Patent ID: 8306961

Claim:
An access system for a client connected to a server in a computer network to provide access to an instance of a resource stored in at least one of said server and said client, said access system comprising: a microprocessor in said client; a memory component for storing instructions for execution on said microprocessor; a first module providing instructions to said microprocessor to generate a first icon on a display associated with said client using said data, said first icon providing a graphic representation of a source of said instance of said resource reflecting whether said resource is located at said client or at said server; to monitor for activation of said first icon at said client; to initiate execution of said resource either on said client or said server for said client depending on whether said resource is to be accessed on said client first or said server first and to cause said application to access a file used by said resource through either said client or said server depending on whether said file is to be accessed on either said client first or said server first; to update a registry containing activation information on said resource, said registry being accessible by other processes operating on devices in said network; and to initiate an access of said resource on said client after attempting to access said resource on said server, if said server is not accessible; a second module in said client providing instructions to said microprocessor to provide access to a directory structure stored on a second server in said network using Active Directory (AD) protocols to authenticate said client with said server; and a third module in said client providing instructions to said microprocessor to provide said client with communication access to said server and to provide secure access using a secure gateway tunnel to said application that uses said file through Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) commands, wherein said resource is an application that can execute on said client or said server.