Virtual application manager

• US 20060031529A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maxsp Corporation
• Inventors: Keith, Robert O. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system and method are provided for managing applications over a network between a server system and client computers. In one example, the method involves receiving user login information from a client computer, then accessing on the server system a user profile associated with the login information. The user profile includes a user environment configuration for a client environment. Transport protocols are selected based on the user profile. The transport protocols are protocols for transporting information between the server system and the client computer. The user environment configuration stored on the server system is then synchronized with a client environment configuration on the client computer.

Claims

1. A method for managing one or more applications over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a server system and to a client computer, the method comprising:

receiving user login information;

accessing a user profile associated with the login information, wherein the user profile includes a user environment configuration;

selecting transport protocols based on the user profile, wherein the transport protocols are protocols for transporting information between the server system and the client computer; and

synchronizing the user environment configuration with a client environment configuration on the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client computer contains a pre-installed application of the server system, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for an update to the pre-installed application;

determining that an update is available for the pre-installed application; and

updating the pre-installed application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for a new application to be installed onto the client computer;

determining that a new application is available to be installed onto the client computer; and

installing the new application onto the client computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for a new client environment configuration;

determining that a new client environment configuration is available; and

reconfiguring the client computer according to the new client environment configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for an expired application stored on the client computer;

determining that the client computer contains an expired application; and

performing an expiration procedure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises one of:

synchronizing the user environment automatically during a time of user login;

or

synchronizing the user environment upon receiving a user initiated request to perform the synchronization.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user environment configuration includes at least one of:

a registry entry;

a temporary file directory;

a file permission;

an application icon description; and

an application link description.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to open a document, wherein the request is initiated outside of the one or more applications; and

checking for a default document type having an associated installed application on the client computer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising at least one of:

determining that a default document type is attached to the document; and

opening the document with the associated installed application.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising at least one of:

determining that a default document type is not attached to the document; and

providing a list of installed applications that are compatible with the document and with the client computer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a configuration of the client computer, wherein the client computer includes a hardware device and an operating system;

receiving a request to install an application onto the client computer; and

checking compatibility of the application with the configuration of the client computer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the application is compatible with the configuration of the client computer; and

installing the application onto the client computer.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining database records including at least one of:

login security information;

an application catalog;

billing information for each user; and

an application profile for each of the one or more applications, wherein each application profile includes at least one of;

application vendor information;

an application type;

an application name;

an alias name;

an application version;

a mirror version;

a patch level;

hardware and operating system compatibility information;

a list of compatible comparable applications;

an application version group;

transport and access methods;

an XML description;

an HTML description; and

an HTTP link.

14. A system for managing one or more applications over a network, the system comprising:

a client computer including a client environment; and

a server system including a database, wherein the server system is configured to be connected to the client computer via the network, to store the one or more applications, to store a user profile including a user environment configuration, and to synchronize the client environment with the user environment configuration.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system further includes a transaction processor configured to execute requests from the client computer, wherein the transaction processor is connected to the network and to the database.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the client computer further includes a display device, wherein the client computer is configured to render the client environment on the display device in accordance with the user environment configuration.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the client environment is one of:

a desktop environment;

a thin client environment;

a laptop environment;

a personal digital assistant environment;

a palmtop environment; and

a workstation environment.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the database contains one or more stored applications to which a user may subscribe.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user profile further includes a list of one or more authorized applications to which the user is subscribed, wherein the one or more stored applications includes at least the one or more authorized applications.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more stored applications includes one or more unauthorized applications to which the user is not subscribed.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the user profile further includes the application local preferences including preferences of an application defined by a user.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the client computer further includes local hardware and an operating system, wherein the user profile further includes a configuration of the client computer, wherein the server system is configured to collect and store the configuration of the client computer, wherein the server system is configured to compare compatibility of the one or more applications with the configuration of the client computer.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the client computer further includes a client processor, wherein the transaction processor is configured to send an application installation scripter to the client computer, wherein the application installation scripter includes instructions for the client processor on updates to the client environment, wherein updates to the client environment are consistent with the user environment configuration stored on the server system.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the client computer further includes a client program launcher configured to launch an authorized application, wherein the client program launcher is a proxy program launcher.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system maintains at least one of:

login security information;

an application catalog;

billing information; and

application profiles.

26. The system of claim 14, further comprising another client computer including another client environment, wherein the server system is further configured to synchronize the user environment configuration with the other client environment, wherein the user environment configuration stored on the server system includes preferences defined by the client computer, wherein the preferences defined by the client computer are transferred to the other client computer during synchronization of the user environment configuration with the other client environment.

