IMPLEMENTING PREVIOUSLY RENDERED FRAME BUFFER INFORMATION IN A CUSTOMIZED GUI DISPLAY

• US 20140015842A1
• Filed: 10/23/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sebesta, David Jaroslav, Elmer, Robert C., Schmieder, Robert Wilhelm, Nicholson, Clark David, Gahrns, Michael Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,798,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/541
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/02 Networking aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/395 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of the bit-mapped memory to the screen G09G5/399 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to providing direct access to graphical user interface (GUI) frame buffers and to associating input hardware with a login session. In one scenario, a computer system registers a plug-in software module with a remote desktop client. The registering includes requesting one or more frame buffers rendered for display on a computer system display. The computer system determines that a session has been established between a computer system user and the remote desktop client. The computer system then receives the requested frame buffers and displays the frame buffers on the computer system display and/or sends the received frame buffers to various registered third parties.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising the following:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing system to perform a method for providing direct access to graphical user interface (GUI) frame buffers, the method comprising the following;

an act of registering a plug-in software module with a remote desktop client, wherein the registering includes requesting one or more frame buffers rendered for display on a computer system display;

an act of determining that a session has been established between a computer system user and the remote desktop client;

an act of receiving the one or more requested frame buffers; and

performing at least one of the following;

an act of displaying the frame buffers on the computer system display; and

an act of sending the received frame buffers to one or more registered third parties.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the registered third party receiving the requested frame buffers displays the frame buffers on a separate computer system display.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the registered plug-in software module includes a unique, persistent identifier.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising defining display dimensions for the registered plug-in software module, wherein the display dimensions comprise the number of pixels of the custom presentation device'"'"'s screen area.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an act of subdividing the registered plug-in software module into one or more regions, wherein each region represents a desktop for a local user station.

6. The computer system of claim 5, further comprising presenting each of the subdivided regions on the computer system display.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising rendering a mouse cursor on each of the subdivided regions, such that each local user desktop has its own mouse cursor.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the mouse cursors comprises a hardware mouse cursor.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the mouse cursors comprises a software mouse cursor.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the frame buffer includes one or more portions of additional information including at least one of the following:

the size of the frame buffer, color depth information for the frame buffer, and a modified region that identifies a region of the frame buffer that has changed since the previous frame buffer.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a mouse cursor is changed from being visible to the computer system user to invisible as the user moves the mouse cursor, depending on which UI element the cursor is covering or being covered by.

12. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising associating a universal serial bus (USB) hub with the computer system display, wherein the computer system display receives an instance ID.

13. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the instance ID is used to maintain a mapping between one or more computer system displays and hub.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer system determines, for each USB device, whether the USB device is to be associated with a plug-in software module.

15. A computer system comprising the following:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing system to perform a method for associating input hardware with a login session, the method comprising the following;

an act of determining which display devices are connected to the computer system;

an act of enumerating each display device that is connected to the computer system;

an act of creating a custom session for each enumerated display device, wherein creating a custom session comprises;

registering a plug-in software module with a remote desktop client running on the computer system;

requesting one or more frame buffers rendered for display on at least one of the enumerated display devices; and

receiving the one or more requested frame buffers; and

performing at least one of the following;

an act of displaying the frame buffers on the enumerated display device; and

an act of sending the received frame buffers to one or more registered third parties.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising including mouse data along with the frame buffers, wherein the mouse data includes cursor shape and cursor position.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein enumerating each display device comprises defining a device class and searching for devices in that class.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein enumerating each display comprises specifying each device'"'"'s globally unique identifier (GUID).

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the third party compresses the frame buffer and transfers it to another device.

20. A computer system comprising the following:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing system to perform a method for providing direct access to graphical user interface (GUI) frame buffers, the method comprising the following;

an act of registering a plug-in software module with a remote desktop client, wherein the registering includes requesting one or more frame buffers rendered for display on a computer system display;

an act of determining that a session has been established between a computer system user and the remote desktop client;

an act of receiving the one or more requested frame buffers;

an act of subdividing the registered plug-in software module into one or more regions, wherein each region represents a desktop for a local user station; and

an act of displaying the frame buffers on each of the local user stations.