	US 7,552,391 B2
	Methods and arrangements for providing multiple concurrent desktops and workspaces in a shared computing environment having remote nodes
Christopher A. Evans, Redmond, Wash. (US); Giampiero M. Sierra, Seattle, Wash. (US); Victor Tan, Kirkland, Wash. (US); Praerit Garg, Kirkland, Wash. (US); David Andrew Matthews, Sarnia (Canada); Reiner Fink, Mercer Island, Wash. (US); and Paul S. Hellyar, Kirkland, Wash. (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. (US)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/606,591.
Application 10/606591 is a division of application No. 09/573628, filed on May 17, 2000, granted, now 6,807,666.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/170956, filed on Dec. 15, 1999.
Prior Publication US 2004/0088709 A1, May 06, 2004
Int. Cl. G06F 3/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 715—745

14 Claims

1. A method comprising:

configuring a single computer with a single user interface display to be concurrently and physically shared by multiple users by executing a plurality of concurrent switchable desktop environments within the single computer, comprising:

presenting a logon user interface to each user seeking to use the single computer, wherein the user directly interfaces with the single computer without implementing remote terminals; and

within the single computer:

initiating a separate desktop thread for each user who is authenticated by the logon user interface;

initiating a separate desktop associated with each desktop thread for the concurrent switchable desktop environments;

displaying on the single user interface display of the single computer only one of the desktop environments as active at a time; and

maintaining a list of the desktop threads to support switching from a first desktop to a second desktop.