Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for networking computers for multimedia applications

US5309564A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
6References
4Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 19, 1992
Grant dateMay 3, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 19, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/50
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to network apparatus for the interconnecting personal computers and workstations, for the purpose of efficiently sharing the use of multimedia type computer applications such as programs and files. Multimedia computer programs are those that display on the user's monitor, text information, computer generated graphical information, and all type of picture image information both moving and still images. Disclosed is apparatus for deploying user input/output components of said personal computers and workstations at a desktop location several kilometers from the physical location of said personal computers. The invention embodied herein uses fiber optics transmission and user controlled optical switching. User control is via the Public Switched Telephone Network. The invention provides three advantages to a user such as an educational institution, software savings, hardware savings, and software security.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.