Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Session Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions are inefficient for multiple users to collaboratively access and switch between virtual desktops, requiring cumbersome installation and re-configuration of collaboration software, leading to a less-than-optimal user experience and resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

The system allows seamless collaborative access and efficient switching between virtual desktops by leveraging existing VDI infrastructure, enabling users to join sessions through a virtual desktop client, streamlining the process through a user interface that manages input control and session switching without the need for additional collaboration software.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional collaboration software (e.g., WebEx, GoToMeeting) is installed and executed on virtual desktops, then users can collaborate on virtual desktops, but the user experience is not seamless and requires additional installation, execution time, and interface complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of collaborative accessVSAvoidsoftware installation and configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the collaboration functionality directly into the virtual desktop infrastructure by enabling multiple clients to connect to the same virtual desktop session through the VDI system. This eliminates the need for separate collaboration software packages like WebEx or GoToMeeting, as the VDI system itself provides the collaboration capability through shared session access and coordinated input handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual desktop infrastructure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides individual desktop access and simultaneously enables collaborative access without requiring separate specialized software. The same VDI system that delivers individual virtual desktops also handles multiple client connections to the same desktop, managing input arbitration and session sharing universally across all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If collaboration software is executed on virtual desktops, then collaborative sessions can be established, but computing resources are consumed and IT overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration capabilityVSAvoidcomputing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines collaboration functionality with the existing virtual desktop infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate collaboration software instances. The VDI system's session management and input handling mechanisms are extended to support multiple clients, thereby achieving collaboration capabilities without the overhead of additional software execution and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users switch from one virtual desktop to another during collaborative sessions, then they can collaborate on different desktops, but they must perform the same invitation and login steps each time, which is cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesktop switching capabilityVSAvoidtime to switch desktops

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining persistent session information and collaboration state in the backend. When users need to switch between virtual desktops, the system has already prepared the collaboration context, allowing users to quickly join the same collaborative session on a different desktop without repeating invitation and authentication steps. The VDI system remembers the collaboration group and can rapidly re-establish connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If multiple users access the same virtual desktop through separate VDI connections, then collaborative access is enabled, but input control from multiple clients must be managed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative input capabilityVSAvoidinput control management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual desktop infrastructure acts as an intermediary between multiple client devices and the virtual desktop session. The VDI system receives input from multiple clients, arbitrates which input should be processed, and manages the coordination of keyboard and mouse inputs across all connected clients. This intermediary role simplifies the complexity by centralizing input management in the backend rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11108868B2Live switching of collaborative virtual desktop sessions

Publication Date: 2021.08.31 OMNISSA LLC

AI summary

A system is provided for switching a VDI collaborative session where multiple clients are collaboratively accessing a first virtual desktop to a second virtual desktop belonging to one of the collaborators. The owner of the second virtual desktop requests the system to switch the collaboration session to the second virtual desktop. The connection server disconnects the requesting user from the first virtual desktop, connects the user to the second virtual desktop, and invites the other collaborators to join the session on the second virtual desktop. After accepting the invitation, the collaborators are joined to the second virtual desktop and collaboration resumes on the second virtual desktop.