Method and system for sharing applications between computer systems

A method in a computer system for coordinating z-ordering of windows on a first computer system and a second computer system, the method comprising:

• displaying the windows on the first computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
• displaying the windows on the second computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
• when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the first computer system, sending a notification to the second computer system so that the second computer system can modify the z-ordering of its windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the windows at the first computer system;
• sending a notification to the first computer system when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the second computer system;
• and
• modifying the z-ordering of the first computer system's windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the second computer system's windows upon receiving the sent notification at the first computer system.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to coordinate z-ordering of windows on a first computer system and a second computer system, by:

• displaying the windows on the first computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
• displaying the windows on the second computer system, the windows having a z-ordering;
• when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the first computer system, sending a notification to the second computer system so that the second computer system can modify the z-ordering of its windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the windows at the first computer system;
• sending a notification to the first computer system when the z-ordering of the displayed windows is modified at the second computer system;
• and
• modifying the z-ordering of the first computer system's windows in accordance with the z-ordering of the second computer system's windows upon receiving the sent notification at the first computer system.

A method for coordinating a z-ordering of windows shared among a group of computers, where each of the computers has a base number for tracking a state of the z-ordering of the windows, the method comprising the steps of:

• initially setting the base numbers to equal values for all of the computers in the group;
• changing the z-ordering of the windows at one of the computers;
• increasing the value of the base number of the one computer to a new value in response to the changing of the z-ordering;
• notifying other computers in the group of the change in the z-ordering at the one computer and the new value of the base number;
• and
• applying the change at each of the other computers in the group and setting the base number to the new value of the base number if the new value of the base number is greater than the base number at the other computer.

A method on a first computer for coordinating a z-ordering of windows shared between the first computer and a second computer, where each of the computers has a base number for tracking a state of the z-ordering of the windows, the method comprising:

• initially setting the first computer's base number to a value equal to the value of the second computer's base number;
• changing the z-ordering of the windows at the first computer;
• increasing the value of the first computer's base number to a new value in response to the changing of the z-ordering;
• sending a notification to the second computer of the change in the z-ordering at the first computer and the new value of the first computer's base number;
• receiving a notification from the second computer of a change in the z-ordering at the second computer and a new value of the second computer's base number;
• and
• applying the change at the first computer and setting the first computer's base number to the received value of the base number if the received value of the base number is greater than the first computer's base number.