Distributed computer network including hierarchical resource information structure and related method of distributing resources

• US 5,581,764 A
• Filed: 05/02/1994
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Novadigm, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Joseph J., Fitzgerald, Albion J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/237,498
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700, 395/650
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

In an enterprise-wide network which includes at least one centralized computer and a plurality of desktop computers, a method for enterprise system management comprising the steps of: storing an Already Have list for each desktop; storing a plurality of Should Have sub-lists; and generating a respective Should Have list from the stored sub-lists for a respective desktop computer during configuration of the desktop computer; wherein the Schema of the generated Should Have list includes at least one dynamic linkage which encompasses more than on Should Have sub-lists.

Claims

1. A method of managing resources in a network of distributed computers comprising the steps of:

providing in the computer network a plurality of Already Have (AH)information units;

linking the plurality of AH information units in a respective Already Have (AH) information structure in which AH information units are linked in a multi-level hierarchy that corresponds to a respective network computer and that identifies resources that such network computer already has (AH resources), or that identifies policies that already apply to such network computer (AH policies);

providing in the computer network respective AH structural data that are indicative of the linkages among AH information units in the AH information structure hierarchy;

relating in the computer network the AH structural data to respective AH information units in the AH information structure hierarchy;

providing in the computer network a plurality of (Should Have) SH information units;

linking the plurality of SH information units in a respective Should Have (SH) information structure in which SH information units are linked in a multi-level hierarchy that identifies resources that such network computer should have (SH resources) or that identifies policies that should apply to such network computer (SH policies);

providing in the computer network respective SH structural data that are indicative of the linkages among SH information units of the SH information structure hierarchy;

relating in the computer network the SH structural data to respective SH information units in the SH information structure hierarchy; and

comparing respective AH structural data relating to respective AH information units with respective SH structural data relating to corresponding SH information units so as to identify portions of the AH information structure that differ from corresponding portions the SH information structure.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of providing respective AH information units includes providing respective lists that identify other respective AH information units or respective AH resources or respective AH policies;

and

wherein the step of providing respective SH information units includes providing respective lists that identify other respective SH information units or respective SH resources or respective SH policies.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of providing respective AH information units includes providing respective lists that are linked to other respective AH information units or that are linked to respective AH resources or respective AH policies;

and

wherein the step of providing respective SH information units includes providing respective lists that are linked to other respective SH information units or that are linked to respective SH resources or respective SH policies.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of linking the plurality of AH information units includes linking at least one respective AH information unit in the AH information structure hierarchy to another respective AH information unit higher in the AH information structure hierarchy and to a respective AH resource lower in the AH information structure hierarchy;

and

wherein the step of linking the plurality of SH information units includes linking at least one respective SH information unit in the SH information structure hierarchy to another respective SH information unit higher in the SH information structure hierarchy and to a respective SH resource lower in the SH information structure hierarchy.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of comparing involves initially comparing respective AH structural data included in respective AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure hierarchy with respective SH structural data included in corresponding SH information units at higher levels in the SH information SH structure hierarchy and then comparing respective AH structural data in respective AH information units at lower levels in the AH information SH structure hierarchy with respective SH structural data included in corresponding SH information units at lower levels in the SH information structure hierarchy.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying an application program in at least one AH information unit; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying an application program in at least one SH information unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying a program file in at least one AH information Unit; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying a program file in at least one SH information unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying program data in at least one AH information unit; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying program data in at least one SH information unit.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying program instructions in at least one AH information unit;

and

wherein the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying program instructions in at least one SH information unit.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying an icon in at least one AH information unit; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying an icon in at least one SH information unit.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying in respective AH information units policies governing an organization served by the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying in respective SH information units policies governing an organization served by the network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying in respective AH information units security levels of users on the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying in respective SH information units security levels of users on the network.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying in respective AH information units departmental organization of a workplace served by the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying in respective SH information units departmental organization of a workplace served by the network.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying an application program, icon, file or program data in at least one AH information unit;

the step of identifying Ah resources includes identifying an application program, icon, file or program data in at least one SH information unit;

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying in respective AH information units respective factors that relate to the distribution of resources in the network, such factors including at least one of, policies governing an organization served by the network, security level of computer users on the network and departmental organization of a workplace served by the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying respective SH information units respective factors that relate to the distribution of resources in the network, such factors including at least one of, policies governing an organization served by the network, security levels of computer users on the network and departmental organization of a workplace served by the network.

15. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

linking the at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure hierarchy includes linking such AH resource below a respective AH information unit that corresponds to a respective AH factor that relates to the network distribution of such AH resource.

16. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

linking the at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure hierarchy includes linking an application program below a respective AH information unit that corresponds to a departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

17. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

linking the at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure hierarchy below a group of respective AH information units that are linked together in a hierarchy that corresponds to the departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

18. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

linking the at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure hierarchy below a respective AH information unit that corresponds to a respective AH factor that relates to the distribution of said respective at least one identified AH resource in the network; and

linking the at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure hierarchy below a respective SH information unit that corresponds to a respective SH factor that relates to the distribution of said respective at least one identified SH resource in the network.

19. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of:

linking an application program AH resource identified in the AH information structure hierarchy below a respective AH information unit that corresponds to a departmental structure of an organization served by the network; and

linking an application program SH resource identified in the SH information structure hierarchy below a respective SH information unit that corresponds to a departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

20. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of:

linking the AH resource identified in the AH information structure hierarchy below a group of respective AH information units that are linked in a hierarchy indicative of the departmental structure of an organization served by the network; and

linking the SH resource identified in the SH information structure hierarchy below a group of respective SH information units that are linked in a hierarchy indicative of the departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing an SH information structure includes the steps of:

linking the plurality of SH information units in a multi-level Should Have (SH) schema that identifies resources that multiple computers in the network should have

dynamically linking at least one SH information unit at a higher level in the SH schema hierarchy either to multiple SH information units or to multiple SH resources at a lower level in the SH schema hierarchy; and

providing in the computer network respective numerical identifiers and relating in the computer network such numerical identifiers to respective SH information units;

determining a current configuration of such network computer; and

resolving the at least one dynamic linkage in the SH schema based upon the configuration so as to produce a resolved linkage between the at least one SH information unit and either a lower level SH information unit or a lower level SH resource; and

computing respective numerical values and respectively relating such respective computed numerical values to respective SH information units, wherein respective computed numerical values are computed based upon respective numerical identifiers included in other respective SH information units that are linked in the SH information structure hierarchy below a respective SH information unit to which a respective computed numerical value is related;

whereby such respective computed numerical values incorporated at prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy serve as SH structural data concerning the linkages among SH information units below such prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing an SH information structure includes the steps of:

linking the plurality of SH information units in a Should Have (SH) schema in the computer network that identifies resources that multiple computers in the network should have (SH resources);

dynamically linking at least one SH information unit at a higher level in the SH schema hierarchy either to multiple SH information units or to multiple SH resources at a lower level in the SH schema, and

providing in the computer network respective numerical identifiers and relating in the computer network such numerical identifies to respective SH information units;

determining user privileges of such network computer; and

resolving the at least one dynamic linkage in the SH schema based upon the user privileges so as to produce a resolved linkage between the at least one SH information unit and either a lower level SH information unit or a lower level SH resource; and

computing respective numerical values and respectively relating such respective computed numerical values to respective SH information units, wherein respective computed numerical values are computed based upon respective numerical identifiers that relate to other respective SH information units that are linked in the SH information structure below a respective SH information unit to which a respective computed numerical value relates;

whereby such respective computed numerical values that relate to respective information units at prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy serve as SH structural data concerning the linkages among SH information units below such prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of comparing includes:

comparing respective AH structural data referenced to respective AH information units at higher levels of the AH information structure hierarchy with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units at corresponding higher levels of the SH information structure hierarchy; and

for respective corresponding higher level AP/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in AH/SH structural data, comparing respective AH structural data that relate to respective AH information units linked to such higher level AH information unit at a next prescribed lower level in the information structure hierarchy with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units linked to such higher level SH information unit at a corresponding next prescribed lower level in the SH information structure hierarchy.

