FAST CHANNEL FOR SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

• US 20130332522A1
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Luo, Huajun, Liu, Jerry, Cannella, Sean A., James, David C., Tang, Jun, Xu, Xichun, Xiao, Zhuocheng, Shi, Chunhui
• Application Number:
  US13/491,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332522A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A push-based communication channel can be established and dedicated to time-sensitive tasks in the system management space for client management. Managed clients can establish and maintain communication with a server including system management software over the channel. Subsequently, the server can send messages regarding time-sensitive/urgent tasks over the channel. In response to a message, a client can execute an action as a function of the message. In accordance with one embodiment, the client contacts the server over a pull-based communication channel to acquire a task for execution.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

employing at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts;

initiating transmission of a message regarding a time-sensitive system management task to a client computer over a dedicated and persistent communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises receiving a request from the client computer for the task over a different communication channel.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises providing the task to the client computer over the different communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1, initiating transmission of an instruction that triggers one of an anti-malware or anti-virus scan on the client computer.

5. The method of claim 1, initiating transmission of a script for execution on the client computer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises waking up the client computer in a sleep mode prior to initiating transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises collecting information regarding online presence of the client computer prior to initiating transmission of the message.

8. The method of claim 1, initiating transmission of the message to a set of client computers that satisfy one or more criterion.

9. A method, comprising:

employing at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts;

establishing a persistent communication connection, dedicated to time-sensitive management tasks, with a server running system management software.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising performing an action in response to receipt of a message over the communication connection.

11. The method of claim 10, performing the action comprises requesting a task from the server utilizing a different communication connection.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises executing the task acquired from the server.

13. The method of claim 9, establishing a hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) connection upon failure to establish a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection.

14. The method of claim 9, establishing the communication connection through a relay server.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute the following computer-executable components stored in the memory;

a first component, resident on a server, configured to manage a plurality of client computing devices with push-based communication and pull-based communication.

16. The system of claim 15, the push-based communication comprises a request to execute a task.

17. The system of claim 16, the task is provided in the pull-based communication.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprises second component configured to throttle push-based communication based on server load.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprises a second component configured to select targets of push-based communication based on one or more criterion.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprises a second component configured to detect online presence of one or more of the plurality of client computing devices.