PROVIDING APPLICATION AND DEVICE MANAGEMENT USING ENTITLEMENTS

• US 20150212708A1
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: BENSON, Mark, CREWE, Robin, WILKINSON, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,256,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/549 Remote execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/468 Specific access rights for resources, e.g. using capability register
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing virtual workspaces are provided. Example embodiments provide a Application Workspace System “AWS,” which enables users to access remote server-based applications (e.g., thin client applications, terminal server applications, applications on hosted operating systems, etc.) using the same interface that they use to access local applications, without needing to know where the application is being accessed. The AWS automatically determines which applications the user is entitled to use, and then figures out automatically, based upon a variety of parameters, which applications are to be made available to the user (resolved to version, particular package etc.), and whether they are to be installed locally, or accessed remotely. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to applications for a computing device comprising:

receiving an identification of a user and/or group to which the user belongs, wherein the user is associated with the device;

determining, based on the identification, a plurality of applications that the user and/or the group to which the user belongs is entitled to access, wherein each of the plurality of applications includes (i) code and/or script that is locally executed on the computing device to provide screen and user input functionality, and (ii) code and/or script that is executed remotely from the computing device to perform functions of the application; and

transmitting information corresponding to the plurality of applications to the computing device to enable the computing device to present a set of icons, each of which is associated with one of the applications, wherein upon a selection of one of the icons by the user, the associated application is launched through a web browser of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of applications cannot be locally installed on the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the identification, additional applications that the user and/or the group to which belongs is entitled to access, wherein each of the additional applications need to be locally installed on the computing device in order to be executed; and

transmitting information corresponding to the additional application to the computing device to enable the computing device to present an additional set of icons, each of which is associated with one of the additional applications, wherein upon selection of one of the icons by the user, the associated application is installed on the computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing the computing device to display the set of icons together with the additional set of icons within a single applications portal that enables the user of the computing device to launch an application or to locally install the application depending on which icon is selected by the user.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transparently installing at least one of the additional applications on the computing device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the additional applications further comprises identifying the additional applications based on characteristics of the computing device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a virtual workspace implemented on the computing device receives the transmitted information and presents the set of icons.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive an identification of a user and/or group to which the user belongs, wherein the user is associated with the device;

determine, based on the identification, a plurality of applications that the user and/or the group to which the user belongs is entitled to access, wherein each of the plurality of applications includes (i) code and/or script that is locally executed on the computing device to provide screen and user input functionality, and (ii) code and/or script that is executed remotely from the computing device to perform functions of the application; and

transmit information corresponding to the plurality of applications to the computing device to enable the computing device to present a set of icons, each of which is associated with one of the applications, wherein upon a selection of one of the icons by the user, the associated application is launched through a web browser of the computing device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of applications cannot be locally installed on the computing device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the one or more processor, cause the one or more processors to:

determine, based on the identification, additional applications that the user and/or the group to which belongs is entitled to access, wherein each of the additional applications need to be locally installed on the computing device in order to be executed; and

transmit information corresponding to the additional application to the computing device to enable the computing device to present an additional set of icons, each of which is associated with one of the additional applications, wherein upon selection of one of the icons by the user, the associated application is installed on the computing device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the one or more processor, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the computing device to display the set of icons together with the additional set of icons within a single applications portal that enables the user of the computing device to launch an application or to locally install the application depending on which icon is selected by the user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the one or more processor, cause the one or more processors to:

transparently install at least one of the additional applications on the computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining the additional applications further comprises identifying the additional applications based on characteristics of the computing device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein a virtual workspace implemented on the computing device receives the transmitted information and presents the set of icons.

17. A system comprising one or more processors and computer memory containing instructions executed by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:

receive an identification of a user and/or group to which the user belongs, wherein the user is associated with the device;

determine, based on the identification, a plurality of applications that the user and/or the group to which the user belongs is entitled to access, wherein each of the plurality of applications includes (i) code and/or script that is locally executed on the computing device to provide screen and user input functionality, and (ii) code and/or script that is executed remotely from the computing device to perform functions of the application; and

transmit information corresponding to the plurality of applications to the computing device to enable the computing device to present a set of icons, each of which is associated with one of the applications, wherein upon a selection of one of the icons by the user, the associated application is launched through a web browser of the computing device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of applications cannot be locally installed on the computing device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer memory further contains instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

determine, based on the identification, additional applications that the user and/or the group to which belongs is entitled to access, wherein each of the additional applications need to be locally installed on the computing device in order to be executed; and

transmit information corresponding to the additional application to the computing device to enable the computing device to present an additional set of icons, each of which is associated with one of the additional applications, wherein upon selection of one of the icons by the user, the associated application is installed on the computing device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer memory further contains instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

cause the computing device to display the set of icons together with the additional set of icons within a single applications portal that enables the user of the computing device to launch an application or to locally install the application depending on which icon is selected by the user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer memory further contains instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

transparently install at least one of the additional applications on the computing device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the additional applications further comprises identifying the additional applications based on characteristics of the computing device.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein a virtual workspace implemented on the computing device receives the transmitted information and presents the set of icons.