Abstract: A method for an X windows conferencing enabler to support applications that use non-shareable color cells while running in a conference in which the various X server participants differ in their support of visual classes is disclosed. In the method, an application request to allocate and initialize non-shareable colorcells and is displayed in a conference such that the colors for each X server participant are as close to that requested by the application as the hardware supports. The conference enabler distributes all of the non-shareable requests to each participant in the conference that supports the requests. For those participants that do not support those requests, a NoOp request is sent in place of the allocation requests and an AllocColor or AllocNamedColor is sent in place of the initialization request. Errors and replies are moderated so that the application only receives those errors and replies that are consistent with its X server's expected behavior.

Abstract: A method of mapping pixel IDs between X servers that differ in the format of pixel IDs they support is disclosed. The method involves defining a specific type of map for each master/participant pair, thus allowing X servers that support different formats to participate in one conference and to view colors that are as close to the application's request as each X server deems possible. A method of supporting applications that are dependent on mathematical operations on pixel values by an X Windows conferencing enabler is further disclosed. The mathematical operations on pixel values are common among X Windows applications that are color intensive, such as scientific visualization programs. This method allows these applications to be displayed with colors that are as close as the supports to the colors requested by the application as supported by the X server.

Abstract: A method and system for managing top-level windows controlled by a conference enabler is disclosed. The system operates in a conferencing network system having a conference enabler for distributing applications to a plurality of servers. Each server has its own display. The method and system identifies a top-level window sent by the conferenced application. Next, it identifies whether a top-level window is among the requests sent by the conferenced application is a root window. The system then enters a window ID associated with the top-level window into a list of top-level windows. Then, the system provides a slot associated with the top-level window within the list for storing the window configuration of the top-level window as configured by each of the participant servers.

Abstract: A method and system provide for selectively distributing communications between an application and multiple servers, allowing cooperative use of a single copy of an application. The system is situated between an application and the multiple servers. Requests from the application, responses to the requests, and events from the multiple servers, are managed in such a way that each server believes it is connected directly to the application and the application believes it is connected directly to a single server. The requests are categorized and distributed to the servers based on the type of request. The responses to these requests may be sent to the application or discarded based on the type of request and the role of the server sending the request. The events are also categorized and, based on the role of the server causing the event, they may be passed on to the application or discarded.

Abstract: A conference enabled X windows networking system using a method for determining the best match available for a conference owner's visual type is disclosed. In the system, the enabler determines if the visual type detected in the X protocol stream is the conference owner's default visual type, in which case it is matched to the participant's default visual type. If that is not the case, the system determines if a visual type is available on the participant which is compatible to that being referred to in the X protocol. If so, the system determines which of the compatible visual types is the best match to that being used by the application. If there is an exact match of compatible visual type, the system matches the participant's visual type to that of the conference owner. If there are no compatible matches, the system will determine if an incompatible match exists between the participant's available incompatible visual types and the visual type being used in the X protocol.

Abstract: A conference-enabled X application gets distributed to many different X servers, each of which may have different keyboard configurations. Each X server may have a unique range of key codes and a unique keysym to key code mapping. X protocol contains keyboard information in the form of key codes and a modifier bitmask that indicates which key code modifiers, such as the Shift key, are set along with the key code. In order for the conference-enabled X application to interpret the key codes in the protocol correctly, the X conference-enabler provides a technique to translate the key codes between the various X servers in the conference. The method it uses involves querying the keysym that a specific key code/modifier combination is interpreted as on one X server and then finding a valid key code/modifier combination on another X server that has the same keysym.

Abstract: A method of selecting which user has the input focus, and conditions by which a different user will get the input focus in the future. A user is said to have the `floor` if that user is enabled to become the input focus, or in other words, to provide input to the shared application. Zero or more users may have the floor at a particular time. (This is in contrast to a human conference or meeting where generally one person has the floor at a time). A method of selecting the set of users who have the floor is called a floor control policy. The floor control policy determines the set of participants who have the floor now, who will get the floor next, and how and when the floor assignments are made.