Methods and Systems for Maintaining Desktop Environments providing integrated access to remote and local resourcses

• US 20090094523A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Roychoudhry, Anil, Treder, Terry Noel, Mazzaferri, Richard James, Fleck, Christopher, Marano, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 9,239,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/545 Gui
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A method for maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment on a remote machine for display to a user by a local machine includes monitoring, by a first agent on the remote machine, a desktop environment providing integrated access to a resource provided to a user of the local machine by the remote machine and a resource provided by the local machine to the user. The first agent generates a proxy window representing a window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the second resource and receives an identification of a change to the window on the local machine. The first agent modifies at least one data object in the desktop environment responsive to the change. The first agent transmits, to a second agent on the local machine, an identification of the modification. The second agent modifies attribute data associated with a data object displayed by the local machine.

Claims

1. In a networked computing system comprising a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine, a method for maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment on the remote machine for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access both to resources provided by the local machine and resources provided by the remote machine, the method comprising:

(a) monitoring, by a first agent executing on the remote machine, a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a first resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a second resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine;

(b) generating, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, a proxy window in the desktop environment, the proxy window representing a window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource;

(c) receiving, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource;

(d) modifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change;

(e) transmitting, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, to a second agent executing on the local machine, an identification of the modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects; and

(f) modifying, by the second agent executing on the local machine, attribute data associated with a data object displayed by the local machine responsive to the received identification of the modification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, attribute data associated with the proxy window responsive to the identification of the change.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, a z-order entry for the proxy window responsive to the identification of the change.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises transmitting, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, to a second agent executing on the local machine, an identification of a modification to an entry in a z-order list associated with the plurality of data objects in the monitored desktop environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises modifying, by the second agent executing on the local machine, attribute data associated with the local window that displays output data generated by the second resource responsive to the identification of the modification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises modifying, by the second agent executing on the local machine, a z-order entry for the local window that displays output data generated by the second resource responsive to the identification of the modification.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, on the local machine, according to a presentation layer protocol, output data generated by the first resource provided by the remote machine.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the second agent, attribute data associated with at least one data object in the plurality of data objects.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the second agent, an identification of the modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying, by the second agent executing on the local machine, the desktop environment maintained by the remote machine and providing access to the first resource and the second resource.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the second agent executing on the local machine, to the first agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the second resource.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the second agent executing on the local machine, to the first agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a change to a z-order entry of a local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the proxy window when a connection between the first machine and the second machine ends.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising synchronizing a visual state of the window on the local machine with a visual state of the corresponding proxy window.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, a clipping region of the proxy window; and

transmitting, by the first machine, to the second agent executing on the local machine, the identification of the clipping region.

16. A networked computing system including a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access both to resources provided by the local machine and resources provided by the remote machine, the system comprising:

a first agent executing on the remote machine,

monitoring a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects and providing access to i) a first resource provided by the remote machine that is available to a user of the local machine and ii) a second resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine,

generating a proxy window representing a window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource,

receiving an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource,

modifying at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change; and

a second agent executing on the local machine receiving, from the first agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of the modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects and modifying attribute data associate with a data object in the desktop environment displayed by the local machine, responsive to the received identification of the modification.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first agent further comprises a hooking component intercepting window-related messages.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second agent further comprises a hooking component intercepting window-related messages.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the second agent further comprises a transmitter transmitting, to the first agent, an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource for modification, by the first agent, of at least one data object in the plurality of data objects.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the second agent further comprises means for displaying the desktop environment comprising the plurality of data objects and providing access to the first resource and the second resource.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the proxy window represents a window on the second machine that displays output data generated by an application program executing on the second machine.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the second agent further comprises means for receiving at least one entry in a z-order list including a z-order entry for the proxy window.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the second agent further comprises means for receiving, according to a presentation layer protocol, application output data generated by the remote resource.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the second agent further comprises means for synchronizing a visual state of the window on the local machine with a visual state of the corresponding proxy window.

25. In a networked computing system comprising a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine, a method for maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment on the remote machine for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access both to resources provided by the local machine and resources provided by the remote machine, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, by a first agent executing on the local machine, the desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a first resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a second resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine;

(b) transmitting, by the first agent executing on the local machine, an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with a window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource for modification, by a second agent executing on the remote machine, of at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change;

(c) receiving, by the first agent executing on the local machine, from the second agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects; and

(d) modifying, by the first agent executing on the local machine, attribute data associated with a data object displayed by the local machine responsive to the received identification of the modification.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein step (b) further comprises transmitting, by the first agent executing on the local machine, to the second agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a change to a z-order entry of a local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the local machine, attribute data associated with the local window that displays output data generated by the second resource responsive to the identification of the modification.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the local machine, a z-order entry for the local window that displays output data generated by the second resource responsive to the identification of the modification.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising receiving, on the local machine, according to a presentation layer protocol, output data generated by the first resource provided by the remote machine.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising receiving, by the first agent executing on the local machine, attribute data associated with at least one data object in the plurality of data objects.

31. A networked computing system including a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access both to resources provided by the local machine and resources provided by the remote machine, the system comprising:

means for displaying, to a user of the local machine, the desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a first resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a second resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine;

a transmitter for transmitting an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with a window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource for modification, by a second agent executing on the remote machine, of at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change;

a receiver for receiving, from the second agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects; and

means for modifying attribute data associated with a data object displayed by the local machine responsive to the received identification of the modification.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising a hooking component intercepting window-related messages.

