Xml-based web feed for web access of remote resources

Abstract

Techniques for XML (Extensible Markup Language) web feeds for web access of remote resources are described. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining information regarding one or more available resources from one or more resource hosts, rendering the information regarding one or more available resources into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, and providing the XML document to a user device.

1 . A method for managing remote resources, comprising:
 sending a request to one or more remote resource hosts requesting information regarding one or more available remote resources available on each of the one or more remote resource hosts;   receiving the requested information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts, the one or more available remote resources including a first available remote resource, the requested information including launching information for launching the first available remote resource, and file associations identifying one or more types of files associated with the first available remote resource; and   rendering the information regarding the one or more available remote resources into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document that describes the one or more available remote resources in a non-client specific format, the rendered information regarding the first available remote resource including at least one icon corresponding to the first available remote resource, wherein the icon is activatable to launch the first available remote resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rendering the information regarding the one or more available remote resources into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document includes rendering the information regarding the one or more available remote resources into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document in response to receiving a request for available resources. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing the XML document to a syndication feed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises providing to the Extensible Markup Language (XML) document timestamp information for each of the one or more available remote resources, the timestamp information identifying whether each of the one or more available remote resources have been modified. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rendering the information regarding one or more available resources into an XML document includes rendering the information regarding one or more available resources into an XML document using an XML presentation layer operating on a web server, the web server operatively communicating with the one or more remote resource hosts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the XML presentation layer includes an XML feed component, and wherein rendering the information regarding one or more available remote resources into an XML document includes rendering the information regarding one or more available remote resources into an XML document using the XML feed component. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the XML presentation layer includes an information component, the method further comprising receiving a request for available remote resources into the information component, and providing a call for an XML feed from the information component to the XML feed component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining whether a current list of available remote resources is cached and available, and wherein obtaining information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts includes obtaining information regarding one or more available remote resources if the current list of available remote resources is not cached and available. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rendering the information regarding one or more available remote resources into an XML document includes rendering one or more of remote application files, icons, or RDP files. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document containing information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts, the one or more available remote resources including a first available remote resource and the XML document being configured to describe the one or more available remote resources in a non-client specific format, the information including file associations identifying one or more types of files capable of acting with the first available remote resource;   parsing the XML document to determine the one or more available remote resources;   rendering information regarding the one or more available remote resources to provide at least one icon, a first of the at least one icon corresponding to first available remote resource, wherein the icon is activatable to launch the first available remote resource;   changing one or more resources of the one or more available remote resources by removing or adding the one or more resources with respect to being available; and   automatically changing the rendered information to correspond to the changing of the one or more resources.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving an XML document containing information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts includes receiving an XML document as a syndication feed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving an XML document containing information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts includes receiving an XML document having timestamp information for each of the one or more available remote resources, the method further comprising determining whether each of the one or more available remote resources have been modified from a previously-available resource version using the timestamp information. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein parsing the XML document to determine the one or more available remote resources includes parsing the XML document to identify one or more of remote application files, icons, or RDP files. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising issuing a request for information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts provisioned in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising launching the first available remote resource using the first of the at least one icon corresponding to the first available remote resource. 
     
     
         16 . A computing system, comprising:
 a processing unit;   a communication component operatively coupled to the processing unit; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processing unit and having an Extensible Markup Language (XML) presentation layer stored thereon, the XML presentation layer being configured to perform operations that, when executed on the processing unit, perform a method including:
 sending a request to one or more remote resource hosts requesting information regarding one or more available remote resources available on each of the one or more remote resource hosts; 
 receiving the requested information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more remote resource hosts, the one or more available remote resources including a first available remote resource, the requested information including launching information for launching the first available remote resource, and file associations identifying one or more types of files associated with the first available remote resource; and 
 rendering the information regarding the one or more available remote resources into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document that describes the one or more available remote resources in a non-client specific format; the rendered information regarding the first available remote resource including at least one icon corresponding to the first available remote resource, wherein the icon is activatable to launch the first available remote resource. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the XML presentation layer includes an XML feed component, and wherein the processor renders the information regarding one or more available remote resources into an XML document using the XML feed component. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor further provides the XML document to a syndication feed. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor renders the information regarding one or more available remote resources into an XML document having timestamp information for each of the one or more available remote resources, the timestamp information identifying whether each of the one or more available remote resources have been modified from a previously-available resource version. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor further determines whether a current list of available remote resources is cached and available, and obtains information regarding one or more available remote resources from one or more resource hosts by obtaining information regarding one or more available remote resources if the current list of available remote resources is not cached and available.