FILE JUST
`SENT
`
`1212
`
`1214
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 12A
`
`121 O
`
`TRY A
`DIFFERENT
`PARTIAL WAME?
`
`WO
`C DONE D
`
`Page 13 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 13 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`BEGIN OPEN FILE
`
`USER ENTERS PART
`OF NAME
`
`SEARCH LOCAL VOLUME
`FOR FILES THAT MATCH
`PART OF NAME
`
`12O2
`
`12O4
`
`DISPLAY ALL FILES FOUND - 12O6
`AWD INFORMATION ABOUT
`EACH FILE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USER FIND
`FILE THEY WANT
`TO LAUNCH2
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1210
`
`
`
`YES
`USER
`WAWT TO
`TRY A DIFFERENT
`PARTIAL WAME?
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND COMMAND TO
`LAUNCH THE FILE
`SEND OVER NAME AND
`ALL USEFUL AT TRIBUTES
`
`1214
`
`FIG f2B
`
`Page 14 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 14 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`LAUNCH FILE
`
`SLAVE STATION
`RECEIVES A REQUEST
`TO LAUNCH A FILE
`
`f3O2
`
`YES
`
`WAS THE
`FILE JUST SENT
`HERE?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEARCH LOCAL HARD
`DISK FOR FILES THAT
`MATCH THE WAME,
`
`
`
`1306
`
`SEND ERROR BACK
`TO MASTER MACHINE
`
`MORE THA
`1 FILE HAS
`THAT WAME?
`
`CHECK HOW
`MANY FILES
`ALSO MATCH
`OTHER FILE
`ATTRIBUTES
`
`DOES 1
`FILE MATCH
`EXACTLY?
`
`1316 SEARCH LOCAL
`HARD DISK
`rifia
`FOR PROGRAM
`THAT CAW
`FILE?
`YES HANDLE THE
`SPECIFIED
`TYPE OF FILE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FOUND
`PROGRAM?
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`LAUNCH THE PROGRAM
`132O
`
`FIG. 13
`
`
`
`LAUNCH PROGRAM
`AND OPEN DOCUMENT
`- 1326
`
`
`
`Page 15 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 15 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`Update System. Folder
`This command is used to copy the system software from
`this workstation to the selected workstation.
`O Update System Software
`This option will replace the system software on the
`Selected workstations.
`O Update System Software and All Settings
`This option will replace the system software and also
`replace the system and application preferences on the
`selected workstations.
`
`FIG. 14
`
`
`
`
`
`About Balloon Help...
`Show Balloons
`Finder Shortcuts
`
`FIG. 15
`
`Page 16 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 16 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`16O2
`
`TIME 5. TEYNNO
`POLL REMO
`WORKSTATIONS2
`
`
`
`
`
`DOWE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`BROADCAST STATUS - 1604
`REOUEST TO ALL
`WORKSTATIONS
`
`HAS
`STATION N.
`RESPONDED?
`
`
`
`1614
`
`
`
`
`
`IT BEEN >X
`SECONDS SINCE
`LAST
`CONTACT?
`
`YES
`
`1616
`AR STATION
`AS UNAVAILABLE
`
`STORE STATUS
`FROM STATION
`
`1608
`
`1610
`HAS
`THIS STATIONNYES
`REQUESTED
`HELP2
`
`1612
`SIGNAL USER
`WITH AUDIO
`
`1618
`
`YES
`
`
`
`MORE
`STATIONS TO
`CHECK2
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1620
`YES
`
`
`
`AWY
`STATIONS
`REQUESTING
`HELP2
`
`1622
`
`1624
`
`1626 -
`
`SHOW GLOBAL
`HELP 10OW
`
`HIGHLIGHT EARLIEST
`REQUESTOR
`4R THE OTHERS
`
`NO
`
`CLEAR GLOBAL
`HELP ICON
`
`DONE
`
`FIG. f6
`
`Page 17 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 17 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`5,684,952
`
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`
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`Page 18 of 29
`
`Page 18 of 29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 4, 1997
`
`Sheet 18 of 18
`
`5,684,952
`
`SOME ACTION IS
`BEING PERFORMED ON
`REMOTE MACHINES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IS THIS
`STATION
`AFFECTED BY
`ACTION?