24. The method of claim 23 and further including the steps of:

storing the AH information structure in a first network computer;

storing the SH information structure in a second network computer; and

transporting respective structural data used in said step of comparing between the first and second network computers.

25. The method of claim 24 and further including the step of:

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in structural data transporting respective SH information units or resources to the first network computer.

26. The method of claim 24,

wherein said step of transporting includes providing the SH information structure in a transportable medium.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the transportable medium includes a CD-ROM.

28. The method of claim 24,

wherein said step of transporting includes providing the SH information structure in a transportable medium;

and further including the step of;

providing respective SH resources on the transportable medium.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of comparing includes:

comparing respective AH structural data that relate to respective AH information units at higher levels of the AH information structure with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units at corresponding higher levels of the SH information structure; and

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in AH/SH structural data, comparing respective AH structural data that relate to respective AH information units linked to such higher level AH information unit at a next prescribed lower level in the information structure with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units linked to such higher level SH information unit at a corresponding next prescribed lower level in the SH information structure; and

for respective corresponding lower level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in AWSH structural data, comparing respective AH structural data that relate to respective AH information units linked to such lower level AH information unit at a next prescribed lower level in the AH information structure with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units linked to such lower level SH information unit at a corresponding next prescribed lower level in the SH information structure.

30. The method of claim 29 and further including the steps of:

storing the AH information structure in a first network computer;

storing the SH information structure in a second network computer;

transporting respective structural data used in said steps of comparing between the first and second network computers; and

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units and respective lower level SH/AH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in structural dam, transporting respective SH information units or resources to or from the first network computer.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of comparing includes:

comparing respective AH structural data that relate to respective AH information units at higher levels of the AH information structure hierarchy with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units at corresponding higher levels of the SH information structure;

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in AP/SH structural data, comparing respective AH structural data that relate to respective AH information units linked to such higher level AH information unit at a next prescribed lower level in the information structure with respective SH structural data that relate to corresponding respective SH information units linked to such higher level SH information unit at a corresponding next prescribed lower level in the SH information structure; and

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify no difference in AH/SH structural data, performing no further comparisons of respective AH/SH structural data that relate to respective AH/SH information units linked to such respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units at respective lower levels in the respective AH/SH information structures.

32. The method of claim 31 and further including the steps of:

storing the AH information structure in a first network computer;

storing the SH information structure in a second network computer;

transporting respective structural data used in said steps of comparing between the first and second network computers;

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units and respective lower level SH/AH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in structural data, transporting respective SH information units or resources to or from the first network computer; and

for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons identify no difference in structural data, transporting no respective SH information units or resources to or from the first network computer.

33. The method of claim 1 and further including the steps of:

storing the AH information structure in a first network computer; and

storing the SH information structure in a second network computer.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said step of providing the AH information structure involves storing the AH information structure in the network computer to which the AH information structure corresponds; and

said step of providing the SH information structure involves storing the SH information structure in a different network computer from the one to which the SH information structure corresponds.

35. The method of claim 1,

providing in the computer network AH currentness data about the currentness of respective lower level AH information units or AH resources and relating in the computer network such AH currentness data to respective AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure hierarchy;

and

providing in the computer network SH currentness data about the currentness of respective lower level SH information units or SH resources and relating in the computer network such SH currentness data to respective SH information units at higher levels in the SH information hierarchy.

