MANAGING ACTIVE GUI ELEMENTS REMOTELY

• US 20140040763A1
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chakra, Al, Hewitt, Trudy L., Schembari, Francesco C., Feller, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,195,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/748
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method, system or computer usable program product for selectively forwarding activated graphical user interface (GUI) elements from a source system to a remote device for user interaction including configuring the source system for selectively forwarding to the remote device activated GUI elements that are for front of screen display on the source system, receiving user preferences for GUI elements to forward to the remote device, in response to a user request, identifying an activated GUI element for front of screen display on the source system and related information that meets the user preferences, and forwarding only the identified GUI element and related information to the remote device for interaction with the user.

Claims

1. A method of selectively forwarding activated graphical user interface (GUI) elements from a source system to a remote device for user interaction comprising:

configuring the source system for selectively forwarding to the remote device activated GUI elements that are for front of screen display on the source system;

receiving user preferences for GUI elements to forward to the remote device;

in response to a user request, identifying an activated GUI element for front of screen display on the source system and related information that meets the user preferences; and

forwarding only the identified GUI element and related information to the remote device for interaction with the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the activated GUI element includes at least one from the set of a new GUI element and a newly activated previously active GUI element.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the related information includes at least one of the set of an identification of an application that motivated display of the GUI element on the source system and a prior displayed GUI element motivated by the application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user preferences include at least one from the set of GUI element type, GUI element mode, and GUI element application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user preferences include at least one from the set of a time limit to identify and forward the activated GUI element, a time limit for a user response to the forwarded GUI element, and a rule for multiple notifications.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising awaiting a response from the user through the forwarded GUI element at the remote device, receiving the response from the user from the remote device, and utilizing the response as if it was from the activated GUI element on the source system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying an activated GUI element on the source system includes monitoring an operating system on the source system, detecting any GUI element activated by the operating system, and determining whether the activated GUI element meets user preferences.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein forwarding the identified GUI element includes transforming the identified GUI element to a format suitable for interaction with the user on the remote system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the GUI element is transformed to include at least one from the set of window, email, text, instant message, and voice message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

awaiting a response from the user through the forwarded GUI element at the remote device;

receiving the response from the user from the remote device; and

utilizing the response as if it was from the activated GUI element on the source system;

wherein the activated GUI element includes at least one from the set of a new GUI element and a newly activated previously active GUI element;

wherein the related information includes at least one of the set of an identification of an application that motivated display of the GUI element on the source system and a prior displayed GUI element motivated by the application;

wherein the user preferences include at least one from the set of GUI element type, GUI element mode, and GUI element application;

wherein identifying an activated GUI element on the source system includes monitoring an operating system on the source system, detecting any GUI element activated by the operating system, and determining whether the activated GUI element meets user preferences; and

wherein forwarding the identified GUI element includes transforming the identified GUI element to a format suitable for interaction with the user on the remote system.

11. A data processing system for selectively forwarding activated graphical user interface (GUI) elements from a source system to a remote device for user interaction, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions which when executed by the processor execute the steps of;

configuring the source system for selectively forwarding to the remote device activated GUI elements that are for front of screen display on the source system;

receiving user preferences for GUI elements to forward to the remote device;

in response to a user request, identifying an activated GUI element for front of screen display on the source system and related information that meets the user preferences; and

forwarding only the identified GUI element and related information to the remote device for interaction with the user.

12. The data processing system of claim 11 wherein the activated GUI element includes at least one from the set of a new GUI element and a newly activated previously active GUI element.

13. The data processing system of claim 11 further comprising awaiting a response from the user through the forwarded GUI element at the remote device, receiving the response from the user from the remote device, and utilizing the response as if it was from the activated GUI element on the source system.

14. The data processing system of claim 11 wherein identifying an activated GUI element on the source system includes monitoring an operating system on the source system, detecting any GUI element activated by the operating system, and determining whether the activated GUI element meets user preferences.

15. The data processing system of claim 11 wherein forwarding the identified GUI element includes transforming the identified GUI element to a format suitable for interaction with the user on the remote system.

16. A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for use in selectively forwarding activated graphical user interface (GUI) elements from a source system to a remote device for user interaction, the computer usable program product comprising code for performing the steps of:

configuring the source system for selectively forwarding to the remote device activated GUI elements that are for front of screen display on the source system;

receiving user preferences for GUI elements to forward to the remote device;

in response to a user request, identifying an activated GUI element for front of screen display on the source system and related information that meets the user preferences; and

forwarding only the identified GUI element and related information to the remote device for interaction with the user.

17. The computer usable program product of claim 16 wherein the activated GUI element includes at least one from the set of a new GUI element and a newly activated previously active GUI element.

18. The computer usable program product of claim 16 further comprising awaiting a response from the user through the forwarded GUI element at the remote device, receiving the response from the user from the remote device, and utilizing the response as if it was from the activated GUI element on the source system.

19. The computer usable program product of claim 16 wherein identifying an activated GUI element on the source system includes monitoring an operating system on the source system, detecting any GUI element activated by the operating system, and determining whether the activated GUI element meets user preferences.

20. The computer usable program product of claim 16 wherein forwarding the identified GUI element includes transforming the identified GUI element to a format suitable for interaction with the user on the remote system.