Remote session control using multi-touch inputs

A computer system comprising the following:

• one or more processors;
• one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform a method for accessing and controlling a remote desktop using a multi-touch display of a local computing system, the method comprising:
• displaying the remote desktop on the multi-touch display of the local computing system;
• detecting an initial point of user contact with the multi-touch display when the display is not engaged as a trackpad;
• in response to detecting, engaging the multi-touch display as a trackpad;
• and
• in response to detecting, initiating a cursor pointer for controlling the multi-touch display as the trackpad, the cursor pointer's position being independent of the initial point of user contact, the cursor being controllable from any part of the multi-touch display.

A computer system comprising the following:

• one or more processors;
• one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform a method for accessing and controlling a remote desktop using a multi-touch display of a local computing system, the method comprising:
• displaying the remote desktop on the multi-touch display of the local computing system;
• and
• upon detecting a first user contact with the multi-touch display when the display is not engaged as a trackpad, engaging the multi-touch display as a trackpad;
• and assigning the user contact as a cursor pointer for controlling the multi-touch display as the trackpad;
• and
• upon detecting a second user contact while the first user contact is still applied to the multi-touch display, if the second user contact is within a first relative position with respect to the first user contact, interpreting the second user contact as a pressing of a first pointer control, and causing a first control press command to be transmitted to the remote computing system, wherein the first pointer control is interpreted as remaining pressed until either the first or second user contact has ended, after which a first control release command is transmitted to the remote computing system;
• and
• upon detecting a third user contact while the first user contact is still applied to the multi-touch display, if the third user contact is within a second relative position with respect to the first user contact, interpreting the third user contact as a pressing of a second pointer control, and causing a second control press command to be transmitted to the remote computing system, wherein the second pointer control is interpreted as remaining pressed until either the first or third user contact has ended, after which a second control release command is transmitted to the remote computing system.