36. A method of managing resources in a network of distributed computers comprising the steps of:

providing in the computer network a plurality of Already Have (AH) information units;

linking the plurality of AH information units in a respective Already Have (AH) information structure that corresponds to a respective network computer and that identifies resources that such network computer already has (AH resources), or that identifies policies that already apply to such network computer (AH policies);

providing in the computer network respective AH structural data that are indicative of the linkages among AH information units in the AH information structure;

relating in the computer network the AH structural data to respective AH information units in the AH information structure;

providing in the computer network a plurality of Should Have (SH) information units;

linking the plurality of SH information units in a Should Have (SH) schema that identifies resources that such network computer should have (SH resources), or that identifies policies that should apply to such network computer (SH policies);

dynamically linking at least one SH information unit at a higher level in the SH schema either to multiple SH information units or multiple SH resources at a lower level in the SH schema; and

providing in the computer network respective numerical identifiers and relating in the computer network such numerical identifiers to respective SH information units.

37. The method of claim 36 and further including the steps of:

determining a current configuration of such network computer; and

resolving the at least one dynamic linkage in the SH schema based upon the configuration so as to produce a resolved linkage between the at least one SH information unit and either a lower level SH information unit or a lower level SH resource; and

computing respective SH structural data and respectively relating such respective computed SH structural data to respective SH information units, wherein respective computed SH structural data are computed based upon respective numerical identifiers that relate to other respective SH information units that are linked in the SH information structure hierarchy below a respective SH information unit to which respective computed SH structural data relates;

whereby such respective computed SH structural data that relate to respective information units at prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy are indicative of the linkages among SH information units below such prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy.

38. The method of claim 36 and further including the steps of:

determining user privileges of such network computer; and

resolving the at least one dynamic linkage in the SH schema based upon the user privileges so as to produce a resolved linkage between the at least one SH information unit and either a lower level SH information unit or a lower level SH resource; and

computing respective SH structural data and respectively relating such respective computed SH structural data to respective SH information units, wherein respective computed SH structural data are computed based upon respective numerical identifiers that relate to other respective SH information units that are linked in the SH information structure hierarchy below a respective SH information unit to which respective computed SH structural data relate;

whereby such respective computed SH structural data that relate to respective information units at prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy are indicative of the linkages among SH information units below such prescribed levels in the SH information structure hierarchy.

39. The method of claim 36,

wherein the step of providing respective AH information units includes providing respective lists that identify other respective AH information units or respective AH resources;

and

wherein the step of providing respective SH information units includes providing respective lists that identify other respective SH information units or respective SH resources.

40. The method of claim 36,

wherein the step of providing respective AH information units includes providing respective objects that are linked to other respective AH information units or that are linked to respective AH resources;

and

wherein the step of providing respective SH information units includes providing respective objects that are linked to other respective SH information units or that are linked to respective SH resources.

41. The method of claim 36,

wherein the step of linking the plurality of AH information units includes linking at least one respective AH information unit in the AH information structure hierarchy to another respective AH information unit higher in the AH information structure hierarchy and to a respective AH resource lower in the AH information structure hierarchy;

and

wherein the step of linking the plurality of SH information units includes linking at least one respective SH information unit in the SH schema hierarchy to another respective SH information unit higher in the SH schema hierarchy and to a respective SH resource lower in the SH schema hierarchy.

42. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying an application program; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying an application program.

43. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying a program file; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying a program file.

44. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying program; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying program data.

45. The method of claim 36,

wherein the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying program instructions;

and

wherein the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying program instructions.

46. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH resources includes identifying an icon; and

the step of identifying SH resources includes identifying an icon.

47. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying respective policies governing an organization served by the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying respective policies governing an organization served by the network.

48. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying respective security levels of users on the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying respective security levels of users on the network.

49. The method of claim 36 wherein:

the step of identifying AH policies includes identifying respective departmental organization of a workplace served by the network; and

the step of identifying SH policies includes identifying respective departmental organization of a workplace served by the network.

50. The method of claim 36 further including the step of:

linking at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure below a respective AH information unit that corresponds to a respective AH factor that relates to the network distribution of said respective at least one identified AH resource; and

linking at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH schema below a respective SH information unit that corresponds to a respective SH factor that relates to the network distribution of said respective at least one identified SH resource.

