Abstract: A method for viewing a desktop on a first client involves initiating a first desktop session and a second desktop session, populating a first virtual frame buffer (VFB) using the first desktop session, populating a second VFB using the second desktop session, storing an extended virtual frame buffer (EVFB) using the first VFB and the second VFB, and selecting a first portion of the EVFB to view on the desktop using a first VFB scout.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a bandwidth adaptive image compression/decompression scheme. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a special protocol between the sender and the receiver to measure the latency of the connection. This protocol and its result are sent and received at an interval based on a dynamic feedback loop algorithm. Based on the results of the protocol, a compression scheme is chosen. This scheme uses CPU time conservatively, and also transmits the most interesting data first. In another embodiment, the present invention throws away data that is repetitious, especially when the connection is down for a short period of time. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, measurements are taken for the perceptual degradation of the image for various compression schemes, and the results are supplemented with the results of the protocol to choose a viable compression/decompression scheme.

Abstract: The present invention varies the highlight color of a highlighted display area such that the salience of the highlighted display area remains constant to a user as the highlighted display area varies. A perceptual highlight color is determined based upon the total amount of highlighted display area and the background color of the non-highlighted display area and applied to text selected to be highlighted by a user as well as to text already highlighted on the display. In other embodiments, the perceptual highlight color can be based upon the total amount of highlighted display area and the text color of the text in the highlighted display area, and the total amount of the highlighted display area, the background color of the non-highlighted display area, and the text color.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates initiating a communication session with a computing device. The system operates by first detecting the presence of the computing device through a first communication channel, and then initiating a communication session between the computing device and a server through the second communication channel. Next, the system transfers the state of an existing communication session between the server and a client to the computing device through the second communication channel, so that the computing device can take over the existing communication session with the server in place of the client.

Abstract: The present invention varies the highlight color of a highlighted display area such that the salience of the highlighted display area remains constant to a user as the highlighted display area varies. A perceptual highlight color is determined based upon the total amount of highlighted display area and the background color of the non-highlighted display area and applied to text selected to be highlighted by a user as well as to text already highlighted on the display. In other embodiments, the perceptual highlight color can be based upon the total amount of highlighted display area and the text color of the text in the highlighted display area, and the total amount of the highlighted display area, the background color of the non-highlighted display area, and the text color.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system to facilitate image difference transmission for images in a video system. The system operates by receiving a video stream that includes a sequence of images. The system transforms a first frame of the sequence of images using a transform function to create a first transformed image. Note that this transform function places the image salience in the larger coefficients. The system also transforms a second frame using the same transform function to create a second transformed image. The system then subtracts the second transformed image from the first transformed image to create a difference-transformed image. The coefficients are arranged in order of size, from larger to smaller. Smaller coefficients, that are less than a specific threshold, are removed from the difference-transformed image so that this difference-transformed image can be stored and transmitted with reduced bandwidth while maintaining image salience.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system to facilitate variable-loss compression for images of objects in motion in a video system. The system operates by receiving a video stream that includes a sequence of images. The system detects motion between images within this sequence of images. Next, the system determines whether the motion exceeds a threshold value for the motion. If the motion does not exceed the threshold value for the motion, the system compresses the video stream with a compression scheme that has no significant losses. Otherwise, the system compresses the video stream with a lossy compression scheme in order to reduce the bandwidth of the video stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a bandwidth adaptive image compression/decompression scheme. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a special protocol between the sender and the receiver to measure the latency of the connection. This protocol and its result are sent and received at an interval based on a dynamic feedback loop algorithm. Based on the results of the protocol, a compression scheme is chosen. This scheme uses CPU time conservatively, and also transmits the most interesting data first. In another embodiment, the present invention throws away data that is repetitious, especially when the connection is down for a short period of time. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, measurements are taken for the perceptual degradation of the image for various compression schemes, and the results are supplemented with the results of the protocol to choose a viable compression/decompression scheme.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for overlaying a data image on a form image includes a form enhancement module that interfaces to a PostScript driver and a forms overlay plug in module. A forms overlaying utility is included that stores and manages encapsulated PostScript files of form images on a mass storage device connected to a printer. The method and apparatus also includes combining the data file also encoded, albeit in a standard PostScript format, with the image file of the form so as to provide a composite output form that is printed from the printer without having to download the form via the computer to the printer each time the form is to be completed.