Handling applications on a unified desktop

Abstract

Embodiments provide for a handheld device with a unified desktop for integrating the functionality of the handheld device with a larger computer system. When connected to a peripheral display and/or a display of the larger computer system, the handheld device provides a unified desktop displayed across the screen(s) of the handheld device and the peripheral display. The unified desktop unifies the functionality provided by the larger computer system and the handheld functionality, e.g., communication applications (e.g., phone, SMS, MMS). A user can seamlessly interact with applications, e.g., open, move, close, receive notifications, on the unified desktop whether the applications are displayed on the screens of the handheld device, or the peripheral display of the larger computer system.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising
 displaying a first desktop by at least one processor of a multi-screen device, wherein the first desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;   displaying a first window of a first open application on the multi-screen device on the first desktop of the multi-screen device;   determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display, wherein the peripheral display includes a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor;   in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display:
 displaying a unified desktop, wherein the unified desktop unifies the functionality of the multi-screen device with the computer system such that the multi-screen device controls the at least one screen of the multi-screen device and the peripheral display, wherein one or more open windows from the peripheral display and the multi-screen device are part of the unifed desktop; 
 displaying a second window of a second open application on the peripheral display on the first portion of the unified desktop on the peripheral display; 
 determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display; and 
 in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display:
 maintaining display of the first window on the multi-screen device; and 
 removing automatically the second window from display on the peripheral display. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: after the determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display, opening an additional application and displaying a third window of the additional application. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: wherein the third window is displayed on the first portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display, removing the third window from display on the first portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the third window is displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: wherein the unified desktop may be displayed in a linear mode or a freeform mode. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display, maintain the third window displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the peripheral display is part of a personal computer. 
     
     
         29 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor perform a method comprising:
 displaying a first desktop by at least one processor of a multi-screen device, wherein the first desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;   displaying a first window of a first open application on the multi-screen device on the first desktop of the multi-screen device;   determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display, wherein the peripheral display is associated with a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor;   in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display:
 displaying a unified desktop, wherein the unified desktop unifies the functionality of the multi-screen device with the computer system such that the multi-screen device controls the at least one screen of the multi-screen device and the peripheral display, wherein one or more open windows from the peripheral display and the multi-screen device are part of the unifed desktop; 
   determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display; and   in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display:
 maintaining display of the first window on the second portion of the unified desktop on the multi-screen device; and 
 removing automatically the second window from display on the first portion of the unified desktop on the peripheral display. 
   
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the method further comprises: after the determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display, opening an additional application and displaying a third window of the additional application. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the third window is displayed on the first portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display, removing the third window from display on the first portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein the third window is displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein the unified desktop may be displayed in a linear mode or a freeform mode. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display, maintain the third window displayed on the second portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the peripheral display is part of a personal computer. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display, removing all displayed windows from display on the first portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         38 . A dual screen communication device, comprising:
 a first touch sensitive display on a first screen;   a second touch sensitive display on a second screen;   a computer readable medium that stores computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor perform a method comprising:
 displaying a first desktop by at least one processor of a multi-screen device, wherein the first desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device; 
 displaying a first window of a first open application on the multi-screen device on the first desktop of the multi-screen device; 
 determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display, wherein the peripheral display is associated with a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor; 
 in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display: 
 displaying a unified desktop, wherein the unified desktop unifies the functionality of the multi-screen device with the computer system such that the multi-screen device controls the first screen and the second screen of the multi-screen device and the peripheral display, wherein one or more open windows from the peripheral display and the multi-screen device are part of the unified desktop; 
 determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display; and 
 in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display:
 maintaining display of the first window on the second portion of the unified desktop on the multi-screen device; and 
 removing automatically the second window from display on the first portion of the unified desktop on the peripheral display. 
 
   
     
     
         39 . The dual-screen communication device of  claim 38 , wherein the method further comprises:
 after the determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display, opening an additional application and displaying a third window of the additional application on the first portion of the unified desktop; and   wherein in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral display, removing the third window from display on the first portion of the unified desktop.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the linear mode automatically aligns the windows and prohibits a user from moving the windows around and wherein the freeform mode enables the user to position the windows freely in any location of the unified desktop.