Presenting a merged view of remote application shortcuts from multiple providers

• US 20050125530A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brockway, Tad Dennis, Leitman, Robert K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Systems and methods for presenting a merged view of remotely installed applications to which a user has terminal server (TS) based access are described. In one aspect, a client computing device generates one or more shortcuts to one or more respective applications. Each of the applications is installed at one or more installation points in an Intranet. The client computing device is external to the Intranet. The one or more shortcuts are aggregated to present a merged view of the applications. The merged view is transparent of whether the applications are managed by different information sources on the Intranet and/or configured for remote TS-based execution by different ones of one or more installation points.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a merged view of remotely installed applications to which a user has terminal server (TS) based access, the method comprising:

generating, by a client computing device, one or more shortcuts to one or more respective applications, each of the applications being installed at one or more installation points in an Intranet, the client computing device being external to the Intranet; and

wherein the one or more shortcuts are aggregated to present a merged view of the applications, the merged view being transparent of whether the applications are managed by different information sources on the Intranet and/or configured for remote TS-based execution by different ones of one or more installation points.

2. A method as recite in claim 1, wherein the one or more information sources comprise a directory service, a Systems Management Server, and/or a personal office computer associated with the user.

3. A method as recite in claim 1, wherein the one or more installation points comprise one or more servers and/or office computers associated with the user.

4. A method as recite in claim 1, wherein the shortcuts are presented in a desktop of the user.

5. A method as recite in claim 1, wherein the shortcuts are presented in an Internet browser window associated with a Web service providing remote application discovery, the Web service being deployed on a Web server in the Intranet and accessible by the client computing device over a public network.

6. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for presenting a merged view of remotely installed applications to which a user has terminal server (TS) based access, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

generating, by a client computing device, one or more shortcuts to one or more respective applications, each of the applications being installed at one or more installation points in an Intranet, the client computing device being external to the Intranet; and

wherein the one or more shortcuts are aggregated to present a merged view of the applications, the merged view being transparent of whether the applications are managed by different information sources on the Intranet and/or configured for remote TS-based execution by different ones of one or more installation points.

7. A computer-readable medium as recite in claim 6, wherein the one or more information sources comprise a directory service, a Systems Management Server, and/or a personal office computer associated with the user.

8. A computer-readable medium as recite in claim 6, wherein the one or more installation points comprise one or more servers and/or office computers associated with the user.

9. A computer-readable medium as recite in claim 6, wherein the shortcuts are presented in a desktop of the user.

10. A computer-readable medium as recite in claim 6, wherein the shortcuts are presented in an Internet browser window associated with a Web service providing remote application discovery, the Web service being deployed on a Web server in the Intranet and accessible by the client computing device over a public network.

11. A remote client device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for presenting a merged view of remotely installed applications to which a user has terminal server (TS) based access, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for;

generating one or more shortcuts to one or more respective applications, each of the applications being installed at one or more installation points in an Intranet, the remote client device being external to the Intranet; and

wherein the one or more shortcuts are aggregated to present a merged view of the applications, the merged view being transparent of whether the applications are managed by different information sources on the Intranet and/or configured for remote TS-based execution by different ones of one or more installation points.

12. A remote client device as recite in claim 11, wherein the one or more information sources comprise a directory service, a Systems Management Server, and/or a personal office computer associated with the user.

13. A remote client device as recite in claim 11, wherein the one or more installation points comprise one or more servers and/or office computers associated with the user.

14. A remote client device as recite in claim 11, wherein the shortcuts are presented in a desktop of the user.

15. A remote client device as recite in claim 11, wherein the shortcuts are presented in an Internet browser window associated with a Web service providing remote application discovery, the Web service being deployed on a Web server in the Intranet and accessible by the remote client device over a public network.

16. A remote client device for presenting a merged view of remotely installed applications to which a user has terminal server (TS) based access, the remote client device comprising:

means for generating one or more shortcuts to one or more respective applications, each of the applications being installed at one or more installation points in an Intranet, the remote client device being external to the Intranet; and

wherein the one or more shortcuts are aggregated to present a merged view of the applications, the merged view being transparent of whether the applications are managed by different information sources on the Intranet and/or configured for remote TS-based execution by different ones of one or more installation points.

17. A remote client device as recite in claim 16, wherein the one or more information sources comprise a directory service, a Systems Management Server, and/or a personal office computer associated with the user.

18. A remote client device as recite in claim 16, wherein the one or more installation points comprise one or more servers and/or office computers associated with the user.

19. A remote client device as recite in claim 16, wherein the shortcuts are presented in a desktop of the user.

20. A remote client device as recite in claim 16, wherein the shortcuts are presented in an Internet browser window associated with a Web service providing remote application discovery, the Web service being deployed on a Web server in the Intranet and accessible by the remote client device over a public network.