Methods and apparatus for synchronizing application and utility programs
AssigneeIntellitools, Inc.
InventorsDavid Cornelius Schmitt, Scott Steven Schafer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for changing sets of configured operational features in a utility program based upon changing screen images in a currently active application program.
Claims16
Apparatus for use with (1) a computer having a video display for displaying images on a screen, (2) an application program and (3) a utility program wherein the application program is capable of performing various routines and is characterized by a plurality of different screen images displayable on the screen one at a time, and the utility program is capable of performing various routines while the application program is operating and capable of maintaining a plurality of different operational feature sets configured for the different screen images of the application program, and wherein the application program is characterized by a set of selectable hot spots for each different screen image and wherein selection of a hot spot can activate an application routine, and wherein the operational feature set of the utility program is a hot spot data table recording the location of the hot spots for a particular screen image of the application program, the combination comprising:
- a screen image identifier which analyzes a unique and identifiable characteristic of the application program screen images in selecting an operational feature set;
- and
- an operational feature set selector operable in response to a particular application program screen image being identified by said screen image identifier to select an operational feature set.
Apparatus useful with a computer having a memory and a video display for displaying images on a screen and a screen buffer memory which holds a digital representation of the image on the screen, and for use with an application program capable of performing various routines and characterized by a plurality of different screen images displayable on the screen one at a time and a set of selectable hot spots for each different screen image wherein selection of a hot spot can activate an application a routine, and a hot spot table associated with each set of selectable hot spots held in the computer memory from which it can be selected, the combination comprising:
- a screen image identifier;
- and
- a hot spot table selector operable in response to a particular screen image being identified by said screen image identifier to select a hot spot table.
A method for changing sets of configured operational features in a utility program based upon changing screen images in a currently active application program being run on a computer having a video display for displaying images on a screen wherein the application program is capable of performing various routines and is characterized by a plurality of different screen images displayable on the screen one at a time, and the utility program is capable of performing various routines while the application program is operating and capable of maintaining a plurality of different operational feature sets configured for the different screen images of the application program, wherein the application program is characterized by a set of selectable hot spots for each different screen image and wherein selection of a hot spot can activate an application routine, and wherein the operational feature set of the utility program is a hot spot data table recording the location of the hot spots for a particular screen image of the application program, the steps comprising:
- identifying the application program screen image wherein said screen image identification step includes analyzing a unique and identifiable characteristic of the application program screen images;
- and
- selecting an operational feature set in response to a particular application program screen image being identified.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.