METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR UPDATING A DOCK WITH A USER INTERFACE ELEMENT REPRESENTATIVE OF A REMOTE APPLICATION

• US 20110138295A1
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Momchilov, Georgy, Harvey, Kevin, Innes, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,268,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

The present disclosure features methods and systems for updating an application-centric interface or dock, generated and displayed by a local computer, with a user interface element representative of a remote application executing on a remote computer to provide integration between remote (“published”) applications and their local counterparts. This functionality provides a seamless, unified user experience by allowing hosted applications to appear as if they are running locally in a dock interface, in the same way that local applications appear.

Claims

1. A method for updating a dock, generated and displayed by a local computer, with a user interface element representative of a remote application executing on a remote computer, the method comprising:

receiving, by a local client executing on a local computer, application output generated by a remote application executing on a remote computer, a user interface element representative of the remote application, and window configuration information;

generating, by the local client responsive to receiving the application output, an application output window for displaying the received application output, the application output window generated according to the window configuration information;

executing, responsive to receiving the application output, a process on the local machine, the process comprising the user interface element representative of the remote application;

updating, responsive to executing the process, a dock of the local computer with the user interface element of the process; and

redirecting, by the process, a user interaction with the user interface element in the dock to the application output window displaying the application output generated by the remote application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting, by the local client, execution of the remote application responsive to user interaction with the user interface element in the dock.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the window configuration information further comprises an identification of the remote application.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the window configuration information comprises an indication of a parent/child relationship between the application output and additional application output generated by the remote application.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the local client, additional application output associated with a second window generated by the remote application and additional window configuration information;

generating, by the local client, a second application output window for displaying the additional application output;

executing, responsive to receiving the additional window configuration information, a second process comprising the user interface element representative of the remote application;

updating, responsive to executing the second process, the dock of the local computer with the user interface element of the second process; and

redirecting, by the second process, a second user interaction with the user interface element in the dock to the second application output window.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the local client, additional application output associated with a second window and additional window configuration information;

generating, by the local client, a second application output window for displaying the additional application output;

determining, by the local client responsive to the additional window configuration information, to not execute a second process for redirection of user interaction; and

redirecting, by the process, a second user interaction with the user interface element in the dock to the second application output window.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying, by the dock responsive to the user interaction with the user interface element, an enumeration of the application output window and the second application output window.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the determination not to execute a second process for redirection of user interaction is responsive to the additional application output being generated by the remote application, a second executing instance of the remote application, or a child process of the remote application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein redirecting a user interaction with the user interface element in the dock further comprises redirecting the user interaction to the local client, the local client transmitting the user interaction to the remote application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element comprises an icon of the remote application.

11. A system for updating a dock, generated and displayed by a local computer, with a user interface element representative of a remote application executing on a remote computer, the system comprising a local computer executing:

a local client, configured to;

receive application output generated by a remote application executing on a remote computer, a user interface element representative of the remote application, and window configuration information, and

generate, responsive to receiving the application output, an application output window for displaying the received application output, the application output window generated according to the window configuration information; and

a process, executed responsive to receiving the application output, comprising the user interface element representative of the remote application and configured to redirect a user interaction with the user interface element in a dock to the application output window displaying the application output generated by the remote application; and

an operating system, configured to update, responsive to executing the process, the dock with the user interface element of the process.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the local client is further configured to request execution of the remote application responsive to user interaction with the user interface element in the dock.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the window configuration information further comprises an identification of the remote application.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the window configuration information comprises an indication of a parent/child relationship between the application output and additional application output generated by the remote application.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein

the local client is further configured to receive additional application output associated with a second window generated by the remote application and additional window configuration information, and generate a second application output window for displaying the additional application output, and

the operating system is further configured to update the dock of the local computer with a user interface element of a second process;

and further comprising;

the second process, executed responsive to receiving the additional window configuration information, comprising the user interface element representative of the remote application, and configured to redirect a second user interaction with the user interface element in the dock to the second application output window.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein

the local client is further configured to

receive additional application output associated with a second window and additional window configuration information,

generate a second application output window for displaying the additional application output, and

determine, responsive to the additional window configuration information, to not execute a second process for redirection of user interaction;

and

the process is further configured to redirect a second user interaction with the user interface element in the dock to the second application output window.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the dock is further configured to display, responsive to the user interaction with the user interface element, an enumeration of the application output window and the second application output window.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the determination not to execute a second process for redirection of user interaction is responsive to the additional application output being generated by the remote application, a second executing instance of the remote application, or a child process of the remote application.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein redirecting a user interaction with the user interface element in the dock further comprises redirecting the user interaction to the local client, the local client transmitting the user interaction to the remote application.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface element comprises an icon of the remote application.