Method and system for sharing applications between computer systems

Patent 6271839 Issued on August 7, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

July 2, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 109958 filed on 07/02/1998

Examiners

Primary: Sax, Steven

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Leydig, Voit & Mayer Ltd.

International Class

G06F 013/00

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.