Reverse Seamless Integration Between Local and Remote Computing Environments

Abstract

Methods and systems for transparent user interface integration between remote (“published”) applications and their local counterparts are described, providing a seamless, unified user experience, and allowing integration of a start menu, dock, taskbar, desktop shortcuts, windows, window and application switching, system tray elements, client-to-host and host-to-client file type association, URL redirection, browser cookie redirection, token redirection, status message interception and redirection, and other elements. These methods and systems further enhance theme-integration between a client and remote desktop or virtual machine by remoting all UI elements to a recipient for generation, including text controls, buttons, progress bars, radio buttons, list boxes, or other elements; presenting them with the receiver's product and OS-specific UI; and returning status back to the sender. This may achieve a more unified and transparent UI integration. Furthermore, international text may be correctly received in cross-language environments, or translated into the language of the presenting environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing a first operating system, and further storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to:
 display, via a virtual desktop receiver application, a remote desktop environment associated with a remote computing device; 
 prevent display, in a local desktop environment, of one or more user interface elements of a local application; and 
 cause display, via the virtual desktop receiver application and in the remote desktop environment, of the one or more user interface elements of the local application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to:
 receive a request to terminate the remote desktop; and   cause display, in response to the request and via the local desktop environment, of the one or more user interface elements of the local application.   
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to prevent display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 hide a local application window corresponding to the local application.   
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user interface elements comprise a status message. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to cause display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 redirect the one or more user interface elements using one or more application programming interface (API) hooks.   
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to cause display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 display, in a taskbar of the remote desktop environment, a taskbar element associated with the local application.   
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to cause display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 modify, based on a display property of the remote desktop environment, a display property of the one or more user interface elements.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 displaying, by a computing device and via a virtual desktop receiver application, a remote desktop environment associated with a remote computing device;   preventing display, by the computing device and in a local desktop environment, of one or more user interface elements of a local application; and   causing display, by the computing device, via the virtual desktop receiver application, and in the remote desktop environment, of the one or more user interface elements of the local application.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to terminate the remote desktop; and   causing display, in response to the request and via the local desktop environment, of the one or more user interface elements of the local application.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein preventing display of the one or more user interface elements comprises:
 hiding a local application window corresponding to the local application.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more user interface elements comprise a status message. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing display of the one or more user interface elements comprises:
 redirecting the one or more user interface elements using one or more application programming interface (API) hooks.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing display of the one or more user interface elements comprises:
 displaying, in a taskbar of the remote desktop environment, a taskbar element associated with the local application.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing display of the one or more user interface elements comprises:
 modifying, based on a display property of the remote desktop environment, a display property of the one or more user interface elements.   
     
     
         15 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform:
 display, via a virtual desktop receiver application, a remote desktop environment associated with a remote computing device;   prevent display, in a local desktop environment, of one or more user interface elements of a local application; and   cause display, via the virtual desktop receiver application and in the remote desktop environment, of the one or more user interface elements of the local application.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing device to:
 receive a request to terminate the remote desktop; and   cause display, in response to the request and via the local desktop environment, of the one or more user interface elements of the local application.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing device to prevent display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 hide a local application window corresponding to the local application.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more user interface elements comprise a status message. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing device to cause display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 redirect the one or more user interface elements using one or more application programming interface (API) hooks.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing device to cause display of the one or more user interface elements by causing the computing device to:
 display, in a taskbar of the remote desktop environment, a taskbar element associated with the local application.