33. The system of claim 31 further comprising means for receiving at least one entry in a z-order list including a z-order entry for a proxy window on the remote machine associated with the window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource.

34. The system of claim 31 further comprising means for receiving, according to a presentation layer protocol, application output data generated by the remote resource.

35. In a networked computing system comprising a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine, a method for maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment on the remote machine for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access both to resources provided by the local machine and resources provided by the remote machine, the method comprising:

(a) monitoring, by a first agent executing on the remote machine, a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a first resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a second resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine;

(b) generating, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, a proxy window in the desktop environment, the proxy window representing a window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource;

(c) receiving, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource;

(d) modifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change; and

(e) transmitting, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, to a second agent executing on the local machine, an identification of the modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, attribute data associated with the proxy window responsive to the identification of the change.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, a z-order entry for the proxy window responsive to the identification of the change.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein step (e) further comprises transmitting, by the first agent executing on the remote machine, to a second agent executing on the local machine, an identification of a modification to an entry in a z-order list associated with the plurality of data objects in the monitored desktop environment.

39. A networked computing system including a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access both to resources provided by the local machine and resources provided by the remote machine, the system comprising:

means for monitoring, on a remote machine, a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a first resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a second resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine;

means for generating a proxy window in the desktop environment representing a window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource;

a receiver for receiving an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the second resource;

means for modifying at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change; and

a transmitter for transmitting, to a local machine, an identification of the modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects for modification of attribute data associated with a data object displayed by the local machine.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising a hooking component intercepting window-related messages.

41. In a networked computing system comprising a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine, a method for maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment on the remote machine for display to the user by the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access to both resources provided by the local machine and to resources provided by a second remote machine, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a first agent executing on a first machine, an identification of a remote resource available to a user of a second machine, the remote resource provided by a third machine;

(b) monitoring, by the first agent, a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing access to i) the remote resource provided by the third machine and ii) a resource provided by the second machine that is available to the user of the second machine;

(c) receiving, by the first agent, a request for execution of the remote resource provided by the third machine;

(d) directing, by the first agent, a second agent executing on the second machine to request execution of the remote resource provided by the third machine;

(e) transmitting, by the second agent to the first agent, an identification of a change to attribute data of a local window on the second machine, the local window displaying output data generated by the remote resource provided by the third machine; and

(f) modifying, by the first agent, attribute data of a proxy window representing the local window on the second machine, responsive to the identification of the change;

(g) transmitting, by the first agent to the second agent, an identification of the modification to the proxy window; and

(h) modifying, by the second agent, attribute data associated with a data object displayed in the second machine, responsive to the received identification of the modification.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising transmitting, by the third machine to the second machine, output data generated by an execution of the remote resource on the third machine.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein step (f) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the first machine, attribute data associated with the proxy window responsive to the identification of the change.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein step (f) further comprises modifying, by the first agent executing on the first machine, a z-order entry for the proxy window responsive to the identification of the change.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein step (g) further comprises transmitting, by the first agent executing on the first machine, to the second agent executing on the second machine, an identification of a modification to an entry in a z-order list associated with the plurality of data objects in the monitored desktop environment.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein step (h) further comprises modifying, by the second agent executing on the second machine, attribute data associated with the local window that displays output data generated by the resource provided by the third machine, responsive to the identification of the modification.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein step (h) further comprises modifying, by the second agent executing on the second machine, a z-order entry for the local window that displays output data generated by the resource provided by the third machine responsive to the identification of the modification.

48. A networked computing system including a local machine, used by a user, and a remote machine maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment for display on the local machine, the desktop environment providing integrated access to both resources provided by the local machine and to resources provided by a second remote machine, the system comprising:

means for receiving, on a first machine, an identification of a remote resource available to a user of a second machine, the remote resource provided by a third machine;

means for monitoring a desktop environment on the first machine, the desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects and providing access to i) the remote resource provided by the third machine and ii) a resource provided by the second machine that is available to the user of the second machine;

means for receiving a request for execution of the remote resource provided by the third machine;

means for directing the second machine to request execution of the remote resource provided by the third machine;

means for receiving, from the second machine, an identification of a change to attribute data of a local window on the second machine displaying output data generated by the remote resource provided by the third machine;

means for modifying attribute data for a proxy window representing the local window on the first machine, responsive to the identification of the change;

means for transmitting, to the second machine, an identification of the modification to the proxy window; and

means for modifying, by the second machine, attribute data associated with a data object displayed in the second machine, responsive to the received identification of the modification.

49. The system of claim 48 further comprising a hooking component on the first machine intercepting window-related messages.

50. The system of claim 48 further comprising a hooking component on the second machine intercepting window-related messages.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the second machine further comprises means for displaying the desktop environment comprising the plurality of data objects and providing access to i) the remote resource provided by the third machine and ii) the resource provided by the second machine that is available to the user of the second machine.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the second machine further comprises means for receiving at least one entry in a z-order list including a z-order entry for the proxy window.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the second machine further comprises means for receiving, according to a presentation layer protocol, application output data generated by the remote resource provided by the third machine.