Information processing method and information processing system

Abstract

An information processing system and a method for operating same are provided. The information processing system includes a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus is configured to display a first synchronous image in a first window, the first window having an operation right. The second information processing apparatus has a synchronous state or an asynchronous state. The second information processing apparatus is configured to: display a second synchronous image; in response to a first request, switch from the synchronous state to the asynchronous state; and in response to a second request, switch from the asynchronous state to the synchronous state.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . An information processing system comprising:
 a first information processing apparatus configured to display a first synchronous image in a first window, the first window having an operation right; and   a second information processing apparatus having a synchronous state or an asynchronous state, the second information processing apparatus being configured to:   (a) display a second synchronous image;   (b) in response to a first request, switch from the synchronous state to the asynchronous state; and   (c) in response to a second request, switch from the asynchronous state to the synchronous state.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second synchronous image is the same as the first synchronous image when second information processing apparatus has the synchronous state. 
     
     
         3 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second information processing apparatus is configured to, when the second information processing apparatus has the asynchronous state, enable a user to operate an input device to control an image displayed by the second information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a third request, the operation right is moved from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second information processing apparatus is configured to, in response to a third request, transmit an operation right acquisition request. 
     
     
         6 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second information processing apparatus is configured to receive an operation right acquisition reply. 
     
     
         7 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second information processing apparatus is configured to display the second synchronous image in a second window. 
     
     
         8 . The information processing system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the first information processing apparatus is configured to display a third synchronous image in a third window, the third window having a second operation right; and   (b) the second information processing apparatus is configured to display a fourth synchronous image in a fourth window.   
     
     
         9 . The information processing system of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to a third request, the second operation right is moved from the third window to the fourth window of the second information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating an information processing system, the method comprising:
 (a) causing a first information processing apparatus to display a first synchronous image in a first window, the first window having an operation right;   (b) causing a second information processing apparatus to display a second synchronous image, the second information processing apparatus having a synchronous state or an asynchronous state;   (c) in response to a first request, causing the second information processing apparatus to switch from the synchronous state to the asynchronous state; and   (d) in response to a second request, causing the second information processing apparatus to switch from the asynchronous state to the synchronous state.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second synchronous image is the same as the first synchronous image when second information processing apparatus has the synchronous state. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes causing the second information processing apparatus to, when the second information processing apparatus has the asynchronous state, enable a user to operate an input device to control an image displayed by the second information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein, in response to a third request, the operation right is moved from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes causing the second information processing to, in response to a third request, transmit an operation right acquisition request. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes causing the second information processing apparatus to receive an operation right acquisition reply. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes causing the second information processing apparatus to display the second synchronous image in a second window. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes:
 (a) causing the first information processing apparatus to display a third synchronous image in a third window, the third window having a second operation right; and   (b) causing the second information processing apparatus to display a fourth synchronous image in a fourth window.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, in response to a third request, the second operation right is moved from the third window to the fourth window of the second information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   (a) receive, from a first information processing apparatus, an asynchronous request;   (b) in response to receiving the asynchronous request, for the first information processing apparatus, set a flag;   (c) thereafter, receive from the first information processing apparatus, a synchronous request; and   (d) in response to receiving the synchronous request, reset the flag.   
     
     
         20 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 (a) receive, from the first information processing apparatus, an operation right acquisition request;   (b) in response to receiving the operation right request, transmit an operation right abandonment request to a second information processing request;   (c) thereafter, receive an operation right abandonment reply from the second information processing apparatus; and   (d) in response to receiving the operation right abandonment reply, transmit an operation right acquisition reply to the first information processing apparatus.