Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcasting live personal performances over the Internet employs a web server to manage scheduling and broadcasting of the performances over the Internet, as well as collections and payments for products and services sold by presenters to viewers in conjunction with their performances. The server receives audio/video data from presenter operated computers through an uploaded presenter program, and relays the received audio/video data to viewer operated computers for viewing in media players invoked by their web browsers responding to an uploaded HTML document or JAVA applet. Viewers select performances to view from a program schedule provided on a webpage hosted by the web server. Both viewers and presenters are registered with the web server to facilitate payments for products and services, and their financial information stored in a secure user database.

Abstract: A computer system includes a web client having a client based program residing on it, a firewall having a protocol proxy residing on it, and a host server having an application program and a special window manager residing on it. All communications between the protocol proxy and the application program go through the special window manager. The web client communicates with the firewall through the Internet, and the firewall communicates with the host server through a LAN. The client based program employs HTTP, and the special window manager employs a persistent connection, socket-based protocol. The protocol proxy establishes and maintains a persistent connection with the special window manager, and communicates information back and forth between the client based program and the application program through the special window manager by first protocol translating the information between HTTP and the special window manager's persistent connection, socket-based protocol.

Abstract: A method of conducting an interactive design conference over the Internet, comprises: selectively admitting clients communicating through web browsers over the Internet to an interactive design conference; receiving a graphics file indicative of a design from one of the clients; and transmitting the graphics file to the other clients so as to be viewable as a graphics image through graphics file readers in the client web browsers. The graphics file is generated by a snapshot program previously transmitted to a client initiating the design conference and controlling the design database. Java applets are transmitted to each of the design conference participants to facilitate communicating annotations of the graphics image and messages between clients through their web browsers.

Abstract: A method for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen during a computer session for later playback, comprises receiving a start indication, and automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically during the computer session after the start indication is reached. An apparatus for performing such function comprises a frame buffer for storing snapshots of the computer screen, a FIFO cache memory, a mass storage memory, and programmed means. The programmed means receives a start indication, periodically copies data from the frame buffer to the FIFO cache memory during a computer session after the start indication is reached, and compresses the stored data before storing it the mass storage memory for later playback.

Abstract: A method for automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen during a computer session for later playback, comprises receiving a start indication, and automatically recording snapshots of a computer screen periodically during the computer session after the start indication is reached. An apparatus for performing such function comprises a frame buffer for storing snapshots of the computer screen, a FIFO cache memory, a mass storage memory, and programmed means. The programmed means receives a start indication, periodically copies data from the frame buffer to the FIFO cache memory during a computer session after the start indication is reached, and compresses the stored data before storing it the mass storage memory for later playback.

Abstract: A method is described that is implemented by a server for securely providing a text file to a client for execution. The method includes providing an encrypted text file and a program facilitating execution of the encrypted text file to the client. Such providing may be over the Internet or using a computer readable medium such as compact disc. The provided program responds to a run command to decrypt the encrypted text file, and feed the decrypted text file to an interpreter for execution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely debugging an application program over the Internet is described. A software vendor provides an interface program along with an application program to a customer. The interface program detects a debug request initiated by a customer operator on a customer computer, and establishes a connection with a debug program on a vendor computer over the Internet. The interface program takes over control of the application program from the customer operator, and takes various actions including running a diagnostic sequence received from the debug program on the application program to debug the application program.

Abstract: A method for conducting a collaboration session, comprising: launching a collaboration session through a program on a computer so as to communicate with other computers concurrently logged on a network; and generating a graphics file including pixel information of a graphics image displayable on a display screen of the computer for transmission to the other computers so as to be viewable through graphics file readers associated with web browsers of the other computers during the collaboration session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting image updates employing high compression encoding are described. New and old image pixel values are compared at corresponding coordinate positions. For coordinate positions where the values are significantly different, the new image pixel values are assigned to those coordinates unless the new image pixel value is equal to a predefined transparent pixel value. In that case, a pixel value resulting in a color imperceptibly different than the new image pixel value is assigned. On the other hand, for coordinate positions where the values are not significantly different, then the predefined transparent pixel is assigned to those coordinates. Because of the high occurrence of the transparent pixel value in many applications, the pixel values assigned in such a manner are suitable for high compression encoding and consequently, high speed transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rendering an integrated circuit design layout is described. Graphics files are generated for selected zoom-in factors from cell-based information of the integrated circuit design, and stored in memory. When a computer operator selects a zoom-in factor greater by a predetermined amount than the largest of such selected zoom-in factors, a selector enables a rendering engine to render the integrated circuit design layout from the cell-based information. On the other hand, when the computer operator selects a zoom-in factor less than the largest of such selected zoom-in factors plus the predetermined amount, the selector enables a graphics processor to render the integrated circuit design layout from appropriate ones of the graphics files.

Abstract: A method generates information for a window view of an integrated circuit from layout-formatted data such as GDSII formatted data. The method includes generating outer boundary boxes for structures of the integrated circuit from the layout-formatted data, generating a build file by including information of structures having outer boundary boxes completely or partially in a window, and generating information of the window view from the information thus included in the build file. In generating the build file, information of structures having outer boundary boxes completely outside the window are excluded from the build file. Also excluded is information of structures having areas less than a threshold value.

Abstract: A method generates information for a window view of an integrated circuit from layout-formatted data such as GDSII formatted data. The method includes generating outer boundary boxes for structures of the integrated circuit from the layout-formatted data, generating a build file by including information of structures having outer boundary boxes completely or partially in a window, and generating information of the window view from the information thus included in the build file. In generating the build file, information of structures having outer boundary boxes completely outside the window are excluded from the build file. Also excluded is information of structures having areas less than a threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing conditional access to the source code of a program are described. An encrypted version of the source code is provided along with a binary executable version of the source code to a recipient. An escrow holder holds a software key for decrypting the encrypting source code, and releases the software key to the recipient only upon satisfaction of a release condition detailed in an escrow agreement executed by the program's vendor and the recipient.