DISPLAY EXTENSION USING TERMINAL CLIENTS

• US 20070296643A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ben-Shachar, Ido M., Schmieder, Robert-Wilhelm
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller

Abstract

Extending graphical information to a remote computing system such that a multiple monitor configuration can be implemented for the first computing device is illustrated. The multiple monitors include a display connected to the first computing device and one or more displays connected to other computing devices. A remote session is established between the first computing device and the second computing device. Graphics commands are generated for first and second display drivers at the first computing device as if a multi-display configuration is active at the first computing device. The first display driver is associated with a display at the first computing device. The second display driver doesn'"'"'t have an associated display at the first computing device. Graphics are displayed from the graphics commands for the first display driver at the display at the first computing device. Graphics commands for the second display driver are remoted to the second computing device.

Claims

1. In a computing environment comprising a plurality of computing devices including displays, a method of extending the desktop from a first computing device onto a display of a second computing device such that a multiple monitor configuration can be implemented for the first computing device where the multiple monitors include a display connected to the first computing device and one or more displays connected to other computing devices, the method comprising:

establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein a remote session may include a session of two computing devices that are in close proximity;

generating graphics commands for first and second display drivers at the first computing device as if a multi-display configuration was active at the first computing device, the first display driver being associated with a display at the first computing device, and the second display driver not having an associated display at the first computing device;

displaying graphics from the graphics commands for the first display driver at the display at the first computing device; and

remoting graphics commands for the second display driver to the second computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display driver does not correspond to actual video hardware at the first computing device;

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computing device is a mobile device such as a laptop or PDA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises establishing a shadowing session.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein establish a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device further comprises disabling warnings to the first computing device indicating that the second computing device is shadowing the first computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises establishing a collaboration session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises establishing a remote session in response to an event including at least one of detection of a Bluetooth partnership, detection of proximity within a predetermined proximity of the first and second computing devices, detection that the first and second computing devices are on the same subnet, or detection of selection of an icon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device comprising instantiating the second display driver as a dummy display driver in the first computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising ending the remote session including removing the second display driver and repositioning application windows corresponding to the second display driver to the at the display at the first computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises displaying a secret code on the display at the first computing device and prompting a user to enter the secret code on the second computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises establishing a secure session between the first computing device and the second computing device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises receiving resolution and color depth information from the second computing device and configuring the second display driver to have the same resolution and color depth as the information received from the second computing device.

13. In a computing environment comprising a plurality of computing devices including displays, a method of extending the desktop from a first computing device onto a display of a second computing device such that a multiple monitor configuration can be implemented for the first computing device where the multiple monitors include a display connected to the first computing device and one or more displays connected to other computing devices, the method comprising:

establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein a remote session may include a session of two computing devices that are in close proximity;

receiving graphics commands for a dummy display driver at the second computing device, the dummy display driver not having an associated display at the first computing device; and

displaying graphics from the graphics commands for the dummy display driver at the display at the second computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sending information about the resolution and color depth of the display at the second computing device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising zooming to a portion of the displayed graphics corresponding to a portion of the graphics for the dummy display driver when graphics information for both a first display driver corresponding to a display at the first computing device and the dummy display driver are received at the second computing device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising injecting mouse movements to prevent activation of a screen saver on the second computing device.

17. In a computing environment comprising a plurality of computing devices including displays, a method of extending the desktop from a first computing device onto a display of a second computing device such that a multiple monitor configuration can be implemented for the first computing device where the multiple monitors include a display connected to the first computing device and one or more displays connected to other computing devices, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface as at least a portion of a display settings control panel at a first computing device including one or more user selectable elements allowing a user to indicate a desire to establish a remote session for extending graphics information to a display on a second computing device;

receiving user input at the one or more user selectable elements indicating that the user desires to establish a remote session;

establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device, including instantiating a dummy display driver for the second computing device, wherein no display at the first computing device is associated with the dummy display driver;

remoting graphical information corresponding to the dummy display driver to the second computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein establishing a remote session between the first computing device and the second computing device comprises displaying a secret code to the user and prompting the user to enter the secret code on the second computing device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying user selectable elements that allow the user to add additional remote computing devices for use as remote displays.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying user selectable elements that allow the user to select remove remote session displays.