Methods and systems for maintaining desktop environments providing integrated access to remote and local resources

• US 9,239,666 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• 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: Treder, Terry Noel, Fleck, Christopher, Marano, Adam, Roychoudhry, Anil, Mazzaferri, Richard James
• Primary Examiner(s): Sison, June
• Assistant Examiner(s): COONEY, ADAM A
• Application Number:
  US12/210,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,685 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 remote agent executing on the remote machine, a remote desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the remote desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a remote resource provided by the remote machine available to the user of the local machine and ii) a local resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine, the remote desktop environment including a remote window for a remote application executing on the remote machine;

b) generating, by the remote agent executing on the remote machine, in the remote desktop environment, a proxy window for a local window on the local machine, the proxy window representing attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine, the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource, the output data displayed directly in the local window by a local agent, wherein the output data is not painted to the proxy window;

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

d) modifying, by the remote 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 remote agent executing on the remote machine, to the local agent executing on the local machine, an identification of a modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises modifying, by the remote 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 remote 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 remote agent executing on the remote machine, to a local 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 remote desktop environment.

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the local agent executing on the local machine, to the remote 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 local resource.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the local agent executing on the local machine, to the remote agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a change to a z-order entry of the 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 remote machine and the local machine ends.

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

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

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

16. A networked computing system including a local machine, and a remote machine maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment for display to a 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 remote agent, executed by one or more processors of the remote machine,

monitoring a remote desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects and providing access to i) a remote resource provided by the remote machine that is available to the user of the local machine and ii) a local resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine, the remote desktop environment configured to include a remote window for a remote application executing on the remote machine,

generating, in the remote desktop environment, a proxy window for a local window on the local machine, the proxy window representing attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine, the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource, the output data displayed directly in the local window by a local agent, wherein the output data is not painted to the proxy window,

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

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

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

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

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

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

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the local agent displays the remote desktop environment comprising the plurality of data objects and providing access to the remote resource and the local resource.

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

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the local agent receives 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 local agent receives, according to a presentation layer protocol, application output data generated by the remote resource.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the local agent synchronizes a visual state of the local window on the local machine with a visual state of a 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 local agent executing on the local machine, the desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a remote resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a local resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine, the desktop environment including a remote window for a remote application executing on the remote machine;

b) generating, by a remote agent executing on the remote machine, in the desktop environment, a proxy window for the local window on the local machine, the proxy window representing attribute data associated with the window on the local machine, the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource, the output data displayed directly in the local window by the local agent, wherein the output data is not painted to the proxy window;

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

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

e) modifying, by the local 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 local agent executing on the local machine, to the remote 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 local agent executing on the local machine, attribute data associated with the local window that displays output data generated by the local resource responsive to the identification of the modification.

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

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising receiving, by the local 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 and a remote machine maintaining a full-screen, integrated desktop environment for display to a 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 remote machine comprising one or more processors to provide, via the local machine, for display to the user via of the local machine, a remote desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the remote desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a remote resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a local resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine, the remote desktop environment including a remote window for a remote application executing on the remote machine;

a remote agent, executed by the one or more processors of the remote machine, the remote agent generating, in the remote desktop environment, a proxy window for the local window on the local machine, the proxy window representing attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine, the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource, the output data displayed directly in the local window by the local agent, wherein the output data is not painted to the proxy window;

a transmitter executed by the remote machine to transmit an identification of a change to the local window attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the local resource for modification, by the remote 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 executed by one or more processors of the local machine to receive, from the remote agent executing on the remote machine, an identification of a modification to the at least one of the plurality of data objects; and

the local machine modifies 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, wherein the remote agent receives at least one entry in a z-order list including a z-order entry for the proxy window on the remote machine associated with the local window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the local resource.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the remote agent receives, 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 remote agent executing on the remote machine, a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a remote resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a local resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine, the desktop environment including a remote window for a remote application executing on the remote machine;

b) generating, by the remote agent executing on the remote machine, in the desktop environment, a proxy window for the local window on the local machine, the proxy window representing attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine, the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource, the output data displayed directly in the local window by the local agent, wherein the output data is not painted to the proxy window;

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

d) modifying, by the remote 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 remote agent executing on the remote machine, to a local 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 remote 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 remote 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 remote agent executing on the remote machine, to a local 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:

a remote machine including one or more processors that monitor a desktop environment comprising a plurality of data objects, the desktop environment providing integrated access to i) a remote resource provided by the remote machine available to a user of the local machine and ii) a local resource provided by the local machine that is available to the user of the local machine, the desktop environment including a remote window for a remote application executing on the remote machine;

the remote machine generates, in the desktop environment, a proxy window for the local window on the local machine, the proxy window representing attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine, the local window on the local machine displaying output data generated by the local resource, the output data displayed directly in the local window by the local agent, wherein the output data is not painted to the proxy window;

a receiver executed by the remote machine to receive an identification of a change to window attribute data associated with the local window on the local machine that displays output data generated by the local resource;

the remote machine modifies at least one of the plurality of data objects responsive to the identification of the change; and

a transmitter executed by the remote machine to transmit, 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.