Importance

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Abstract

The operation and status of a system, such as a video/audio conferencing system, is monitored through the use of a web-based system. The system includes multiple client computer devices that interconnect with a web server. The web server is able to access the system to determine status changes, as well as to control the operation of the system. For operability across multiple platforms and technologies, the interface between the web server and the system is performed using a Microsoft Component Object Model ("COM") application. The web server also includes an ASP page constructed with a server script and one or more client scripts embedded or invoked from the server script. The server script is set up to operate in a looped configuration. Each pass through the loop of the server script, the system is queried to determine if a status change has occurred. If no change has occurred, the server script delays and then restarts the loop. If a change in status has occurred, the client script is updated to reflect the status change and the client script is downloaded to the client computer device. The client computer device includes a web browser that loads a split pane website from the web server--one pane being visible and the other pane being invisible. The client script runs within the invisible pane and is generally constructed to update the visible pane to reflect the status change. Thus, the visible pane on the client computer system can be updated automatically and rapidly without requiring a user to perform any functions, such as actuating a refresh button.

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First Claim