METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INCORPORATING REMOTE WINDOWS FROM DISPARATE REMOTE DESKTOP ENVIRONMENTS INTO A LOCAL DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT

• US 20070174410A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Croft, Richard Jason, Mazzaferri, Richard James, Low, Anthony Edward, Pedersen, Bradley J., Robinson, David Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/563,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20070174410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/541 Client-server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1462 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5088 involving task migration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/22 Detection of presence or absence of input display information or of connection or disconnection of a corresponding information source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 : Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 : for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 : specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• 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 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 : Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 : Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A system for incorporating remote windows from remote desktop environments into a local desktop environment comprises a first virtual channel coupled to a remote desktop environment provided by a virtual machine, a second virtual channel coupled to the remote desktop environment, and a local agent coupled to the remote desktop environment via the first and second virtual channels. The first virtual channel conveys graphical data associated with a remote window provided by the remote desktop environment. The second virtual channel conveys window attribute data associated with the remote window provided by the remote desktop environments. The local agent directs the formation of a local window in the local desktop environment corresponding to the remote window provided by the remote desktop environment, the first local window displaying the graphical data conveyed by the first virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data conveyed by the second virtual channel.

Claims

1. A system for incorporating remote windows from disparate remote desktop environments into a local desktop environment, the system comprising:

a first virtual channel coupled to a first remote desktop environment provided by a native operating system, the first virtual channel conveying graphical data associated with a remote window provided by the first remote desktop environment;

a second virtual channel coupled to the first remote desktop environment and conveying window attribute data associated with the remote window provided by the first remote desktop environment;

a third virtual channel coupled to a second remote desktop environment provided by a virtual machine, the third virtual channel conveying graphical data associated with a remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment;

a fourth virtual channel coupled to the second remote desktop environment and conveying window attribute data associated with the remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment; and

a local agent coupled to the remote desktop environments via the first, second, third and fourth virtual channels, the local agent directing the formation of a first local window in the local desktop environment corresponding to the remote window provided by the first remote desktop environment and the formation of a second local window in the local desktop environment corresponding to the remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment, the first local window displaying the graphical data conveyed by the first virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data conveyed by the second virtual channel and the second local window displaying the graphical data conveyed by the third virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data conveyed by the fourth virtual channel.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a combined windows list being formed and maintained by the local agent, the combined windows list representing a modifiable z-order of a window in the local desktop environment.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the window attribute data associated with the remote windows and conveyed by the second and fourth virtual channels includes the size and z-order of the remote windows.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a local operating system forming the local desktop environment, the local agent periodically polling the local operating system to detect an attribute change in one of the first local window and the second local window, wherein the local agent transmits a message to one of the first remote desktop environment and the second remote desktop environment indicative of the attribute change.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a local operating system forming the local desktop environment, the local agent detecting an attribute change in one of the first local window and the second local window, wherein the local agent transmits a message to one of the first remote desktop environment and the second remote desktop environment indicative of the attribute change.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the corresponding windows exhibit window attribute data substantially similar relative to the local desktop environment as the window attribute data of the remote windows relative to their respective remote desktop environment.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of communication links coupling the local desktop environment with a plurality of remote desktop environments, the communication links including first and second virtual channels conveying graphical and window attribute data associated with remote windows from the plurality of remote desktop environments to the local agent, wherein the local agent forms corresponding windows in the local desktop environment corresponding to each of the plurality of remote windows.

8. A method of incorporating remote windows from disparate remote desktop environments into a local desktop environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving graphical data associated with a remote window provided by a first remote desktop environment provided by a native operating system, the graphical data received via a first virtual channel coupled to the first remote desktop environment;

(b) receiving window attribute data associated with the remote window provided by the first remote desktop environment via a second virtual channel coupled to the first remote desktop environment;

(c) receiving graphical data associated with a remote window provided by a second remote desktop environment provided by a virtual machine, the graphical data received via a third virtual channel coupled to the second remote desktop environment;

(d) receiving window attribute data associated with the second remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment via a fourth virtual channel coupled to the second remote desktop environment;

(e) forming a first window in the local desktop environment displaying the graphical data received from the first virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data received from the second virtual channel; and

(f) forming a second window in the local desktop environment displaying the graphical data received from the third virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data received from the fourth virtual channel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of forming a combined windows list storing at least some of the window attribute data.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

polling a local operating system associated with the local desktop environment to detect an attribute change in one of the first local window and the second local window and transmitting a message to one of the first remote desktop environment and the second remote desktop environment indicative of the detected attribute change.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the local windows exhibit window attribute data substantially similar relative to the local desktop environment as the window attribute data of the remote windows relative to the remote desktop environments.

