Virtual Machine Console Integration in Browser Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing multiple virtual machines on the same desktop is challenging due to overlapping and confusing interactions, leading to human error, as existing technologies lack a straightforward method to indicate relationships between virtual machines and provide integrated access to their consoles.
Innovation Solution
A single user interface is used to display and manage multiple virtual machines as a logical configuration, allowing integrated access to mouse, keyboard, and screen, with features like cut-and-paste and drag-and-drop functionality between virtual machines, utilizing techniques such as ActiveX controls, VNC servers, and GUI toolkits to embed virtual machine consoles within a browser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple virtual machine consoles are displayed separately on the desktop, then each virtual machine can be accessed independently, but the consoles overlap and create confusion making it difficult to manage them together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple virtual machine consoles into a single integrated interface (browser window) that displays all consoles simultaneously in an organized layout. This merging approach allows users to manage multiple virtual machines in one place without the confusion of overlapping separate windows, while maintaining the ability to interact with each individual console.
2Loss of information
If virtual machines are configured as separate instances, then each can be managed independently, but there is no way to indicate relationships between them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual indicators such as color coding, icons, and graphical elements to indicate relationships between virtual machines within the interface. Related virtual machines can be visually grouped or highlighted to show their connections, making relationships apparent without adding complex configuration structures.
3Ease of operation
If a client application is installed on the physical machine to access virtual machine consoles, then access is provided, but users must install and maintain the client application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a web browser as a universal platform to access virtual machine consoles, eliminating the need for separate client applications. The browser-based interface provides all necessary functionality for console access through web technologies, making deployment simple and maintenance unnecessary while maintaining ease of operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If virtual machine consoles are accessed via browser with ActiveX controls, then no client installation is needed, but integrated interaction between multiple consoles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ActiveX controls into a single integrated browser interface that enables seamless interaction between virtual machine consoles. This combination maintains the deployment simplicity of browser-based access while adding integrated features like shared clipboard, coordinated keyboard/mouse control, and unified resource access that were previously limited.
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple virtual machine consoles run in a single user interlace as an integrated unit. Multiple virtual machines are grouped into a logical configuration, and console of each virtual machine in the configuration is displayed a single user interface, such as a browser window. Users are provided with integrated access through the single user interface to the available input/output functions and local resources for each displayed virtual machine console.