`
`
`
`HAS
`STATION
`REQUESTED
`HELP?
`
`YES
`
`CLEAR THE
`HELP FLAG FOR
`THIS STATION
`
`1808
`
`MORE
`STATIONS TO
`CHECK2
`
`NO
`
`f51O
`1812
`ANY
`STATIONS NWO CLEAR LOEA
`REQUESTING
`HELP INDICATOR
`HELPP
`
`DOWE
`
`YES
`
`1814
`
`DISPLAY GLOEAL
`HELP INDICATOR
`
`HIGHLIGHT EARLIEST
`REQUESTOR
`
`MARK OTHER
`STATIONS
`
`DONE
`
`FIG. f6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`About Bolloon Help...
`
`Show Bolloons
`Finder Shortcuts
`n Request:
`& Cancel Attentio
`FIG. 19
`
`Page 19 of 29
`
`

`

`5.684,952
`
`1
`SUPERWISORY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR
`NETWORKED MULTIMEDIA
`WORKSTATIONS THAT PROVIDES
`RECONFIGURATION OF WORKSTATIONS
`BY REMOTELY UPDATING THE
`OPERATING SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed to a system of networked
`computer workstations that are particularly suited for use in
`classroom and other instructional types of environments,
`and more specifically to a system for enabling an adminis
`trator to monitor and control individual workstations within
`the network.
`
`O
`
`15
`
`2
`of them, the application can continuously cycle from one
`student's display to the next, with a suitable dwell time to
`permit the teacher to quickly observe the subject matter on
`the student's screen. It will be appreciated that, in a large
`classroom, it can take a considerable amount of time to cycle
`through all of the students' workstations.
`To permit the teacher to observe more than one worksta
`tion at a time, at least one screen sharing application
`provides the ability to display a portion of four different
`remote workstations on the teacher's monitor. In this mode
`of operation, a portion of one student's screen is displayed
`in a window at the upper left quadrant of the teacher's
`monitor, a portion of another student's screen is displayed in
`a window on the upper right quadrant of the teacher's
`monitor, and so on for two other student's screens. While
`this arrangement allows the teacher to observe more than
`one student at a time, it only gives the teacher partial insight
`into each of the student's activities. As such, it may not
`provide the teacher with all relevant information. For
`example, if the teacher is observing the upper left quadrant
`of a student's screen, but the student is working with an
`object located in the lower right portion of the screen, the
`teacher will not be able to observe the operations being
`performed by the student without scrolling or resizing a
`window to show the relevant portion of the student's screen.
`Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a supervisory system
`which enables the teacher to observe multiple students at a
`time, while still giving the teacher an adequate representa
`tion of the operations being performed by each student.
`In another aspect of these types of systems, the teacher
`may desire to configure students' workstations to operate in
`a particular manner. This operation can be carried out by
`replacing the operating system for a workstation with an
`updated version thereof. In the past, this type of operation
`was carried out by physically installing a bootable, remov
`able disk on each workstation, and transferring system
`software from the removable disk to permanent storage
`within the workstation. It can be appreciated that in a setting
`such as a computer laboratory, where a large number of
`computers are present, the need to physically install the
`system software on each computer can be quite burdensome
`and time-consuming. It is desirable to provide an approach
`in which student workstations can be reconfigured, through
`the updating of system software, without the need to manu
`ally install the software on each individual computer.
`Further along these lines, the teacher may desire to open
`a predetermined document at each workstation for the
`students to work on for example at the beginning of a class
`period. In the past, if the students did not previously store the
`document at the same location on each of their workstations,
`it was not possible to open the documents on all of the
`workstations at one time with a single command from the
`teacher's workstation. Rather, each student workstation had
`to be individually accessed by the teacher to open the
`document. It is desirable to provide a facility by which a
`document can be opened on any selected workstation with a
`single command from the teacher's workstation.
