Local Application Window Management in Remote Desktop Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In server-based computing systems, users face confusion when managing and integrating local and remote application windows across multiple monitors, leading to inconsistent and complex user interfaces, especially when distinguishing between local and remote sessions.
Innovation Solution
A method is provided where a client computer detects user input to move an application window between desktops, generating a drone of the window on the remote desktop, managing taskbar icons, and applying clipping regions to maintain a seamless integration of local applications within the remote session, ensuring the local application window appears on top of all others and is visually integrated with the remote session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If local applications are run separately from the server-based user interface, then local processing capability is improved, but user interface complexity and confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges local application windows with the remote desktop session by creating drone windows on the remote desktop that represent local applications. This integration allows local applications to be managed within the unified remote session interface, eliminating the need for separate local desktop management and reducing user interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drone windows as intermediary elements between local applications and the remote desktop session. These drone windows act as proxies that enable local applications to be displayed and controlled within the remote session context, providing a seamless integrated experience without requiring separate interface management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple desktops (local and remote) are displayed simultaneously, then application versatility is improved, but visual confusion and difficulty in distinguishing sessions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines local and remote desktops into a single unified session view. By integrating local application windows into the remote desktop session through drone windows, the system presents a unified visual interface that eliminates the need to distinguish between separate local and remote desktop sessions, thereby improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If local application windows are integrated into the remote desktop session, then user interface consistency is improved, but window management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments window management into two distinct parts: local application windows that are always displayed on top, and remote session windows that follow normal z-order rules. This segmentation simplifies window management by providing clear rules for each type of window, reducing the overall complexity of managing integrated local and remote applications.
4Ease of operation
If local application windows are always displayed on top, then visibility and focus are improved, but other windows may be obscured excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the window system into local application windows with always-on-top behavior and remote session windows with normal z-order management. This segmentation ensures that local applications remain visible and accessible while allowing remote session windows to be properly managed in the background, balancing visibility requirements with overall window management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In a computing environment comprising multiple desktop windows displayed to a user of a client computer, a method to manage client application windows associated with applications configured to run on the client computer is provided. The method includes detecting user input regarding movement of a client application window from a client desktop window to a remote desktop window, removing a task bar icon associated with the client application window from a task bar displayed in the client desktop window, instructing the remote computer to generate a drone of the client application window in the remote desktop window and to display the task bar icon associated with the client application window in a task bar of the remote desktop window, and displaying the client application window always on top of all other windows. The method may further include applying appropriate clipping region to the client application window.