Columbia Technology Ventures

THINC: Thin-client InterNet Computing

This technology is a remote display architecture for high-performance thin client computing in both LAN and WAN environments.

Unmet Need: High-performance, low-cost remote computing

Rapid improvements in network bandwidth, cost, and ubiquity may provide the key to a new form of personal computers, which are adept at avoiding security hazards and cost dramatically less than conventional systems. Centralizing computational power into one location and distributing it on demand enables networks to reduce overhead and circumvent security issues from its users. Thin client computing is an attractive model for this process, but the video connection between the central server and each of its clients severely impacts performance.

The Technology: A remote display architecture for thin client computing

Thin-client internet computing (THINC) is a remote display system architecture for high-performance computing in both LAN and WAN environments, which transparently maps high-level application display calls to a few simple low-level commands. THINC introduces several latency-sensitive optimization techniques including off-screen drawing awareness, command buffering and scheduling, non-blocking display operation, native video support, and server-side screen scaling. The implemented techniques allow the system to be set up in a broader array of networks while maintaining high performance. Meanwhile, the lower level commands also reduce hardware requirements for each of the clients and increase the cost-effectiveness of this system.

This technology has demonstrated up to five times increased speed in video applications compared with other popular thin client systems and is able to play full-screen video at full frame rate.

Applications:

  • Thin client networks
  • Terminal-based user workstations
  • Secure terminals for healthcare, government, and retail
  • Online video and video game streaming networks
  • Virtual display protocols

Advantages:

  • High-performance and efficiency
  • Simple implementation
  • Supports full screen video at native resolution at full frame rate
  • Requires less hardware on the client side
  • Low cost
  • Improved security over individual devices

Lead Inventor:

Jason Nieh, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

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