Management of a multi-focus remote control session

Abstract

A method and system for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within a computer system. A unique identifier (UserID) of each user and associated input devices are registered to the RCS. The users have shared concurrent control of a computer screen via the input devices. Responsive to selection of windows within the computer screen by the input devices, concurrently operative focus is provided to each selected window and is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window. Each selected window having focus may be accessed and manipulated by only the input devices associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific. The selected windows to which focus has been provided are recording in a computer readable medium in association with the UserID specific to the selection of the windows.

1 . A method for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within a computer system, said method comprising:
 responsive to selection of a window within a computer screen of the computer system by an input device of at least one input device associated with a UserID of each user of a plurality of users after each user has been registered to the RCS, a processor of the computer system providing focus to each selected window, wherein the focus provided to the selected windows are concurrently operative, wherein the focus provided to each window is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window, and wherein each selected window having focus is configured to be accessed and manipulated by only the at least one input device associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific, and wherein the UserID of each user is a unique identifier of each user within the RCS; and   said processor recording, in a computer readable storage medium of the computer system, the selected windows to which focus has been provided, wherein each selected window is recorded in association with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of users include a first user and a second user, wherein the focus provided to a first window of the selected windows is specific to the UserID of the first user, wherein the focus provided to a second window of the selected windows is specific to the UserID of the second user, and wherein the method further comprises:
 said processor tracking and recording a first input stream generated by a first input device of the at least one input device associated with the UserID of the first user with respect to manipulation of content within the first window by the first input device during a first interval of time; and   said processor tracking and recording a second input stream generated by a second input device of the at least one input device associated with the UserID of the second user with respect to manipulation of content within the second window by the second input device during a second interval of time, wherein the first input stream and the second input stream comprise simultaneous manipulation of content within the first window and the second window by the first input device and the second input device during the first interval of time and the second interval of time, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first window and the second window are different windows. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first window does not overlap the second window, and wherein the second window does not overlap the first window. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first window and the second window are in a first configuration in which a first portion of the first window overlaps a second portion of the second window. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises:
 said processor authorizing a user input device to move and/or resize at least one window to change a configuration of the first window and the second window from the first configuration to a second configuration in which the first and second windows do not overlap, wherein the user input device is selected from the group consisting of the first input device and the second input device, and wherein the at least one window is selected from the group consisting of the first window, the second window, and both the first window and the second window.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the user input device is the first input device if the first user was registered to the RCS before the second user was registered to the RCS,   wherein the user input device is the second input device if the second user was registered to the RCS before the first user was registered to the RCS.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first user has a first user priority,   wherein the second user has a second user priority that differs from the first user priority,   wherein the user input device is the first input device if the first user priority is higher than the second user priority,   wherein the user input device is the second input device if the second user priority is higher than the first user priority.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first window comprises a first application having a first application priority,   wherein the second window comprises a second application having a second application priority that differs from the first application priority,   wherein the user input device is the first input device if the first application priority is higher than the second application priority,   wherein the user input device is the second input device if the second application priority is higher than the first application priority.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the simultaneous manipulation comprises simultaneous manipulation of content within the first portion of the first window and the second portion of the second window by the first input device and the second input device during the first interval of time and the second interval of time, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first input device is a first mouse, and wherein the second input device is a second mouse. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first window and the second window are a same window. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first input device is a first mouse, and wherein the second input device is a second mouse. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first user has administrator rights to save content within the first window via an association of the administrator rights with the UserID of the first user, wherein the UserID of the second user is mapped to the UserID of the first user, and wherein the second input stream comprises an action by the second input device to save a file derived from content within the same window, and wherein said tracking the second input stream comprises detecting the action in the second input stream to save the file, and wherein the method further comprises:
 said processor ascertaining that the action to close the file is authorized, said ascertaining based the mapping of the UserID of the second user to the UserID of the first user in conjunction with the administrator rights associated with the UserID of the first user; and   after said ascertaining, said processor saving the file.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the simultaneous manipulation comprises a selection of first content in the same window by the first input device that is simultaneous with a selection of second content in the same window by the second input device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the simultaneous manipulation further comprises a dragging in the same window of the selected first content that is simultaneous with a dragging in the same window of the selected second content. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 prior to said providing focus to each selected window, said processor registering to the RCS the UserID of each user and the at least one input device associated with the UserID of each user, wherein each user is coupled to the RCS via a communication network to which the computer system is coupled, and wherein said registering results in the plurality of users having shared concurrent control of the computer screen via the at least one input device associated with the UserID of each user.   
     
     
         18 . A computer program product, comprising a computer readable tangible storage device computer readable program code stored therein, said program code configured to be executed by a processor of a computer system to implement a method for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within the computer system, said method comprising:
 responsive to selection of a window within a computer screen of the computer system by an input device of at least one input device associated with a UserID of each user of a plurality of users after each user has been registered to the RCS, said processor providing focus to each selected window, wherein the focus provided to the selected windows are concurrently operative, wherein the focus provided to each window is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window, and wherein each selected window having focus is configured to be accessed and manipulated by only the at least one input device associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific, and wherein the UserID of each user is a unique identifier of each user within the RCS; and   said processor recording, in a computer readable storage medium of the computer system, the selected windows to which focus has been provided, wherein each selected window is recorded in association with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific.   
     
     
         19 . A computer system, comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, said storage device containing program code configured to be executed by the processor via the memory to implement a method for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within the computer system, said method comprising:
 responsive to selection of a window within a computer screen of the computer system by an input device of at least one input device associated with a UserID of each user of a plurality of users after each user has been registered to the RCS, said processor providing focus to each selected window, wherein the focus provided to the selected windows are concurrently operative, wherein the focus provided to each window is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window, and wherein each selected window having focus is configured to be accessed and manipulated by only the at least one input device associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific, and wherein the UserID of each user is a unique identifier of each user within the RCS; and   said processor recording, in a computer readable storage medium of the computer system, the selected windows to which focus has been provided, wherein each selected window is recorded in association with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific.   
     
     
         20 . A process for integrating computing infrastructure, said process comprising integrating computer-readable code into a computer system, wherein the computer-readable code in combination with the computer system is configured to perform a method for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within the computer system, said method comprising:
 responsive to selection of a window within a computer screen of the computer system by an input device of at least one input device associated with a UserID of each user of a plurality of users after each user has been registered to the RCS, a processor of the computer system providing focus to each selected window, wherein the focus provided to the selected windows are concurrently operative, wherein the focus provided to each window is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window, and wherein each selected window having focus is configured to be accessed and manipulated by only the at least one input device associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific, and wherein the UserID of each user is a unique identifier of each user within the RCS; and   said processor recording, in a computer readable storage medium of the computer system, the selected windows to which focus has been provided, wherein each selected window is recorded in association with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific.