Remote Object Theme Application for Client System Distinguishability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In remote user interface environments, distinguishing between local and remote system components is challenging, leading to potential mistakes and loss of control, especially in mismanaged windowing environments where users may inadvertently operate on remote production systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that apply distinct themes to user interface objects on a client system to differentiate between local and remote components, using themes that represent remote systems, their types, operating systems, or physical locations, with a theme manager determining and applying these themes based on connection details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple remote systems are accessed simultaneously through a windowing environment, then user productivity and system utilization are improved, but the risk of accidental operations on wrong systems increases and system distinguishability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded themes to window borders, title bars, and background elements to visually distinguish different remote systems. Each remote system is assigned a unique color theme that consistently identifies it across all window elements, enabling users to quickly recognize which system a window represents without confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the visual identification system into multiple independent theme elements including border colors, title bar styles, background patterns, and icon themes. This segmentation allows each remote system to be identified through multiple visual cues simultaneously, enhancing distinguishability while maintaining productivity benefits of multi-system access.
2Reliability
If visual themes are applied to all user interface objects to improve remote system identification, then system distinguishability is improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal theme management system that applies the same visual theme framework across all types of user interface objects including windows, icons, and title bars. The theme manager component handles theme application uniformly for different object types, reducing implementation complexity through standardized procedures while maintaining comprehensive visual distinction.
Solution Approach 2:
The theme manager automatically applies appropriate themes to user interface objects based on the remote system they represent, without requiring manual configuration for each object. The system self-configures visual themes by detecting which remote system a window or object is associated with and applying the corresponding color scheme automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for identifying remote objects on a client system is provided. A client system (101) has a connection means (302) to access a component (310) on a remote system (103). The client system (101) has a graphical user interface (308) including a user interface object (306) representing the component (310) at the remote system (103). Means (304) are provided for applying a theme to the object (306) to distinguish it as representing a remote component (310). The graphical user interface (308) also includes user interface objects (307) for components local to the client system (101), and the means for applying a theme (304) applies distinguishing themes to the local objects (307) and the remote objects (306).