51. The method of claim 36 further including the step of:

linking an application program AH resource below a respective AH information unit that corresponds to a departmental structure of an organization served by the network; and

linking an application program SH resource below a respective SH information unit that corresponds to a departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

52. The method of claim 36 wherein:

linking an AH resource identified in the AH information structure below a group of respective AH information units that are linked in a hierarchy indicative of the departmental structure of an organization served by the network; and

linking an SH resource identified in the SH schema hierarchy is linked in the SH information structure hierarchy below a group of respective SH information units that are linked in a hierarchy indicative of the departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

53. The method of claim 36,

wherein said step of linking AH information units in the computer network in a respective Already Have (AH) information structure involves providing such AH information structure in a respective network computer that lacks a real-time connection to other respective computers in the distributed network;

and

wherein said step of linking SH information units in the computer network in a Should Have (SH) schema involves providing such SH schema in a transportable electronic memory medium and transferring such SH schema from the transportable medium to the respective network computer that lacks a real-time connection.

79. The method of claim 38 wherein the steps of providing in the computer network a respective Already Have (AH) information structure and providing in the computer network a Should Have (SH) schema includes:

storing the AH information structure and the SH schema in different network computers.

54. A method of managing resources in a network of distributed computers comprising the steps of:

providing in the computer network a plurality of Already Have (AH) information units;

linking the plurality of AH information units in a respective multi-level Already Have (AH) information structure that corresponds to a respective network computer and that identifies resources that such network computer already has (AH resources), or that identifies policies that already apply to such network completer (AH policies);

providing in the computer network respective AH numerical values that are indicative of the linkages among AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure; and

relating in the computer network the AH numerical values to respective AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure;

providing in the computer network AH currentness data about the currentness of lower level AH information units or respective AH resources and relating in the computer network such AH currentness data to respective AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure hierarchy;

providing in the computer network a plurality of Should Have (SH) information units;

linking the plurality of SH information units in a multi-level Should Have (SH) schema that identifies resources that multiple computers in the network should have, or that identifies policies that should apply to such network computer (SH policies);

dynamically linking at least one SH information unit at a higher level in the SH schema either to multiple SH information units or to multiple SH resources at a lower level in the SH schema;

providing in the computer network respective numerical identifiers that relate to respective SH information units; and

providing in the computer network respective SH currentness data about the currentness of respective SH information units or respective SH resources;

interrogating the network computer to ascertain the configuration of such network computer;

resolving the at least one dynamic linkage in the SH schema based upon the configuration so as to produce a resolved linkage between the at least one SH information unit and either a lower level SH information unit or a lower level SH resource;

whereby an SH information structure is produced that corresponds to the network computer and that indicates the resources that such network computer should have or the policies that should apply to such network computer;

relating in the computer network SH currentness data about SH information units lower in the SH information structure to SH information units higher in the SH information hierarchy;

computing respective SH numerical values and respectively relating such respective computed SH numerical values to respective SH information units, wherein respective computed SH numerical values are computed based upon respective numerical identifiers that relate to other respective SH information units that are linked in the SH information structure below a respective SH information unit to which a respective computed SH numerical value relates; and

comparing respective AH numerical values and respective AH currentness data to corresponding respective SH numerical values and respective SH currentness data so as to identify portions of the AH information structure that differ from corresponding portions the SH information structure.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein respective SH currentness data includes Last Update Date Time (LUDT) information for such respective SH information units.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein the step of relating SH currentness data includes relating to respective SH information units at a higher levels in the SH information structure, Latest Last Update Date Time (LLUDT) information for lower level SH information units or resources.

