Method and mechanism for providing computer programs with computer system events

• US 20050122909A1
• Filed: 01/04/2005
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Parupudi, Gopal, Goertzel, Mario C., Srinivas, Murthy
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0604 using filtering, e.g. reduction of information by using priority, element types, position or time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A method and system for providing system event notifications to clients such as applications. Clients register for notification of one or more types of events with a registration mechanism, and a System Event Notification Service, (SENS), receives system event information and fires event notifications in response thereto. A distribution mechanism selectively communicates the fired event to each client registered for notification thereof based on the type of event. Events include network events, for which the service monitors the connectivity state of the machine, including whether a connection is established or lost, the type of connection (LAN/WAN) and bandwidth information. To monitor a LAN state, the service caches outgoing and incoming network information including errors and packet counts and statistically evaluates this cached information against current information to determine whether the connection is established or lost. The service also determines if a destination (IP address or name) is reachable, by periodically polling destinations. Other system event notifications may be fired, including logon or logoff operations and power management events.

Claims

1. A system for providing notifications of computer system events to clients, comprising, a central service configured to monitor for system events including at least one system event corresponding to whether network connectivity has changed state and to fire at least one event notification in response thereto, including at least one event notification when a network connection is established, a registration mechanism for clients to register for notification of one or more types of events, including at least one client registered for network connectivity event notification, and a distribution mechanism that communicates the fired at least one event notification to each client registered for notification thereof based on the type of event notification, wherein the client registers for notification for a type of event with the registration mechanism and includes condition information therewith, the condition information specifying at least one further condition that is met before notification of an event of the type registered is communicated to the client, and the distribution mechanism includes a filtering mechanism for selectively communicating an event notification based on at least one condition.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the registration mechanism and distribution mechanism are incorporated in a loosely coupled events database including an event class object, and wherein the central service is a publisher and each client is a subscriber.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the notification includes activating, starting or running a program or script.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the central service receives at least some of the system events from an operating system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the system event includes information related to the power state of the machine.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the system event includes information related to the logon state of the machine.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the central service receives system event information related to a network.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

a) receiving system information at a central service;

b) publishing an event notification in response thereto, the event notification having an event type associated therewith;

c) receiving the event notification at an event class object of a loosely coupled events database;

d) matching the event notification with at least one client that has subscribed for event notification based on the type of event; and

e) communicating the event notification to each client that has subscribed therefor.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of, filtering event notifications by selectively communicating event notifications based on at least one condition.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the central service receives the system information as system events from an operating system.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the system information includes information related to a network state.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the network is a wide area network, and wherein the step of receiving system information at a central service comprises the step of receiving remote access services events.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the network is a local area network, and having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of caching network information corresponding to activity on the local area network.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of evaluating cached network information to determine the state of network connectivity.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the central service publishes an event when the state of network connectivity has changed from a previous value thereof.