`To facilitate interaction between the teacher and the
`students, networked computer systems may include a facil
`ity to permit individual students to request attention from the
`teacher. For example, by entering a particular keystroke
`combination or selecting a command from a menu, the
`student can transmit a request for attention from his or her
`workstation to that of the teacher. The teacher is then
`prompted to respond to the student's request. When multiple
`students request attention, the teacher might be provided
`with a prompt for each individual student. However, no
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTON
`With the increased processing power available on desktop
`computers and the expanding use of various types of media
`to present information, computer systems have been devel
`oped which combine these two technologies in a network
`that can selectively distribute audio-visual information from
`any of a number of sources to individual workstations on the
`network. Examples of such systems are disclosed in com
`monly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.
`08/207,779 filed Mar. 8, 1994 now abandoned, and Ser. No.
`08/207,957 filed Mar. 8, 1994 now abandoned, the disclo
`sures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Gen
`erally speaking, the systems disclosed in these applications
`comprise a number of multimedia workstations and a plu
`rality of audio-visual sources that are connected to one
`another over two parallel networks. A multichannel A/V
`network delivers audio-visual information from the sources
`to the various workstations. A digital data network transmits
`data and control information between the various
`workstations, as well as from the workstations to the audio
`visual sources.
`An arrangement of this type offers a number of features
`that are particularly useful in classrooms and other educa
`tional environments. For example, a teacher can make an
`announcement to any number of selected students, and can
`carry on a two-way conversation with any given student.
`The teacher and the students can watch videos from a
`multiplicity of different sources, and the teacher can
`remotely control individual student workstations to receive
`the video information from a particular source. The teacher
`is provided with the ability to observe student workstations,
`as well as to control the operation of any particular work
`station. For further information regarding the details of such
`a system, reference is made to the previously cited patent
`applications.
`The present invention is particularly directed to functions
`that can be performed at a master workstation on a network
`of this type. Typically, in a classroom environment the
`master workstation is controlled by the teacher. In other
`environments, such as in a business office setting, the master
`workstation might be under the supervision of a system
`administrator, or the like.
`In a typical classroom or computer laboratory setting, it is
`desirable to enable the teacher to observe the operations
`being performed at individual students' workstations. To this
`end, screen sharing applications have been employed in the
`past, to permit the teacher to view the same information as
`that presented on the display monitor of an individual
`student's workstation, and thereby observe the tasks being
`carried out by the student. To permit the teacher to observe
`all of the students in the classroom, or at least some number
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`priority is assigned to the various requests. As a result, the
`teacher might respond to them in a random fashion, unre
`lated to the order in which they were presented.
`Consequently, an individual student might have to wait for
`an unacceptably long period of time before receiving a
`response to a request for attention.
`BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a supervisory control
`system for a networked multimedia computing system that
`addresses the foregoing limitations associated with currently
`existing systems, and that provides additional features which
`facilitate the use and control of the networked system. In
`accordance with the invention, the control system permits a
`teacher or network administrator to quickly and easily
`update system software on selected destination workstations
`with the system software currently residing on the master
`workstation. In one mode of operation, only basic system
`software is updated, while user-defined preferences are
`unchanged. In a second mode of operation, both the system
`software and all user-controlled settings are replaced, to
`permit the remote workstations to be configured in a desired
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`4
`FIG. 17 is another illustration of the master control
`window, showing pending requests for attention;
`FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the routine for cancelling a
`pending request for attention; and
`FIG. 19 is an illustration of the help menu that is displayed
`while a request for attention is pending.
`DETALED DESCRIPTION
`To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, its
`features are described hereinafter with reference to a par
`ticular implementation, namely a multimedia computer net
`work that is designed for a classroom or computer laboratory
`environment, in which a teacher operates a master worksta
`tion and students are located at a multiplicity of other
`workstations. It will be appreciated, however, that the prac
`tical applications of the invention are not limited to this
`particular environment. Rather, it will be found to have
`utility in any situation in which a designated administrator or
`Supervisory person has control over a defined set of com
`puter workstations. For example, it might be employed in a
`business office, where a system administrator controls net
`worked workstations of various office personnel.
