Simultaneous remote and local control of computer desktop

Abstract

A method for computing includes running a desktop sharing program on a local computer so as to permit a remote user to view, on a remote computer, which is connected to communicate with the local computer via a network, an image of an entire area of a display screen of the local computer and to operate the local computer by remote input via the remote computer. A local window is defined within the display screen of the local computer for running an application under control of a local user. Local inputs made via a local input device of the local computer by the local user are intercepted so that the local inputs do not interfere with operation of the local computer by the remote user. The intercepted inputs are directed to the local window so as to permit the local user to interact with the application independently of the operation of the local computer by the remote user.

1 . A method for computing, comprising:
 running a desktop sharing program on a local computer so as to permit a remote user to view, on a remote computer, which is connected to communicate with the local computer via a network, an image of an entire area of a display screen of the local computer and to operate the local computer by remote input via the remote computer;   defining a local window within the display screen of the local computer for running an application under control of a local user;   intercepting local inputs made via a local input device of the local computer by the local user so that the local inputs do not interfere with operation of the local computer by the remote user; and   directing the intercepted inputs to the local window so as to permit the local user to interact with the application independently of the operation of the local computer by the remote user.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the local window is not reproduced in the image of the entire area of the display screen that is presented on the remote computer. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the local window is defined as an overlay window on the local computer. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein defining the local window comprises displaying the local window as a semi-transparent overlay on the display screen that is presented on the local computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein running the remote desktop program comprises moving a first cursor on the display screen in response to manipulation of a remote pointing device of the remote computer by the remote user, and wherein directing the intercepted inputs comprises moving a second cursor on the display screen, independently of the first cursor, under the control of the local user by means of a local pointing device of the local computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the second cursor is effective to select objects on the display screen only within the local window. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein intercepting the local inputs comprises intercepting keystrokes made by the local user by means of a local keyboard of the local computer, and wherein directing the intercepted inputs comprises displaying input text, responsively to the intercepted keystrokes, in the local window. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein running the application comprises running a textual chat application, in which the input text is transmitted over the network to the remote user, and textual responses from the remote user are displayed in the local window. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the desktop sharing program is used by the remote user in providing service support to the local user. 
     
     
         10 . A computer software product, comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a local computer, cause the local computer to run a desktop sharing program so as to permit a remote user to view, on a remote computer, which is connected to communicate with the local computer via a network, an image of an entire area of a display screen of the local computer and to operate the local computer by remote input via the remote computer,
 wherein the instructions cause the local computer to define a local window within the display screen of the local computer for running an application under control of a local user, to intercept local inputs made via a local input device of the local computer by the local user so that the local inputs do not interfere with operation of the local computer by the remote user, and to direct the intercepted inputs to the local window so as to permit the local user to interact with the application independently of the operation of the local computer by the remote user.   
     
     
         11 . The product according to  claim 10 , wherein the local window is not reproduced in the image of the entire area of the display screen that is presented on the remote computer. 
     
     
         12 . The product according to  claim 11 , wherein the local window is defined as an overlay window on the local computer. 
     
     
         13 . The product according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the local computer to display the local window as a semi-transparent overlay on the display screen that is presented on the local computer. 
     
     
         14 . The product according to  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the local computer to move a first cursor on the display screen in response to manipulation of a remote pointing device of the remote computer by the remote user, and to move a second cursor on the display screen, independently of the first cursor, under the control of the local user by means of a local pointing device of the local computer. 
     
     
         15 . The product according to  claim 14 , wherein the second cursor is effective to select objects on the display screen only within the local window. 
     
     
         16 . The product according to  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the local computer to intercept keystrokes made by the local user by means of a local keyboard of the local computer, and to display input text, responsively to the intercepted keystrokes, in the local window. 
     
     
         17 . The product according to  claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the local computer to run a textual chat application, in which the input text is transmitted over the network to the remote user, and textual responses from the remote user are displayed in the local window. 
     
     
         18 . The product according to  claim 17 , wherein the desktop sharing program is used by the remote user in providing service support to the local user. 
     
     
         19 . A local computer, comprising:
 a local input device;   a display monitor; and   a processor, which is configured to run a desktop sharing program so as to permit a remote user to view, on a remote computer, which is connected to communicate with the local computer via a network, an image of an entire area of a display screen of the local computer and to operate the local computer by remote input via the remote computer, and to define a local window within the display screen that is displayed on the display monitor of the local computer for running an application under control of a local user, to intercept local inputs made via the local input device by the local user so that the local inputs do not interfere with operation of the local computer by the remote user, and to direct the intercepted inputs to the local window so as to permit the local user to interact with the application independently of the operation of the local computer by the remote user.   
     
     
         20 . The computer according to  claim 19 , wherein the local window is not reproduced in the image of the entire area of the display screen that is presented on the remote computer. 
     
     
         21 . The computer according to  claim 19 , wherein the local input device comprises a local pointing device, and wherein the processor is configured to move a first cursor on the display screen in response to manipulation of a remote pointing device of the remote computer by the remote user, and to move a second cursor on the display screen, independently of the first cursor, under the control of the local user by means of the local pointing device.