Configuring a computer for using mobile devices as input and output devices
A method determines mobile devices for connection to a computer that has an operating system for a user session. Then, the method configures device drivers to enable communication between the operating system and the mobile devices. The operating system is configured to use a first mobile device as a first type of input/output (I/O) device and the operating system is configured to use a second mobile device as a second type of input/output (I/O) device. Also, the method processes communications between the mobile devices and the operating system via the device drivers for the user session. A first type of communication is between the first mobile device and the operating system via the first device driver to use the first mobile device as the first type of I/O device and a second type of communication is between the second mobile device and the operating system via the second device driver to use the second mobile device as the second type of I/O device.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a first message indicating a first mobile device in a plurality of mobile devices is requesting to join a user session as a first type of input/output (I/O) device and receiving a second message indicating a second mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices is requesting to join the user session as a second type of input/output (I/O) device;
determining a first device driver to enable communication between an operating system and a first type of the first mobile device as the first type of input/output (I/O) device and determining a second device driver to enable communication between the operating system and a second type of the second mobile device as the second type of input/output (I/O) device; and
processing a first type of communication between the first mobile device and the operating system via the first device driver to use the first mobile device as the first type of I/O device and a second type of communication between the second mobile device and the operating system via the second device driver to use the second mobile device as the second type of I/O device.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising configuring a plurality of ports to enable communication between the operating system and the plurality of mobile devices, wherein a first port is selected based on the first type of I/O device and the second port is selected based on the second type of I/O device.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising:
determining whether the operating system allows the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device; and
configuring the first port or the second port only when the operation system allows the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device, respectively.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein
processing the first type of communication or the second type of communication comprises:
translating, using the first device driver or the second device driver, the first type of communication or the second type of communication from the first mobile device or the second mobile device to the operating system to allow the first mobile device or the second mobile device to be used as the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device, respectively.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
emulating, via a virtual machine, the first type of I/O device and the second type of I/O device to the virtual machine, wherein the first type of communication is via the emulated first type of I/O device and the second type of communication is via the emulated second type of I/O device.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a menu for a plurality of types of input/output (I/O) devices; and
receiving a first selection from the first mobile device that requests the first type of I/O device for the user session and a second selection from the second mobile device that requests the second type of I/O device for the user session.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first type of I/O device and the second type of I/O device are selected from a group comprising a mouse, keyboard, and screen, and
the first type of I/O device is different from the second type of I/O device.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that when executed, control a computer system to be configured for:
receiving a first message indicating a first mobile device in a plurality of mobile devices is requesting to join a user session as a first type of input/output (I/O) device and receiving a second message indicating a second mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices is requesting to join the user session as a second type of input/output (I/O) device;
determining a first device driver to enable communication between an operating system and a first type of the first mobile device as the first type of input/output (I/O) device and determining a second device driver to enable communication between the operating system and a second type of the second mobile device as the second type of input/output (I/O) device; and
processing a first type of communication between the first mobile device and the operating system via the first device driver to use the first mobile device as the first type of I/O device and a second type of communication between the second mobile device and the operating system via the second device driver to use the second mobile device as the second type of I/O device.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , further configured for configuring a plurality of ports to enable communication between the operating system and the plurality of mobile devices, wherein a first port is selected based on the first type of I/O device and the second port is selected based on the second type of I/O device.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , further configured for:
determining whether the operating system allows the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device; and
configuring the first port or the second port only when the operation system allows the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device, respectively.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein processing the first type of communication or the second type of communication comprises:
translating, using the first device driver or the second device driver, the first type of communication or the second type of communication from the first mobile device or the second mobile device to the operating system to allow the first mobile device or the second mobile device to be used as the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device, respectively.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
emulating, via a virtual machine, the first type of I/O device and the second type of I/O device to the virtual machine, wherein the first type of communication is via the emulated first type of I/O device and the second type of communication is via the emulated second type of I/O device.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , further configured for:
providing a menu for a plurality of types of input/output (I/O) devices; and
receiving a first selection from the first mobile device that requests the first type of I/O device for the user session and a second selection from the second mobile device that requests the second type of I/O device for the user session.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the first type of I/O device and the second type of I/O device are selected from a group comprising a mouse, keyboard, and screen, and
the first type of I/O device is different from the second type of I/O device.
15. An apparatus comprising:
one or more computer processors; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be configured for:
receiving a first message indicating a first mobile device in a plurality of mobile devices is requesting to join a user session as a first type of input/output (I/O) device and receiving a second message indicating a second mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices is requesting to join the user session as a second type of input/output (I/O) device;
determining a first device driver to enable communication between an operating system and a first type of the first mobile device as the first type of input/output (I/O) device and determining a second device driver to enable communication between the operating system and a second type of the second mobile device as the second type of input/output (I/O) device; and
processing a first type of communication between the first mobile device and the operating system via the first device driver to use the first mobile device as the first type of I/O device and a second type of communication between the second mobile device and the operating system via the second device driver to use the second mobile device as the second type of I/O device.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , further configured for configuring a plurality of ports to enable communication between the operating system and the plurality of mobile devices, wherein a first port is selected based on the first type of I/O device and the second port is selected based on the second type of I/O device.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , further configured for:
determining whether the operating system allows the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device; and
configuring the first port or the second port only when the operation system allows the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device, respectively.
18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein processing the first type of communication or the second type of communication comprises:
translating, using the first device driver or the second device driver, the first type of communication or the second type of communication from the first mobile device or the second mobile device to the operating system to allow the first mobile device or the second mobile device to be used as the first type of I/O device or the second type of I/O device, respectively.
19. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:
emulating, via a virtual machine, the first type of I/O device and the second type of I/O device to the virtual machine, wherein the first type of communication is via the emulated first type of I/O device and the second type of communication is via the emulated second type of I/O device.
20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , further configured for:
providing a menu for a plurality of types of input/output (I/O) devices; and
receiving a first selection from the first mobile device that requests the first type of I/O device for the user session and a second selection from the second mobile device that requests the second type of I/O device for the user session.
21. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein:
the first type of I/O device and the second type of I/O device are selected from a group comprising a mouse, keyboard, and screen, and
the first type of I/O device is different from the second type of I/O device.