`One example of a hardware configuration for a networked
`multimedia system of the type to which the present inven
`tion applies is illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring thereto, the
`system contains a number of workstations, including a
`master workstation 10 at the disposal of the teacher, and a
`multiplicity of other workstations 12 that are accessible to
`the students. Each workstation includes a central processing
`unit (CPU) with associated memory, some form of perma
`nent storage, such as a hard disk or read-only memory
`(ROM), and a monitor which provides a display screen for
`viewing the work being performed at the workstation. In a
`typical classroom or laboratory setting, all of the worksta
`tions might be located in one room. In other settings,
`however, the Workstations can be located in different rooms,
`and possibly different buildings.
`The various workstations are connected to one another by
`means of a suitable conventional data network 14, for
`example an Ethernet network. This network enables digital
`data to be exchanged between the various workstations.
`Examples of this digital data include digitized audio
`information, which permit the students and the teacher to
`communicate with one another, as well as screen data which
`enables the information presented on the screen of one
`workstation to be displayed on the monitors of other work
`stations.
`Also included within the system are a plurality of audio
`visual (AV) sources. In the particular example illustrated in
`F.G. 1, the AV sources include a video cassette recorder 16,
`a video disk player 18 and a video camera 20. Each of these
`sources is connected to an associated modulator 22, and the
`signals from the modulators are presented to a signal com
`biner 24. Analog video information from each of the video
`sources is distributed to the various workstations, through
`the signal combiner 24, by means of a multifrequency
`network 26. This multifrequency network can be a CATW
`network, for example. In operation, the analog video infor
`mation from each of the sources is amplified and translated
`into a television channel signal by their respective modula
`tors 22. These signals are combined and distributed to the
`workstations on respective television channels, via the com
`biner 24 and the network 26. In addition to the discrete
`sources, the network 26 can also be connected with a
`commercial cable television service 28, an antenna and/or a
`satellite dish, to provide additional television signals. Uti
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`These and other features of the present invention, and the
`advantages offered thereby, are explained in detail herein
`after with reference to specific embodiments illustrated in
`the accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the hardware architecture of
`a networked computer system of a type to which the present
`invention can be applied;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the software architecture for
`such a system;
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of the main control window that
`is presented at a master workstation;
`FIG. 4 is an illustration of a master workstation display
`screen during the observation of screens on four remote
`workstations;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the overall operation for display
`ing multiple screens at the master workstation;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the background task that runs at
`the student workstation to display screen information;
`FIG. 7A is a flowchart of the Send Rectangle routine;
`FIG. 7B is a flowchart of the Get Net Pixel routine;
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the observe operation that is
`performed at the master workstation;
`FIG. 9 is an illustration of a menu that is displayed at the
`master workstation to control operations at student work
`stations;
`FIG. 10 is an illustration of a dialog box for the open
`document function;
`FIG. 11 is an illustration of a dialog box for the send files
`function;
`FIG. 12A is a flowchart of the send and open function;
`FIG. 12B is a flowchart of the open file function;
`FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the launch file operation per
`formed at the student workstations;
`FIG. 14 is an illustration of a dialog box for the update
`system folder function;
`FIG. 15 is an illustration of the help menu displayed at the
`student workstations;
`FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the status update function
`performed at the master workstation;
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`lizing this approach, well over one hundred different chan
`nels of information can be sent to each workstation.
`Each workstation is provided with a television tuner 30.
`Through control provided locally at the student's worksta
`tion or remotely from the teacher's workstation, these tuners
`can select a particular channel for transfer into an audio
`visual subsystem of the workstation. The audio-visual sub
`system converts the analog video and audio information into
`suitable signals that are processed within the workstation
`and presented on its display.
`A video network controller 32 is connected to the master
`workstation 10, to permit the teacher to control the indi
`vidual video sources. This controller allows the teacher to
`send control commands to the various video devices, such as
`start, stop, fast forward, etc. These commands are provided
`to the individual video devices through a suitable remote
`control interface.
`At each workstation, a student can choose a video source
`such as a cable network or a local device, select a particular
`television channel, and select an audio device (not shown).
