Providing on-demand applications using layering

1. A virtual server comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

create a single composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and an application shortcut that includes a representation of an application while not including the application, with the application shortcut comprising a programs menu, file extension mapping and component object model (COM) objects representing the application,

provide the single composited layered image as a virtual session to a client computing device, and

mount an application layer to the single composited layered image in response to a user of the client computing device interacting with the application shortcut, with the application layer including the application.

2. The virtual server according to claim 1 wherein mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image makes the application available to the user without requiring the user to further interact with the application shortcut.

3. The virtual server according to claim 1 wherein the application shortcut transfers control to the application in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut.

4. A method for operating a virtual server comprising:

creating a single composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and an application shortcut that includes a representation of an application while not including the application, with the application shortcut comprising a programs menu, file extension mapping and component object model (COM) objects representing the application;

providing the single composited layered image as a virtual session to a client computing device; and

mounting an application layer to the single composited layered image in response to a user of the client computing device interacting with the application shortcut, with the application layer including the application.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image makes the application available to the user without requiring the user to further interact with the application shortcut.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the application shortcut transfers control to the application in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut.

7. A virtual server comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

create a single composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and an application shortcut that includes a representation of an application while not including the application,

provide the single composited layered image as a virtual session to a client computing device,

mount an application layer to the single composited layered image in response to a user of the client computing device interacting with the application shortcut, with the application layer including the application, and

revert to the application shortcut a next time the user logs into the virtual server if the application is not being used by the user.

8. The virtual server according to claim 7 wherein mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image makes the application available to the user without requiring the user to further interact with the application shortcut.

9. The virtual server according to claim 7 wherein the application shortcut transfers control to the application in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut.

10. The virtual server according to claim 7 wherein the application shortcut comprises an icon and textual information representing the application.

11. The virtual server according to claim 7 wherein said at least one processor is further configured to report on usage of the application each time the user logs into the virtual server.

12. A method for operating a virtual server comprising:

creating a single composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and an application shortcut that includes a representation of an application while not including the application;

providing the single composited layered image as a virtual session to a client computing device;

mounting an application layer to the single composited layered image in response to a user of the client computing device interacting with the application shortcut, with the application layer including the application; and

reverting to the application shortcut a next time the user logs into the virtual server if the application is not being used by the user.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image makes the application available to the user without requiring the user to further interact with the application shortcut.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the application shortcut transfers control to the application in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the application shortcut comprises an icon and textual information representing the application.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising reporting on usage of the application each time the user logs into the virtual server.

17. A virtual server comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

create a single composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and an application shortcut that includes a representation of an application while not including the application,

provide the single composited layered image as a virtual session to a client computing device,

mount an application layer to the single composited layered image in response to a user of the client computing device interacting with the application shortcut, with the application layer including the application, and

in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut, compare a location of the client computing device to an application geo-location database before mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image, with the application geo-location database defining where the application can be accessed.

18. The virtual server according to claim 17 wherein mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image makes the application available to the user without requiring the user to further interact with the application shortcut.

19. The virtual server according to claim 17 wherein the application shortcut transfers control to the application in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut.

20. A method for operating a virtual server comprising:

creating a single composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and an application shortcut that includes a representation of an application while not including the application;

providing the single composited layered image as a virtual session to a client computing device;

mounting an application layer to the single composited layered image in response to a user of the client computing device interacting with the application shortcut, with the application layer including the application; and

in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut, comparing a location of the client computing device to an application geo-location database before mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image, with the application geo-location database defining where the application can be accessed.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein mounting the application layer to the single composited layered image makes the application available to the user without requiring the user to further interact with the application shortcut.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein the application shortcut transfers control to the application in response to the user interacting with the application shortcut.