Portable computer detection for applying configuration settings in a networked environment

• US 20040098446A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quest Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ScriptLogic Corporation (Quest Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Styles, Brian, Bucklew, Charles B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system, a computer readable medium and a method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on client systems. This includes receiving one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more user selectable settings. The events, the settings and the environmental conditions are previously set graphically using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable selections therein on a server. These events, local run-time environmental conditions along with settings are delivered to a client system. A monitoring agent on the client system is used to detect when one or more predetermined events occur including if the client system is a portable computer as opposed to a desktop computer. When an event occurs, a test is made to determine if one or more local run-time environmental conditions are met, and if the conditions are met then the agent automatically applies one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system.

Claims

1. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client system, the method on a client system comprising:

receiving at least one local run-time environmental condition including at least one condition based on whether a client system is one of a desktop and a portable system to determine whether one or more selectable configuration settings are applied on the client system, wherein the one or more selectable configuration settings are previously set graphically using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable configuration settings therein; and

determining if the environmental condition is met where the client system is a portable system and then applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if the environmental condition is met where the client system is a portable system includes determining, in the following order, one or more of the following:

a client CPU is a mobile type;

a PC Card driver is started;

a PC Card is inserted in a socket;

a system battery is present;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is connected; and

a portable power scheme is selected in an operating system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if the environmental condition is met where the client system is a portable system includes assigning a confidence value to each of the following:

a client CPU is a mobile type;

a PC Card driver is started;

a PC Card is inserted in a socket;

a system battery is present;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is connected; and

a portable power scheme is selected in an operating system and using one or more of the confidence values to determine if the client system is a laptop.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if the environmental condition is met includes applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system for an application'"'"'s default document file location path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if the environmental condition is met includes applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings includes removing any folder redirections to a network resource.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if the environmental condition is met includes applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings includes removing any proxy server authentication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining if the environmental condition is met includes applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings includes removing any proxy server authentication required for logout and shutdown.