http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/activity A remote viewing system includes a plurality of local workstations and a remote console. Each of the local workstations provides screen update data. The remote console is operable to receive the screen update data from the plurality of local workstations and display the screen update data for at least two of the local workstations on a display. A method for remotely interfacing with a plurality of local workstations, each providing screen update data, includes receiving the screen update data from each of the local workstations. The screen update data for at least two of the local workstations is displayed on a display. en-us Remote console for observing multiple workstations Novel and Redhat are currently being sued for patent infringement on a very similar patent to this one (http://www.news.com/8301-13580_3-9796868-39.html). The patent in question was filed by Xerox in 1987 "User interface with multiple workspaces for sharing display system objects": http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5072412 I think this covers most of the claims in this particular patent. Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:13:50 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations Scott, You should submit that as Prior Art. M Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:37:09 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations searches for these terms will find much prior art from many sources "remote control software" "vnc" "console redirection" "kvm software" "remote windows" Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:15:39 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations All of these functions can be performed with both commercial software 1) PC Anywhere 2) Timbuktu 3) GoToMyPC etc Plus KVM software from many companies as well as open source solutions like X windows A version of a common technology customized specifically for medical imaging is not novel and will just increase healthcare costs Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:08:48 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations I remember having a utility that did this in OS/9, back in 1985. I was in high school at the time, and we had a couple of mini-computers (about the size of a dorm fridge) with 64K memory and 12 terminals. There was a gang of us that would hack into the admin account to use this to see what the others were doing. I can't remember the name of the program, but I think it was "tsmon". Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:54:33 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations I'm having a hard time finding the documentation, but I remember doing this via Macintosh Manager and its associated utilities in 2000. Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:27:39 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations PC Anywhere has done this for a number of years. Since the late 90's http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=pf&pvid=pca121 If you run multiple instances of PC Anywhere then you can easily switch between different remote computers. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:26:38 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations Also PC Anywhere runs under Windows and the frames they talk about in the patent are functionally equivalent to a window. Use can use the cascade windows, tile windows, and manual drag features of MS Windows to achieve all the effect of the claims. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:32:53 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations I'm sorry but this idea is neither novel nor unique. It's pretty obvious and I'm almost sure that there is prior art. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:59:12 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations Lets see what comes to mind off the opt of my head. VNC server on each workstaion and Java VNC client using frames to give multiple screens - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VNC SourceForge alone returns 109 projects related to VNC - http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_of_search=soft&words=vnc Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:46:13 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations Many remote desktop systems used by support teams allow multiple clients to be controlled at once. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:06:10 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations Just added LanSchool to prior art as it appears to be almost 100% match even down to the rollover thumbnails etc http://www.itsltduk.co.uk/lanschool.asp Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:53:39 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations Patrick, I've seen this kind of a thing in call centers as an alternative to electronic KVM switches where a supervisor can see the current sessions on 16 or so phone operator consoles. If they wish to look at one screen in particular, they can click on it. The supervisor can focus on one screen in large, and the other screens get minimized like Icons. You can even take over sessions for people while talking to them. Once the supervisor is done, the display can be brought up as a set of 16 sessions again. I am sure this would not be hard to implement using something like tightVNC. But here's one already off the shelf: QQSoft Multi-RemoteDesktop Spy 2.2 screenshot: http://www.download25.com/media/screenshots/66700.jpg download: http://www.download25.com/qqsoft-multi-remotedesktop-spy-download.html Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:34:29 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations HB Multi Remote Control 2.2 http://www.daolnwod.com/hb-multi-remote-control.html Multi-Screen Remote Desktop http://www.digitalbeijing.net/screen/index.htm Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:37:33 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion Remote console for observing multiple workstations I've seen this on many control stations at self-checkout systems where the one station monitors the state/screens of the others Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:21:00 -0700 http://www.peertopatent.org/patent/20070162860/discussion