Abstract: Methods and apparatus of interfacing with a computer user via virtual thumbnails are disclosed. The system determines the number of zones for each virtual thumbnail, the variable to represent in each zone, and the current state of each of those variables. The system then dynamically renders each of the virtual thumbnails accordingly. For example, if the top-left zone of a virtual thumbnail is to indicate the current operating system associated with a virtual machine, and the current operating system for that virtual machine is Microsoft Windows, then the system displays a flying window icon in the top-left zone of that virtual thumbnail. Once the virtual thumbnail are displayed, the system looks for events associated with the virtual thumbnails (e.g., a click in one of the zones) and executes instructions in response to detecting those events (e.g., show virtual thumbnails indicative of the operating system's services if the operating system zone of a virtual thumbnail is clicked).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of interfacing with a computer user via virtual thumbnails are disclosed. The system determines the number of zones for each virtual thumbnail, the variable to represent in each zone, and the current state of each of those variables. The system then dynamically renders each of the virtual thumbnails accordingly. For example, if the top-left zone of a virtual thumbnail is to indicate the current operating system associated with a virtual machine, and the current operating system for that virtual machine is Microsoft Windows, then the system displays a flying window icon in the top-left zone of that virtual thumbnail. Once the virtual thumbnail are displayed, the system looks for events associated with the virtual thumbnails (e.g., a click in one of the zones) and executes instructions in response to detecting those events (e.g., show virtual thumbnails indicative of the operating system's services if the operating system zone of a virtual thumbnail is clicked).