`To remotely control any of these devices, a student's work
`station 12 can send a request to the teacher's workstation 10,
`which then communicates with the video network controller
`32, to transmit control signals to the video device. A suitable
`arbiter can be employed to prevent more than one user from
`controlling a video device at a time.
`For further information regarding the details of a system
`of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, reference is made to the
`previously cited patent applications.
`The architecture of the software for performing these
`functions, as well as additional functions described
`hereinafter, is illustrated in block diagram form in FIG. 2.
`Referring thereto, the software located on the teacher's
`workstation 10 permits the teacher to interact with the
`various student workstations, controlling their video dis
`plays and handling audio communications. This software
`can be classified into two main parts. High level software 34
`interacts with the teacher, permitting him or her to issue the
`commands for controlling the student's workstations. Low
`level communication software 36 communicates these com
`mands to the various student workstations over the digital
`data network 14.
`Each of the student workstations 12 also includes low
`level communication software for handling communications
`between the teacher and the student over the digital data
`network. In response to commands received over the digital
`data network from the master workstation, various other
`software components are called to perform certain tasks. A
`station status component 40 reports the current status of the
`SO
`workstation, when prompted by the master workstation. A
`file transfer component 42, a file launching component 44,
`and a program quitting component 46 respectively handle
`the receipt, launching and termination of documents and
`applications on the student's workstation, in response to
`commands from the master workstation. A CATV display
`component 48 provides a television display for the student's
`workstation. It also permits the student to capture video
`information, and control remotely located video devices
`connected to the teacher's workstation. A screen sharing
`component 49 processes data pertaining to the information
`being displayed on the student's screen, and furnishes this
`data to the master workstation 10. One example of a suitable
`screen sharing application is the Timbuktu product devel
`oped by Farallon Computing, Inc. of Alameda, Calif.
`In the operation of the system, the students carry out tasks
`on their respective workstations 12, such as creating a
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`document, designing a graphical image, viewing a video
`presentation, and the like. All of the students can be working
`on the same project, or each might be performing an
`individual task. From the master workstation 10, the teacher
`can observe the subject matter on each student's monitor
`screen, as well as control the information provided to
`selected workstations or even control the operation of the
`workstation. To carry out these functions, the teacher is
`presented with a main control display or window, an
`example of which is illustrated in FIG. 3.
`Referring to FIG. 3, the main control window is divided
`into three primary areas. A status area 50 provides a list of
`the workstations on the network that have the basic control
`program installed on them. In the particular example of FIG.
`3, there are three such workstations listed according to
`names 52 that are assigned to each station. Adjacent each
`name is an indicator box 54 that identifies whether the user
`at that station has requested attention, as explained in greater
`detail hereinafter. To the right of each name is a status field
`56 which indicates the information that is currently being
`displayed at the respective workstation. For example, if the
`student is viewing a particular video channel or observing a
`different student's workstation, that information will be
`displayed in the status field. Otherwise, the status field can
`identify the application program that is currently running on
`the workstation.
`A second area of the main control window comprises an
`audio area 58. This area contains three buttons that can be
`activated by the teacher. An announce button 60 enables the
`teacher to make audio announcements to one or more
`students who are designated by selecting them in the status
`area 50 of the window. After selecting the appropriate
`workstations and activating the announce button 60, the
`teacher speaks into a microphone at his or her workstation
`to provide a one-way communication that can be used to
`explain material to students, for example.
`A talk button 62 operates in a similar manner, except that
`it permits a two-way conversation to be carried out between
`the teacher and a single selected student. In carrying out
`either of the announce or talk functions, the sounds spoken
`into the microphones at the teacher's and student's work
`stations are digitized at the originating workstation and then
`transmitted to the receiving workstation over the digital data
`network 14, where they are converted to analog signals and
`played back over speakers or headphones associated with
`that workstation.
`A stop audio button 64 is actuated to terminate the audio
`command at each selected workstation.
`The third area of the main control window comprises a
`video area. This area contains five user-actuated control
`buttons. A show video button 66 forces selected worksta
`tions to watch a given channel that is designated via a
`pop-up menu 68. At the selected workstations, the television
`