Displaying users connected to computer servers

• US 20070233853A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Watson, Eric, Sarma, Kanchuki, Bukovec, Mai-Ian, Elliott, Ryan, Kool-Brown, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/091 Measuring contribution of individual network components to actual service level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

User connection information can be displayed. User connection information can represent user connections to a plurality of computer servers of a multi-server system. User connection information can be received from a plurality of computer servers, user details can be obtained, and a representation of the user connection information for the plurality of computer servers can be displayed. Users connected to computer servers can be notified by displaying a representation of user connection information, displaying a user-notification task, receiving a selection of the user notification task, and notifying the users of an event. User connection information can be retrieved and displayed by retrieving user connection information from a plurality computer servers of a multi-server system, storing the retrieved user connection information, and displaying a representation of the user connection information based on the stored user connection information.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for displaying user connection information for a multi-server system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a management computer server of the multi-server system, user connection information for one or more users of the multi-server system, wherein the user connection information represents user connections to a plurality of computer servers of the multi-server system;

after receiving the user connection information, obtaining one or more user details of the one or more users;

displaying, in a user interface of a management application running on the management computer server, a representation of the user connection information for the plurality of computer servers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user connection information for the one or more users of the multi-server system is received at the management computer server from management agents located at the plurality of computer servers of the multi-server system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the user connection information for the one or more users of the multi-server system comprises:

receiving, from the plurality of computer servers of the multi-server system, the user connection information, wherein the user connection information is received from the plurality of computer servers on a regular basis defined by a schedule.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying, in the user interface, a user-notification task, wherein the user-notification task is selectable by a user of the user interface to notify the one or more users.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a computer server from the plurality of computer servers;

responsive to the selection of the computer server, displaying, in the user interface, a user-notification task, wherein the user-notification task is selectable, by a user of the user interface, to notify users connected to the selected computer server of an event;

7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the representation of the user connection information comprises, for the plurality of computer servers:

displaying at least a server name of the computer server;

displaying a number of users connected to the computer server.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after receiving the user connection information, persistently storing the user connection information at the management computer server, wherein the user connection information comprises start times and end times of the user connections to the plurality of computer servers.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the representation of the user connection information comprises, for the one or more users:

displaying at least a logon name of the user;

displaying at least names representing services to which the user is currently connected, wherein the services to which the user is currently connected are obtained from the user connection information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the user connection information comprises unique user identifiers for uniquely identifying the one or more users.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more user details are obtained from a directory service of the multi-server system using the unique user identifiers.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the user connection information comprises connections of the one or more users to services and resources of the plurality of computer servers of the multi-server system.

6. The method of claim I further comprising:

automatically notifying users connected to at least one computer server of the plurality of computer servers of an event;

13. A computer implemented method for notifying users connected to computer servers of a multi-server system, the method comprising:

displaying, in a user interface of a management application, a visual representation of user connection information representing users connected to a plurality of computer servers of the multi-server system;

displaying, in the user interface, a user-notification task for causing one or more users of the users connected to the plurality of computer servers to be notified of an event;

receiving, from a user via the user interface, a selection of the user-notification task;

in response to receiving the selection of the user-notification task, notifying the one or more users of the event.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving, from the user via the user interface, a selection of a computer server from the plurality of computer servers;

wherein the user-notification task is displayed in response to receiving the selection of the computer server, and wherein the one or more users are connected to the selected computer server.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more users are connected to a service provided by the selected computer server and are connected to a resource of the selected computer server.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein notifying the one or more users of the event comprises sending an email message to the one or more users.

17. A computer implemented method for retrieving and displaying updated user connection information for users connected to computer servers of a multi-server system, the method comprising:

retrieving, by a management computer server of the multi-server system, user connection information from a plurality of computer servers of the multi-server system;

storing the retrieved user connection information at the management computer server;

displaying, in a user interface of a management application running on the management computer server, a representation of the user connection information for the plurality of computer servers based on the stored user connection information.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the user connection information comprises:

a listing of users;

a listing of services running on the plurality of computer servers; and

associations between users of the listing of users and services of the listing of services.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein retrieving the user connection information from the plurality of computer servers occurs automatically on a regular basis defined by a schedule.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein retrieving the user connection information from the plurality of computer servers comprises connecting to a plurality of services running on the plurality of computer servers.