Computer display screen monitoring system

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to computer display screen monitoring systems in general and in particular to a computer display screen monitoring system for displaying text and graphic data appearing on one display screen in the system on one or more other display screens in the system in real time.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a diagram of the overall configuration of a computer screen monitoring system according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a generalized block diagram showing the manner in which multiplexers in each of the stations are interconnected for transmitting video signals from one station to another;

#Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a computer display screen monitoring system designated generally as 1. In the system 1 there is provided a master station designated generally as 2 and a plurality of user stations designated generally as station 1, station 2, station 3, . . . station n. The master station 2 and the user stations 1-n are coupled in series in a closed-loop fashion by means of a plurality of signal buses 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . n. The designation n is used to mean that identical user stations may be added to or deleted from the system as required, as shown by the breaks in the bus n.

#In the master station 2 there is provided a control computer 10 having a monitor 11 with a display screen 12, a master computer 13 having a monitor 14 with a display screen 15, and a station interface apparatus 16 having a plurality of signal ports designated J1, J2, J3, J4 and J5. A video signal output from the master computer 13 is coupled to port J2 of the apparatus 16 by means of a video bus 17. A video signal input in the monitor 14 is coupled to the port J4 of the apparatus 16 by means of a video signal bus 18. A data and control signal port of the control computer 10 is coupled to port J3 of the apparatus 16 by means of a data and control bus 19. Power is provided to port J5 of the apparatus 16 by means of a bus 9.

#In each of the user stations 1-n there is provided a user computer 20 having a monitor 21 with a display screen 22 and a station interface apparatus 23 having a plurality of signal ports J1, J2, J3, J4 and J5. A video signal output from the computer 20 is coupled to port J2 of the apparatus 23 by means of a video signal bus 24. A video signal input in the monitor 21 is coupled to the port J4 of the apparatus 23 by means of a video signal bus 25. Power is provided to port J5 of the apparatus 23 by means of a bus 26.