Methods and arrangements for providing multiple concurrent desktops and workspaces in a shared computing environment having remote nodes

• US 7,552,391 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hellyar, Paul S., Evans, Christopher A., Fink, Reiner, Matthews, David Andrew, Garg, Praerit, Sierra, Giampiero M., Tan, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US10/606,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,189 Days
• Field of Search: 715/778, 715/745
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods and arrangements are provided for use in multiple user computing environments. These methods and arrangements can be configured to allow for a plurality of separate and concurrent desktops and workspaces within the shared computing environment. One method includes creating a separate desktop thread for each user that is authenticated during a logon process, creating a separate desktop associated with each desktop thread, and maintaining a list of desktop threads that are created. In this manner, several users can be logged on simultaneously. In certain implementations, the method further includes establishing a separate user environment associated with each desktop and launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop. The list of desktop threads allows for selective and/or automatic switching from a first desktop to a second desktop without terminating a desktop thread associated with the first desktop. The methods and arrangements are also applicable to remote process logon and switching.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

configuring a single computer with a single user interface display to be concurrently and physically shared by multiple users by executing a plurality of concurrent switchable desktop environments within the single computer, comprising;

presenting a logon user interface to each user seeking to use the single computer, wherein the user directly interfaces with the single computer without implementing remote terminals; and

within the single computer;

initiating a separate desktop thread for each user who is authenticated by the logon user interface;

initiating a separate desktop associated with each desktop thread for the concurrent switchable desktop environments;

displaying on the single user interface display of the single computer only one of the desktop environments as active at a time; and

maintaining a list of the desktop threads to support switching from a first desktop to a second desktop.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a separate user environment associated with each desktop.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selectively switching from a first one of the multiple desktops to another of the multiple desktops without terminating the desktop thread associated with the first one of the multiple desktops.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically switching from a first one of the multiple desktops to another of the multiple desktops without terminating the desktop thread associated with the first one of the multiple desktops; and

launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the automatically switching from the first one of the multiple desktops to the another of the multiple desktops occurs following a defined period of user inactivity.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selectively removing the desktop thread from the list of desktop threads when the user logs off.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processor to perform steps comprising:

configuring a single computer with a single user interface display to be concurrently and physically shared by multiple users by executing a plurality of concurrent switchable desktop environments within the single computer, comprising;

presenting a logon user interface to each user seeking to use the single computer, wherein the user directly interfaces with the single computer without implementing remote terminals; and

within the single computer;

initiating a separate remote process thread for each user that is authenticated by the logon user interface;

initiating a separate desktop associated with each desktops thread for the concurrent switchable desktop environments;

displaying on the single user interface display of the single computer only one of the desktop environments as active at a time; and

maintaining a list of the desktop threads to support switching from a first desktop to a second desktop.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

establishing a separate user environment associated with each desktop.

10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop.

11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

selectively switching from a first one of the multiple desktops to another of the multiple desktops without terminating the desktop thread associated with the first one of the multiple desktops.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

automatically switching from a first one of the multiple desktops to another of the multiple desktops without terminating the desktop thread associated with the first one of the multiple desktops; and

launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the automatically switching from the first one of the multiple desktops to the another of the multiple desktops occurs following a defined period of user inactivity.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

selectively removing the desktop thread from the list of desktop threads when the user logs off.