Patent ID: 6032188
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method in a computer system for controlling flow of output data between computers sharing an application program, the application program being executed on a host computer and shared with shadow computers, each computer having a sharing system for coordinating the sharing of the application program, the method comprising:under control of the sharing system of the host computer, requesting a flow control system of the host computer for permission to transmit the output data to all of the shadow computer; andunder control of the flow control system of the host computer,upon receiving the request for permission,determining whether the amount of output data currently in transit from the host computer to all of the shadow computers exceeds an amount that can be in transit;when the amount is not exceeded, granting permission to the sharing system of the host computer; andwhen the amount is exceeded, denying permission to the sharing system of the host computer; andperiodically calculating a shadow display time that represents a time needed to allow for the transmitting of a certain amount of the output data to all of the shadow computers and to allow all of the shadow computers to process the certain amount of the output data; andusing the shadow display time to determine the amount of the data that can be transmitted to all of the shadow computers within given time segments so that the host computer and all of the shadow computers can be displaying transmitted amounts of the output data at approximately the same time; andunder control of the sharing system, when permission is granted, transmitting the output data to all of the shadow computers in the determined amount.