Displaying a unified desktop across connected devices

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 desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;   displaying a window of an open application from the multi-screen device on the first desktop;   determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display associated with a personal computer;   in response to the determining:
 displaying a unified desktop, the unified desktop unifying the functionality provided on the peripheral display of the personal computer with the multi-screen device, wherein the first desktop becomes a second portion of the unified desktop, a second desktop displayed on the personal computer becomes a first portion of the unified desktop, and the first portion of the unified desktop is displayed on the peripheral display; 
 moving one or more open windows from one or more of the first desktop and the second desktop to the unified desktop; and 
 displaying an indication of the open application on the first portion of the unified desktop in an application manager, the application manager being present in the unified desktop and including a respective indication for each open application on the unified desktop. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the indication is displayed in a window of an application manager, and a user can one or more of access shared content, manage one or more applications and peripherals for one or more of the multi-screen device and the personal computer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the indication is a window. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peripheral display is part of a personal computer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 determining that the personal computer has a second application open; and   in response to the determining, displaying an indication of the second application on the second portion of the unified desktop.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the indication of the second application is displayed in a second window of the application manager on the second portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the indication is a window. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral screen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  8 , in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral screen, removing the indication from display on the first portion. 
     
     
         30 . 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 desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;   displaying a window of an open application on the first desktop;   determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display;   in response to the determining:
 displaying a unified desktop, wherein the first desktop becomes a second portion of the unified desktop, a second desktop displayed on the personal computer becomes a first portion of the unified desktop, and the first portion of the unified desktop is displayed on the peripheral display; 
 moving one or more open windows from one or more of the first desktop and the second desktop to the unified desktop; and 
 displaying an indication of the open application on the first portion of the unified desktop in an application manager, the application manager being present in the unified desktop and including a respective indication for each open application on the unified desktop. 
   
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the indication is displayed in a window of an application manager, and a user can one or more of access shared content, manage one or more applications and peripherals for one or more of the multi-screen device and the personal computer. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the indication is a window. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein the peripheral display is part of a personal computer. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 determining that the personal computer has a second application open; and   in response to the determining, displaying an indication of the second application on the second portion of the unified desktop.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the indication of the second application is displayed in a second window of the application manager on the second portion of the unified desktop. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the indication is a window. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 30 , determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral screen. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 37 , in response to the determining that the multi-screen device is disconnected from the peripheral screen, removing the indication from display on the first portion. 
     
     
         39 . 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 desktop is displayed on at least one screen of the multi-screen device;   displaying a window of an open application on the first desktop;   determining that the multi-screen device is connected to a peripheral display;   in response to the determining:
 displaying a unified desktop, wherein the first desktop is a second portion of the unified desktop, a second desktop displayed on the peripheral display associated with a personal computer becomes a first portion of the unified desktop, and the first portion of the unified desktop is displayed on the peripheral display; 
 moving one or more open windows from one or more of the first desktop and the second desktop to the unified desktop; and 
 displaying an indication of the open application on the first portion of the unified desktop, in an application manager, the application manager being present in the unified desktop and including a respective indication for each open application on the unified desktop. 
   
     
     
         40 . The dual screen communication device of  claim 39 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that the personal computer has a second application open; and   in response to the determining, displaying an indication of the second application on the second portion of the unified desktop.