US 6,204,847 B1Granted

Shared virtual desktop collaborative application system

OwnerDaniel W. Wrightinventor

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Abstract

A computer system, including a processor, an input device and an output device and that executes an operating system to support the execution, is used to execute first and second sets of application programs. The operating system includes a graphical user interface coupleable through an output driver to the output device and an input interface including an input queue coupleable through an input driver to the input device. 1An environment manager program is also executed by the processor. This program includes a third list of a second set of application programs and a fourth list of application program windows corresponding to the second list of application programs. Execution of the environment manager program provides for the inclusion of the environment manager program in the first and second sets and for selectively swapping with the operating system the first and third lists and the second and fourth lists to switch between the execution of the first and second sets of application programs.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of operating a computer system under the control of an operating system that provides for the execution of application programs, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first window list structure to store data defining the logical appearance of a first set of display windows associated with a first set of application programs;
b) providing a second window list structure to store data defining the logical appearance of a second set of display windows associated with a second set of application programs;
c) providing for the drawing of the logical appearance of said first set of display windows in a first display space managed by said operating system by associating, exclusive of said second window list structure, said first window list structure with said operating system during the execution of said first set of application programs;
and
d) providing for the drawing of the logical appearance of said second set of display windows within a second display space managed by said operating system by associating, exclusive of said first window list structure, said second window list structure with said operating system during the execution of said second set of application programs, and further providing for the transposition of said second display space into a predetermined display window of said first set of display windows.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.