Remote user interface in a terminal server environment

• US 20100077055A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strategic Technology Partners, LLC (Aqua Connect, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Strategic Technology Partners, LLC (Aqua Connect, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cohen, Joseph Chyam
• Granted Patent: US 8,549,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and computer program product for updating a user session in a terminal server environment. Transfer of display data corresponding to an updated user interface can occur via a memory shared between an agent server and an agent client in a terminal server environment. Access to the shared memory can be synchronized via token passing or other operation to prevent simultaneous access to the shared memory. Token sharing and synchronized input/output can be performed using FIFOs, sockets, files, semaphores and the like, allowing communications between the agent server and agent client communications to adapt to different operating system architecture.

Claims

1. A method for updating a user session in a terminal server environment, the method comprising:

generating, by an agent server, display data corresponding an updated user interface instance;

transferring the display data to an agent client through a shared memory;

transmitting the display data over a network to a remote client; and

rendering the updated user interface instance based on the display data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting metadata corresponding to the shared memory between the agent server and the agent client.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the metadata is transmitted via a socket, a port or a pipe.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the agent server, if any portions of the display data have been updated; and

, if so,

informing the agent client which portions of the display data have been updated.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the agent client, changes to the shared memory;

accessing display data corresponding to the changed memory;

transmitting the display data to a remote device for presentation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the display data comprises information corresponding to a dirty rectangle.

13. A tangible computer-readable storage media comprising stored instructions that, upon execution by a programmable processor, are operable to cause the programmable processor to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A computer network system comprising:

a network host server comprising one or more processing elements, one or more memory elements, and wherein the server is in communication with one or more remote devices;

wherein the one or more processing elements are programmed or adapted to perform the steps comprising;

generating, by an agent server, display data corresponding an updated user interface instance;

transferring the display data to an agent client through a shared memory;

transmitting the display data over a network to a remote client; and

rendering the updated user interface instance based on the display data.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising one or more processing elements programmed or adapted to perform the step of transmitting metadata corresponding to the shared memory between the agent server and the agent client.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the metadata transmission is via a socket, a port or a pipe.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising one or more processing elements programmed or adapted to perform the steps of

determining, by the agent server, if any portions of the display data have been updated;

and, if so,

informing the agent client which portions of the display data have been updated.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising one or more processing elements programmed or adapted to perform the steps of

detecting, by the agent client, changes to the shared memory;

accessing display data corresponding to the changed memory;

transmitting the display data to a remote device for presentation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the display data only comprises information corresponding to the updated portion of the display.