27. A server system for managing one or more applications over a network, the server system comprising a database, wherein the server system is configured to be connected to a client computer having a client environment, to store the one or more applications, to store a user profile including a user environment configuration, and to synchronize the client environment with the user environment configuration.

28. The server system of claim 27, wherein the server system further includes a transaction processor configured to execute requests from the client computer, wherein the transaction processor is connected to the network and to the database.

29. The server system of claim 27, wherein the database contains one or more stored applications to which a user may subscribe.

30. The server system of claim 29, wherein the user profile further includes a list of one or more authorized applications to which the user is subscribe, wherein the one or more stored applications includes at least the one or more authorized applications.

31. The server system of claim 29, wherein the one or more stored applications includes one or more unauthorized applications to which the user is not subscribed.

32. The server system of claim 27, wherein the user profile further includes the application local preferences including preferences of an application defined by a user.

33. The server system of claim 27, wherein the server system is further configured to collect and store the configuration of the client computer, wherein the server system is configured to compare compatibility of the one or more applications with the configuration of the client computer.

34. The server system of claim 27, wherein the database is a commercial relational database configured to support high volume, high uptime requirements of daemon processes of the server transaction processor.

35. The server system of claim 27, wherein the server system maintains at least one of:

login security information;

an application catalog;

billing information; and

application profiles.

36. A client computer configured to connect to a server system via a network, wherein the server system is configured to manage applications over the network, the client computer comprising:

a client environment; and

a processor configured to synchronize the client environment with a user environment configuration received from the server system, wherein the user environment is part of a user profile, wherein the user profile is stored on the server system and customized for a user.

37. The client computer of claim 36, further comprising:

a database configured to store the client environment; and

a display device, wherein the client computer is configured to render the client environment on the display device in accordance with the user environment configuration.

38. The client computer of claim 36, wherein the client computer is configured to send a request to the server system to update the user profile stored on the server system.

39. The client computer of claim 38, wherein the request to update the user profile is at least one of:

a request to update a pre-installed application stored on the client computer, wherein the user profile includes a user subscription and a user authorization to the pre-installed application;

a request to install a new application onto the client computer, wherein the new application is stored on a database of the server system;

a request to change a user environment stored on the server system, wherein the user environment configuration is based on a client environment configuration of the client computer; and

a request to subscribe to an expired application stored on the server system.

40. A method for managing one or more applications over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a server system, a first client computer and a second client computer, the method comprising:

receiving user login information from the second client computer;

accessing a user profile associated with user login information, wherein the user profile includes a user environment configuration received from the first client computer;

selecting transport protocols based on the user profile, wherein the transport protocols are protocols for transporting information between the server system and the second client computer; and

synchronizing the user environment configuration with a client environment configuration on the second client computer.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second client computer contains a pre-installed application of the server system, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for an update to the pre-installed application;

determining that an update is available for the pre-installed application; and

updating the pre-installed application.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for a new application to be installed onto the second client computer;

determining that a new application is available to be installed onto the second client computer; and

installing the new application onto the second client computer.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for a new client environment configuration for the second client computer;

determining that a new client environment configuration is available; and

reconfiguring the second client computer according to the new client environment configuration.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises at least one of:

checking for an expired application stored on the second client computer;

determining that the second client computer contains an expired application; and

performing an expiration procedure.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein synchronizing the user environment comprises one of:

synchronizing the user environment automatically during a time of user login;

or

synchronizing the user environment upon receiving a user initiated request to perform the synchronization.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising at least one of:

receiving a request to open a document, wherein the request is initiated on the second client computer outside of the one or more applications; and

checking for a default document type having an associated installed application on the second client computer.

47. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving a configuration of the second client computer, wherein the second client computer includes a hardware device and an operating system;

receiving a request to install an application onto the second client computer; and

checking compatibility of the application with the configuration of the second client computer.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising at least one of:

determining that the application is compatible with the configuration of the second client computer; and

installing the application onto the second client computer.

49. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more instructions for managing one or more applications over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a server system and to a client computer, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving user login information;

accessing a user profile associated with the login information, wherein the user profile includes a user environment configuration;

selecting transport protocols based on the user profile, wherein the transport protocols are protocols for transporting information between the server system and the client computer; and

synchronizing the user environment configuration with a client environment configuration on the client computer.