Cloud communication layer for a user device

1. A method of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to a cloud computing network, the method performed at a user device and comprising:

displaying, by the user device, a user workspace on a display of a user device;

maintaining, by the user device, a dedicated communications session between a graphical user interface (GUI) on the user device and the cloud computing network;

determining, by the user device, a current workspace context of the user device, wherein the current workspace context is defined by one or more application programs executing within the user workspace;

generating, by the user device, a view comprising one or more selectable widgets based on the current workspace context; and

overlaying, by the user device, the GUI on the user workspace responsive to detecting a user event at the user device, wherein overlaying the GUI on the user workspace comprises overlaying the view on the user workspace responsive to detecting the user event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining, by the user device, a current workspace context of the user device comprises:

monitoring the one or more application programs executing within the user workspace; and

determining the current workspace context based on the monitored one or more application programs.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising suspending execution of the one or more application programs executing within the user workspace while the view is visible on the user workspace.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting, by the user device, the selection of a widget by the user;

retrieving, by the user device, information associated with the selected widget from the cloud computing network via the dedicated communications session; and

displaying, by the user device, the retrieved information on the view for the user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the GUI comprises a communications layer and a cloud interface layer configured to send and receive data to the cloud computing network via the communications layer.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising establishing the dedicated communications session between the communications layer of the GUI and the cloud computing network.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

activating, by the user device, an event queue mechanism at the user device in a dedicated mode responsive to detecting the user event; and

routing, by the user device, event messages received at the event queue mechanism to the cloud interface layer via the communications layer of the GUI.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein overlaying, by the user device, the GUI on the workspace comprises:

moving a translucent overlay from an out-of-view position in which the translucent overlay is not visible on the display of the user device, to an in-view position in which the translucent overlay is visible on the display of the user device; and

returning the translucent overlay to the out-of-view position responsive to detecting another user event.

9. A user device comprising:

a display device configured to display a user workspace;

a communication interface configured to send and receive data to and from a cloud computing network; and

a programmable controller circuit configured to:

maintain a dedicated communications session between a graphical user interface (GUI) on the user device and the cloud computing network;

determine a current workspace context of the user device, wherein the current workspace context is defined by one or more application programs executing within the user workspace;

generate a view to include one or more selectable widgets based on the current workspace context; and

overlay the view on the user workspace responsive to detecting a user event at the user device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the programmable controller circuit is configured to:

monitor the one or more application programs executing within the user workspace; and

determine the current workspace context based on the monitored application programs.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the programmable controller circuit is configured to suspend execution of the one or more application programs executing within the user workspace while the view is visible on the user workspace.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the programmable controller circuit is configured to:

detect the selection of a widget by the user;

generate a message to retrieve information associated with the selected widget from the cloud computing network via the dedicated communications session; and

display the retrieved information on the view for the user.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the GUI comprises:

a communications layer configured to maintain the dedicated communications session with the cloud computing network, and

a cloud interface layer configured to send and receive data to the cloud computing network via the communications layer.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the programmable controller circuit is configured to establish the dedicated communications session between the communications layer of the GUI and the cloud computing network.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the programmable controller circuit is configured to:

activate an event queue mechanism at the user device in a dedicated mode responsive to detecting the user event; and

route event messages received at the event queue mechanism to the cloud interface layer via the communications layer of the GUI.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the cloud interface layer is partitioned into a plurality of hierarchical interface layers, each interface layer comprising one or more views, and each view having one or more selectable widgets, and wherein the programmable controller circuit is further configured to overlay a selected one of the views on the user workspace responsive to detecting the user event.

17. The device of claim 9 wherein the programmable controller circuit is further configured to:

move a translucent overlay from an out-of-view position in which the translucent overlay is not visible on the display device, to an in-view position in which the translucent overlay is visible on the display device; and

return the translucent overlay to the out-of-view position responsive to detecting another user event.