Unified desktop docking behavior for visible-to-visible extension

Abstract

Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface or “desktop” across two devices are provided. More particularly, a unified desktop is presented across a device and a computer system that comprise a unified system. The unified desktop acts as a single user interface that presents data and receives user interaction in a seamless environment that emulates a personal computing environment. To function within the personal computing environment, the unified desktop includes a process for docking and undocking the device with the computer system. The unified desktop presents desktops or windows based on a set of pre-determined rules.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a device, wherein the device displays a first window before the device is docketed;   providing a computer system;   docking the device to the computer system to form a unified system;   generating a unified desktop for the unified system, wherein the unified desktop includes at least a first user interface associated with the device and a second user interface associated with the computer system, and wherein the unified desktop emulates a personal computer environment; and   in response to the docking, displaying the first window on the second user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising executing a first rule, wherein the first rule is associated with changes in the display of the first window after docking the device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first rule is associated with the first window that was displayed on the device before docking. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, after docking, the first window is not displayed on the first user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein, before docking, the second user interface displays a second window. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second window is hidden after docking. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a unified desktop is displayed on the first user interface after docking. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a third window is opened in the second user interface after docking. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, upon undocking, the third window is moved from the second user interface to the first user interface associated with the device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, upon undocking, the second user interface displays the second window again. 
     
     
         11 . A unified system, comprising:
 a computer system comprising:
 a first screen; 
 a processor; 
 a memory 
   a device comprising:
 a second screen; 
 a second memory; 
 a second processor; 
 wherein the device is docked with the computer system to form the unified system, the device is operable to move an application window, displayed previously on the second screen, to the first screen. 
   
     
     
         12 . The unified system  11 , wherein a first rule is associated with changes in the display of the application window on the device after docking the device, wherein the first rule is associated with the application window that was displayed on the device before docking. 
     
     
         13 . The unified system of  claim 11 , wherein, before docking, the first screen displays a second window, and wherein the second window is hidden after docking. 
     
     
         14 . The unified system of  claim 11 , wherein a unified desktop is displayed on the first second screen after docking. 
     
     
         15 . The unified system of  claim 11 , wherein the first screen displays a second window before docking, wherein a third window is opened in the first screen after docking, wherein upon undocking, the third window is moved from the first screen to the second screen associated with the device, and wherein, upon undocking, the first screen displays the second window again. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor to execute a method for providing a unified desktop, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
 upon docking a device with a computer system, instructions to generate a unified desktop for the unified system, wherein the unified desktop includes a first user interface associated with the device and a second user interface associated with the computer system, and wherein the unified desktop emulates a personal computer environment;   based on the docking, instructions to move an application window, displayed previously on the first user interface from the second user interface.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein a first rule is associated with changes in the display of the application window on the device after docking the device, wherein the first rule is associated with the application window that was displayed on the device before docking. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein, before docking, the second user interface displays a second window, and wherein the second window is hidden after docking. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein a unified desktop is displayed on the first user interface after docking. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein a third window is opened in the second user interface after docking, wherein upon undocking, the third window is moved from the second user interface to the first user interface associated with the device, and wherein, upon undocking, the second user interface displays the second window again.