12. A system for incorporating remote windows from remote desktop environments into a local desktop environment, the system comprising:

a first virtual channel coupled to a remote desktop environment provided by a virtual machine, the first virtual channel conveying graphical data associated with a remote window provided by the remote desktop environment;

a second virtual channel coupled to the remote desktop environment and conveying window attribute data associated with the remote window provided by the remote desktop environment; and

a local agent coupled to the remote desktop environment via the first and second virtual channels, the local agent directing the formation of a local window in the local desktop environment corresponding to the remote window provided by the remote desktop environment, the local window displaying the graphical data conveyed by the first virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data conveyed by the second virtual channel.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a combined windows list being formed and maintained by the local agent, the combined windows list representing a modifiable z-order of the corresponding window in the local desktop environment.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the window attribute data associated with the remote windows and conveyed by the second virtual channel includes the size and z-order of the remote window.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a local operating system forming the local desktop environment, the local agent periodically polling the local operating system to detect an attribute change in the local window, wherein the local agent transmits a message to the remote desktop environment indicative of the attribute change.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the corresponding window exhibits window attribute data substantially similar relative to the local desktop environment as the window attribute data of the remote window relative to the remote desktop environment.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of communication links coupling the local desktop environment with a plurality of remote desktop environments, the communication links including first and second virtual channels conveying graphical and window attribute data associated with remote windows from the plurality of remote desktop environments to the local agent, wherein the local agent forms corresponding windows in the local desktop environment corresponding to each of the plurality of remote windows.

18. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a third virtual channel coupled to a second remote desktop environment provided by a second virtual machine, the third virtual channel conveying graphical data associated with a second remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment; and

a fourth virtual channel coupled to the second remote desktop environment and conveying window attribute data associated with the second remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the local agent, coupled to the remote desktop environments via the first, second, third and fourth virtual channels, directs the formation of a first local window in the local desktop environment corresponding to the first remote window provided by the first remote desktop environment and the formation of a second local window in the local desktop environment corresponding to the second remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment, the first local window displaying the graphical data conveyed by the first virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data conveyed by the second virtual channel and the second local window displaying the graphical data conveyed by the third virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data conveyed by the fourth virtual channel.

20. A method of incorporating remote windows from remote desktop environments into a local desktop environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving graphical data associated with a remote window provided by a remote desktop environment provided by a virtual machine, the graphical data received via a first virtual channel coupled to the remote desktop environment;

(b) receiving window attribute data associated with the remote window provided by the remote desktop environment via a second virtual channel coupled to the remote desktop environment; and

(c) forming a first window in the local desktop environment displaying the graphical data received from the first virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data received from the second virtual channel.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of forming a combined windows list storing at least some of the window attribute data.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

polling a local operating system associated with the local desktop environment to detect an attribute change in the local window and transmitting a message to the remote desktop environment indicative of the detected attribute change.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the local window exhibits window attribute data substantially similar relative to the local desktop environment as the window attribute data of the remote window relative to the remote desktop environment.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

receiving graphical data associated with a second remote window provided by a second remote desktop environment provided by a second virtual machine, the graphical data received via a third virtual channel coupled to the second remote desktop environment; and

receiving window attribute data associated with the second remote window provided by the second remote desktop environment via a fourth virtual channel coupled to the second remote desktop environment.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein step (c) further comprises forming a second local window in the local desktop environment displaying the graphical data received form the third virtual channel in accordance with the window attribute data received from the fourth virtual channel.