Asynchronous Redrawing in Online Document Processors

A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for redrawing with an online document processor a document stored on an applications server, the computer program instructions defining the steps of:

• receiving a download command;
• downloading by the applications server a first portion of the document;
• redrawing the first portion of the document;
• downloading by the applications server a second portion of the document;
• in response to receiving an edit command within a predetermined time interval starting from completion of the downloading of the second portion of the document, executing the received command;
• and
• in response to not receiving an edit command within the predetermined time interval, redrawing at least a part of the second portion of the document.

An applications server comprising:

• a data storage device storing computer program instructions defining the steps of:
• receiving a download command;
• downloading by the applications server a first portion of a document stored on the applications server;
• redrawing the first portion of the document;
• downloading by the applications server a second portion of the document;
• in response to receiving an edit command within a predetermined time interval starting from completion of the downloading of the second portion of the document, executing the received command;
• and
• in response to not receiving an edit command within the predetermined time interval, redrawing at least a part of the second portion of the document;
• and
• a central processing unit configured to execute the computer program instructions;
• and
• a communications network interface configured to transfer data between the applications server and a communications network.

A method for redrawing a document with an online document processor, the method comprising:

• receiving an edit command;
• and
• based on the received edit command, redrawing a portion of the document, the portion ending at a location determined by one of:
• a first sum of a document end-of-display point and a first buffer length, wherein the first buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• a second sum of a document scroll point and a second buffer length, wherein the second buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• or
• a third sum of a document spacer index and a third buffer length, wherein the third buffer length is greater than or equal to zero.

A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for redrawing a document with an online document processor, the computer program instructions defining the steps of:

• receiving an edit command;
• and
• based on the received edit command, redrawing a portion of the document, the portion ending at a location determined by one of:
• a first sum of a document end-of-display point and a first buffer length, wherein the first buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• a second sum of a document scroll point and a second buffer length, wherein the second buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• or
• a third sum of a document spacer index and a third buffer length, wherein the third buffer length is greater than or equal to zero.

An applications server comprising:

• a data storage device storing computer program instructions defining the steps of:
• receiving an edit command;
• and
• redrawing a portion of a document for a maximum of a predetermined time interval;
• a central processing unit configured to execute the computer program instructions;
• and
• a communications network interface configured to transfer data between the applications server and a communications network.

An applications server comprising:

• a data storage device storing computer program instructions defining the steps of:
• receiving an edit command;
• and
• based on the received edit command, redrawing a portion of the document, the portion ending at a location determined by one of:
• a first sum of a document end-of-display point and a first buffer length, wherein the first buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• a second sum of a document scroll point and a second buffer length, wherein the second buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• or
• a third sum of a document spacer index and a third buffer length, wherein the third buffer length is greater than or equal to zero;
• and
• a central processing unit configured to execute computer program instructions;
• and
• a communications network interface configured to transfer data between the applications server and a communications network.