Fast remote display of images using compressed XPutImage

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to the field of telecommunication and, more particularly, to a system and method for more effectively transferring image data across a network.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The foregoing, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of this invention may be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a local computer system and a remote computer system coupled through a computer network;

#FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method for arranging the transfer of compressed images to a remote computer system with image decompression and display to be performed at the remote computer system;

#While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Note, the headings are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit or interpret the description or claims. Furthermore, note that the word “may” is used throughout this application in a permissive sense (i.e., having the potential to, being able to), not a mandatory sense (i.e., must).” The term “include”, and derivations thereof, mean “including, but not limited to”. The term “connected” means “directly or indirectly connected”, and the term “coupled” means “directly or indirectly connected”.

#In one set of embodiments, a local computer system LCS and a remote computer RCS may be coupled through a computer network 110 as suggested by FIG. 1. For example, each computer system may have a network interface card to facilitate communication through the computer network 110. The computer network 110 may be a local area network, a wide area network, or a global network such as the Internet).

#An application running on the local computer system LCS may generate (or access) an image, and call an XPutImage function to induce (a) transmission of the image to the remote computer system RCS through the computer network and (b) display of the image on a display associated with the remote computer system. An XServer running on the remote computer system (associated with the remote display) receives a protocol data stream (containing the image) in response to the XPutImage function call, and invokes the XPutImage executable code to display the image.