AUTOMATED PROVISIONING AND MANAGEMENT OF CLOUD SERVICES

• US 20130031224A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConnectWise, LLC
• Original Assignee: Labtech LLC
• Inventors: Nachtrab, Matthew, McCallum, Donald, Zerilli, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,477,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata

Abstract

A system for managing the provisioning of cloud based services includes a collection module, a configuration module, a licensing module and a set up module. The collection module automatically obtains and stores information from end user machines that relevant to the provisioning of the could-based services. The configuration module uses the obtained information to automatically configure the use of the cloud based services. The licensing module automatically configures the account and licensing information allowing an end-user machine to access the cloud based services. The setup module automatically configures the end user machines to access and use the cloud-based services.

Claims

1. A system for managing the provisioning of cloud based services for end user machines, comprising:

a collection module that automatically obtains and stores information from said end user machines that is relevant to said provisioning,

a configuration module that uses said information to automatically configure the use of said cloud based services,

a licensing module that automatically configures the account and licensing information to access said cloud based services, and

a setup module that automatically configures said end user machines to be able to access and use said cloud based services.

2. The system of claim 1, with a billing module that collects billing information from a plurality of said cloud based services into a consolidated billing information store.

3. The system of claim 1, with a monitoring module that monitors the availability and performance of a plurality of said cloud based services, and collects the resulting information into a consolidated monitoring information store.

4. The system of claim 2, with a reporting module that groups information from said consolidated billing information store for presentation to a plurality of the companies owning said end user machines.

5. The system of claim 3, with a reporting module that groups information from said consolidated monitoring information store for presentation to a plurality of the companies owning said end user machines.

6. The system of claim 1, with a user interface module designed to manage a plurality of companies owning said end user machines.

7. The system of claim 1, with a user interface module designed to manage a plurality of different kinds of said cloud based services.

8. The system of claim 1, with a user interface module designed to manage a plurality of providers of said cloud based services.

9. The system of claim 1, with a user interface module designed to manage a plurality of said end user machines.

10. The system of claim 2, with a tracking module that records changes initiated by the users of said end user machines, and incorporates said changes into said billing information.

11. A method to manage the provisioning of cloud based services for end user machines, comprising the steps of:

automatically obtaining and storing information from said end user machines that is relevant to said provisioning,

automatically configuring the use of said cloud based services using said information,

automatically configuring the account and licensing information to access said cloud based services, and

automatically configuring said end user machines to be able to access and use said cloud based services.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

collecting billing information from a plurality of said cloud services and storing said information in a consolidated billing information store.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring the availability and performance of a plurality of said cloud services and storing the results of said monitoring into a consolidated monitoring information store.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

grouping the information from said consolidated billing information store and presenting it to one or more of the companies owning said end user machines.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

grouping the information from said consolidated monitoring information store and presenting it to a plurality of the companies owning said end user machines.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

managing a plurality of companies owning said end user machines.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

managing a plurality of different kinds of said cloud based services.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

managing a plurality of providers of said cloud based services.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

managing a plurality of said end user machines.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

tracking changes by the users of end user machines and incorporating said changes into said consolidated billing.