Patents by Inventor Kenneth P. Hughes

Kenneth P. Hughes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7404014
    Abstract: A method and system for compressing bitmap data in a system for sharing an application running on a host computer with a remote computer, wherein the shared application's screen output is simultaneously displayed on both computers. Simultaneous display of screen output is achieved by efficiently transmitting display data between the host computer and the remote computer. When a font used by the host computer for displaying text is not available on the remote computer, the host computer sends a bitmap representation of the text for display, rather than the text itself. Bitmap representations are cached by the remote computer, so that the same bitmap representation need not be repeatedly transmitted from the host computer to the remote computer. Bitmap representations are compressed by the host computer prior to transmission, transmitted, then decompressed by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty, Mark E. Berry
  • Patent number: 7088871
    Abstract: A method and system for compressing bitmap data in a system for sharing an application running on a host computer with a remote computer, wherein the shared application's screen output is simultaneously displayed on both computers. Simultaneous display of screen output is achieved by efficiently transmitting display data between the host computer and the remote computer. When a font used by the host computer for displaying text is not available on the remote computer, the host computer sends a bitmap representation of the text for display, rather than the text itself. Bitmap representations are cached by the remote computer, so that the same bitmap representation need not be repeatedly transmitted from the host computer to the remote computer. Bitmap representations are compressed by the host computer prior to transmission, transmitted, then decompressed by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty, Mark E. Berry
  • Patent number: 6911987
    Abstract: A method and system for compressing bitmap data in a system for sharing an application running on a host computer with a remote computer, wherein the shared application's screen output is simultaneously displayed on both computers. Simultaneous display of screen output is achieved by efficiently transmitting display data between the host computer and the remote computer. When a font used by the host computer for displaying text is not available on the remote computer, the host computer sends a bitmap representation of the text for display, rather than the text itself. Bitmap representations are cached by the remote computer, so that the same bitmap representation need not be repeatedly transmitted from the host computer to the remote computer. Bitmap representations are compressed by the host computer prior to transmission, transmitted, then decompressed by the remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, PictureTel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty, Mark E. Berry
  • Patent number: 6304928
    Abstract: A method and system for compressing bitmap data in a system for sharing an application running on a host computer with a remote computer, wherein the shared application's screen output is simultaneously displayed on both computers. Simultaneous display of screen output is achieved by efficiently transmitting display data between the host computer and the remote computer. When a font used by the host computer for displaying text is not available on the remote computer, the host computer sends a bitmap representation of the text for display, rather than the text itself. Bitmap representations are cached by the remote computer, so that the same bitmap representation need not be repeatedly transmitted from the host computer to the remote computer. Bitmap representations are compressed by the host computer prior to transmission, transmitted, then decompressed by the remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, PictureTel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty, Mark E. Berry
  • Patent number: 6285363
    Abstract: Methods and systems for sharing applications among computer systems are disclosed. A shared application runs on a host computer and its output is displayed both on the host computer and on shadow computers. Users of the host and shadow computers coordinate who is momentarily in control of the shared application. Input from a user not in control is discarded while input from a user in control is sent to the shared application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty
  • Patent number: 6271839
    Abstract: Methods and systems for coordinating the z-order of windows shared among computers are disclosed. A shared application runs on a host computer and its output is displayed in windows both on the host computer and on shadow computers. The “z-order” on each computer tells which window is logically the “topmost” one displayed (that is, the window not obscured by other windows), which window is logically just below that one, etc., down to the window logically at the “bottom” of the stack. When the z-order of the windows on the host or on a shadow computer is changed, notification of that change is sent to the other computers so that they can adjust their own z-order accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty
  • Patent number: 6268855
    Abstract: Method and systems for simulating a high-resolution display of a first computer on a low- resolution display of a second computer are disclosed. A shared application runs on a host computer and its output is displayed in windows both on the host computer and on shadow computers. At any one time, the user of the low-resolution display sees only a portion of the high-resolution display but can scroll the portion seen through the entire high-resolution display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty
  • Patent number: 6223212
    Abstract: A method and system for sharing application programs between multiple computer systems. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a multipoint application sharing (MAS) system that resides at each computer system (i.e., node) in a network of computer systems. The MAS system at each computer system communicates with each MAS system at each other computer system by sending messages over the network. The MAS system enables a user at each computer system to share one or more application programs with each user at each other computer system. To share an application program, a user at a host computer system invokes the application program. Then, the user requests the MAS system to share the invoked application program with users at other computer systems. Each computer that is sharing the application, can view the output of the application and can, under certain circumstances, take control of the application so that it can send remote keyboard and pointing device information to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Batty, Anthony M. Downes, Kenneth P. Hughes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Christopher J. Mairs, Alex J. Pollitt
  • Patent number: 6216177
    Abstract: A method and system for compressing bitmap data in a system for sharing an application running on a host computer with a remote computer, wherein the shared application's screen output is simultaneously displayed on both computers. Simultaneous display of screen output is achieved by efficiently transmitting display data between the host computer and the remote computer. When a font used by the host computer for displaying text is not available on the remote computer, the host computer sends a bitmap representation of the text for display, rather than the text itself. Bitmap representations are cached by the remote computer, so that the same bitmap representation need not be repeatedly transmitted from the host computer to the remote computer. Bitmap representations are compressed by the host computer prior to transmission, transmitted, then decompressed by the remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty, Mark E. Berry
  • Patent number: 5949975
    Abstract: A method and system for sharing application programs between multiple computer systems. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a multipoint application sharing (MAS) system that resides at each computer system (i.e., node) in a network of computer systems. The MAS system at each computer system communicates with each MAS system at each other computer system by sending messages over the network. The MAS system enables a user at each computer system to share one or more application programs with each user at each other computer system. To share an application program, a user at a host computer system invokes the application program. Then, the user requests the MAS system to share the invoked application program with users at other computer systems. Each computer that is sharing the application, can view the output of the application and can, under certain circumstances, take control of the application so that it can send remote keyboard and pointing device information to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Microsoft Corp., Picturetel Corp.
    Inventors: John P. Batty, Anthony M. Downes, Kenneth P. Hughes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Christopher J. Mairs, Alex J. Pollitt
  • Patent number: 5874960
    Abstract: A method in a computer system for displaying data generated by a shared application on a host computer system on both a host display of the host computer system and a shadow display of a shadow computer systems The host computer system has a window manager for managing windows displayed on the host display. The shadow computer system has a window manager for managing windows displayed on the shadow display. Under control of the host computer system, a Share System executes the shared application. Then, the Share System registers a host window with the windowing system of the host computer system. Upon registration of the host window, the Share System sends a notification of registration of the host window to the shadow computer system. At the shadow computer system, the Share System receives the sent notification of registration of the host window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Picturetel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty
  • Patent number: 5864711
    Abstract: A method and system sharing an application running on a host computer with a remote computer by simultaneously displaying the application's screen output on both computers. Simultaneous display of screen output is achieved by efficiently transmitting display data from the host computer to the remote computer. Data that will not result in a visible display on the remote computer is detected by the host computer and not transmitted, eliminating unnecessary transmission and processing of data by the remote computer. Pixel depth translation is done on the computer system capable of most accurately translating pixel depth. When the font used by the host computer for displaying text is not available on the remote computer, the host computer sends a bitmap representation of the text for display, rather than the text itself Bitmap representations are cached by the remote computer, so that the same bitmap representation need not be repeatedly transmitted from the host computer to the remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mairs, Anthony M. Downes, Roderick F. MacFarquhar, Kenneth P. Hughes, Alex J. Pollitt, John P. Batty, Mark E. Berry