Method and apparatus for event handling in an enterprise

• US 20020052980A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Novik, Lev, Sanghvi, Ashvinkumar J., Hance, Howard M., Shaudys, Fred E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

An event-handling system assigns multiple devices in an enterprise to a group. At least one event-handling policy is assigned to the group of devices. The event-handling policy assigned to the group is associated with each of the multiple devices in the group. A current state of each device is evaluated before the event-handling policy is applied to the device. A particular device may be assigned to two or more groups. The event-handling policy may define how the device is configured or the types of events that are provided to each device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

assigning a plurality of devices to a group;

assigning at least one event-handling policy to the group, wherein the assigned policy is associated with each of the plurality of devices in the group; and

evaluating a current state of each device before the assigned policy is applied to the device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein evaluating a current state of each device determines whether each device is currently a member of the group.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein evaluating a current state of each device includes:

determining whether a particular device is currently a member of the group; and

applying the assigned policy to the particular device if the particular device is currently a member of the group.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each device is assigned at least one additional policy that is not assigned to the group.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a particular device is assigned to multiple groups.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the event-handling policy defines how the device is configured.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the event-handling policy identifies the types of events that are provided to each device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method is implemented by a management module.

9. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a group of devices having an associated event-handling policy;

an event log configured to store event data; and

a management module coupled to the group of devices and the event log, wherein a current state of each device in the group of devices is evaluated by the management module before the event-handling policy is applied to the device.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein a plurality of groups of devices are coupled to the management module.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein each device in the group of devices is assigned at least one policy that is not assigned to the group.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the event-handling policy defines how the devices are configured.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the event-handling policy identifies the types of events that are provided to each device.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the apparatus is part of an enterprise computing system.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the management module receives event data generated by a plurality of event providers.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the management module determines whether a particular device is currently a member of the group before the event-handling policy is applied to the device.

19. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 18 wherein a particular device is assigned to multiple groups of devices.

20. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 18 wherein the event-handling policy defines the type of event data that is provided to each device.

18. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the process of:

assigning a plurality of devices to a group;

identifying an event-handling policy associated with the group of devices;

assigning the event-handling policy to the group of devices; and

evaluating a current state of each device before the assigned event-handling policy is applied to the device.