Lightweight indicator of divergence of views for collaboratively shared user interface elements
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Tang, James M. A. Begole, Nicole Y. Mordecai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight indicator provides an indication of divergence of views for a collaboratively used user interface element. The lightweight indicator identifies the magnitude of the divergence of views. The user interface may be, for example, a graphical widget, such as a mouse cursor or a scrollbar. The indicator is “lightweight” in that the indicator only subtly modifies the appearance of the user interface element. The indicator is also “lightweight” in that it provides an indication without incurring significant computational or memory overhead.
Claims22
In a computer system for facilitating collaboration via a collaborative application between a first computer having a first output device and a second computer having a second output device, wherein the first computer and the second computer are loosely coupled, a method comprising;
- providing a user interface element for the collaborative application in an initial state on the first output device and the second output device, said user interface element including at least one of a scrollbar, a slider, a menu, and button;
- and
- in response to manipulation of the user interface element at the first computer, outputting the user interface element in a modified state on the first output device, wherein the user interface element in the modified state identifies that there is a divergence of views of a given magnitude between when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the first output device and when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the second output device, and the user interface element in the modified state at the first output device provides an indication of the magnitude of the divergence of views.
A computer-readable medium for use in a computer system for facilitating collaboration via a collaborative application between a first computer having a first output device and a second computer having a second output device, wherein the first computer and the second computer are loosely coupled, said medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a user interface element for the collaborative application in a an initial state on the first output device and the second output device, said user interface element including at least one of a scrollbar, a slider, a menu, and a button;
- and
- in response to manipulation of the user interface element at the first computer, outputting the user interface element in a modified state on the first output device, wherein the user interface element in the modified state identifies that there is a divergence of views of a given magnitude between when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the first output device and when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the second output device, and the user interface element in the modified state at the first output device provides an indication of the magnitude of the divergence of views.
In an intermediary, positioned between a first computer system having a display and a second computer system having a display, said intermediary facilitating display of a common graphical widget at the displays of both the first computer system and the second computer system, said graphical widget being one of a scrollbar, a slider, a menu, and a button, a method, comprising:
- in response to an event, updating a position of the graphical widget;
- beginning the updating of the displays at the first computer system and the second computer system to reflect the change in position of the graphical widget to a new position;
- and
- causing a representation of the graphical widget to be displayed on the display of the one of the displays that updates more quickly, said representation indicating an extent of delay between when the respective displays update to reflect the change in position of the graphical widget to the new position.
A computer system for assisting in collaboration between a first computer having a display device and a second computer having a display device, said computer system comprising:
- means for intercepting events that occur at the first computer and events that occur at the second computer;
- means for causing a graphical widget to be displayed on both first computer and the second computer, said graphical widget being one of a scrollbar, a slider, a menu, and a button;
- and
- means for modifying how the graphical widget appears when displayed on a selected one of the computers to indicate an extent of divergence of views between the selected computer and another of the computers when the means for intercepting events intercepts an event indicating that a state of the graphical widget has changed due to action by a user at the selected computer.
In a computer system for facilitating collaboration via a collaborative application between a first computer having a first output device and a second computer having a second output device, wherein the first computer and the second computer are loosely coupled, a method comprising;
- providing a user interface element for the collaborative application in a an initial state on the first output device and the second output device;
- and
- in response to manipulation of the user interface element at the first computer, outputting the user interface element in a modified state on the first output device, wherein the user interface element in the modified state identifies with at least audio that there is a divergence of views of a given magnitude between when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the first output device and when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the second output device, and the user interface element in the modified state at the first output device provides an indication of the magnitude of the divergence of views.
A computer-readable medium for use in a computer system for facilitating collaboration via a collaborative application between a first computer having a first output device and a second computer having a second output device, wherein the first computer and the second computer are loosely coupled, said medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a user interface element for the collaborative application in a an initial state on the first output device and the second output device;
- and
- in response to manipulation of the user interface element at the first computer, outputting the user interface element in a modified state on the first output device, wherein the user interface element in the modified state identifies with at least audio that there is a divergence of views of a given magnitude between when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the first output device and when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the second output device, and the user interface element in the modified state at the first output device provides an indication of the magnitude of the divergence of views.
A computer system for assisting in collaboration between a first computer having a display device and a second computer having a display device, said computer system comprising:
- means for intercepting events that occur at the first computer and events that occur at the second computer;
- means for causing a graphical widget to be displayed on both first computer and the second computer;
- and
- means for modifying how the graphical widget appears when displayed on a selected one of the computers to indicate an extent of divergence of views between the selected computer and another of the computers when the means for intercepting events intercepts an event indicating that a state of the graphical widget has changed due to action by a user at the selected computer, wherein the divergence of views is also indicated using audio.
In a computer system for facilitating collaboration via a collaborative application between a first computer having a first output device and a second computer having a second output device, wherein the first computer and the second computer are loosely coupled, a method comprising:
- providing a user interface element for the collaborative application in an initial state on the first output device and the second output device;
- and
- in response to manipulation of the user interface element at the first computer, outputting the user interface element in a modified state on the first output device, wherein the user interface element in the modified state identifies that there is a divergence of views of a given magnitude between when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the first output device and when the user interface element in the modified state is output by the second output device, and the user interface element in the modified state at the first output device provides an indication of the magnitude of the divergence of views, the user interface element including a scrollbar.
A computer system for assisting in collaboration between a first computer having a display device and a second computer having a display device, said computer system comprising:
- means for intercepting events that occur at the first computer and events that occur at the second computer;
- means for causing a graphical widget to be displayed on both first computer and the second computer;
- and
- means for modifying how the graphical widget appears when displayed on a selected one of the computers to indicate an extent of divergence of views between the selected computer and another of the computers when the means for intercepting events intercepts an event indicating that a state of the graphical widget has changed due to action by a user at the selected computer, the graphical widget including a scrollbar.
An intermediary, positioned between a first computer system having a display and a second computer system having a display, said intermediary facilitating display of a common graphical widget at the displays of both the first computer system and the second computer system, said graphical widget being one of a scrollbar, a slider, a menu, and a button the intermediary comprising:
- means for updating a position of the graphical widget in response to an event;
- means for beginning the updating of the displays at the first computer system and the second computer system to reflect the change in position of the graphical widget to a new position;
- and
- means for causing a representation of the graphical widget to be displayed on the display of the one of the displays that updates more quickly, said representation indicating an extent of delay between when the respective displays update to reflect the change in position of the graphical widget to the new position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.