57. A method of managing resources in a network of distributed computers comprising the steps of:

(A1) providing in the computer network a plurality of Already Have (AH) information units;

(A2) linking the plurality of AH information unit, in a respective multi-level Already Have (AH) information structure that corresponds to a respective network computer and that identifies resources that such network computer already has (AH resources), or identifies policies that already apply to such network computer (AH policies);

(A3) providing in the computer network respective AH numerical values that are indicative of the linkages among respective AH information units in the AH information structure;

(A4) relating in the computer network the AH numerical values to respective AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure hierarchy;

(B1) providing in the computer network a plurality of Should Have (SH) information units;

(B2) linking the plurality of SH information units in a multi-level Should Have (SH) schema that identifies resources that multiple computers in the network should have (SH resources), or that identifies policies that should apply to multiple computers in the network (SH policies);

(B3) dynamically linking at least one SH information unit at a higher level in the SH schema either to multiple SH information units or to multiple SH resources at a lower level in the SH schema;

(B4) providing in the computer network respective SH numerical identifiers;

(B5) relating in the computer network the respective SH numerical identifiers to respective SH information units;

(C1) interrogating the at least one computer to ascertain the configuration of such network computer;

(D1) resolving the at least one dynamic linkage in the SH schema based upon the configuration so as to produce a resolved linkage between at least one SH information unit and either a lower level SH information unit or a lower level SH resource;

(E1) generating respective SH numerical values and respectively relating such respective SH numerical values to respective SH information units at prescribed levels in the SH information structure, wherein respective generated SH numerical values are generated,

(E2) wherein said step of generating respective SH numerical values involves generating based upon respective SH numerical identifiers related to other respective SH information units that are linked in the SH information structure below respective SH information units related to such respective SH numerical values;

(E3) wherein said step of generating respective SH numerical values further involves generating based upon respective linkages among such other lower level SH information units;

(F1) whereby the SH schema is converted into a SH information structure that identifies resources that such network computer should have; and

(G1) comparing respective AH numerical values with corresponding respective SH numerical values so as to identify portions of the AH information structure that differ from corresponding portions the SH information structure.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said step (G), comparing, includes:

(G2) comparing respective AH numerical values related to respective AH information units at higher levels of the AH information structure with respective SH numerical values related to corresponding respective SH information units at corresponding higher levels of the SH information structure; and

(G3A) for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons in step G2 identify a difference in AH/SH numerical values, comparing respective AH numerical values related to respective AH information units linked to such higher level AH information unit at a next prescribed lower level in the information structure with respective SH numerical values related to corresponding respective SH information units linked to such higher level SH information unit at a corresponding next prescribed lower level in the SH information structure;

(G3B) for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons in step G2 identify no difference in AH/SH numerical values, performing no further comparisons of respective AH/SH numerical values related to respective AH/SH information units linked to such respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units at respective lower levels in the respective AH/SH information structures;

(G4A) for respective corresponding lower level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons in step G3A identify a difference in AH/SH numerical values, comparing respective AH numerical values related to respective AH information units linked to such lower level AH information unit at a next prescribed lower level in the AH information structure with respective SH numerical values related to corresponding respective SH information units linked to such lower level SH information unit at a corresponding next prescribed lower level in the SH information structure; and

(G4B) for respective corresponding lower level AH/SH information units for which respective comparisons in step G3A identify no difference in AH/SH numerical values, performing no further comparisons of respective AH/SH numerical values related to respective AH/SH information units linked to such respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units at respective lower levels in the respective AH/SH information structures.

59. The method of claim 58 and further including the steps of:

(H) storing the AH information structure in a first network computer;

(I) storing the SH information structure in a second network computer;

(J) transporting respective SH numerical values used in said steps of comparing, G, between the first and second network computers; and

(K) for respective corresponding higher level AH/SH information units and respective lower level SH/AH information units for which respective comparisons identify a difference in structural data, transporting respective SH resources to the first network computer over the computer network.

60. Computer memory media for storing information used in one or more computers connected in a network, wherein the computer network can transfer the stored information between the memory media of different computers on the network, comprising:

an Already Have (AH) information structure which includes a plurality of AH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said AH information structure including;

multiple decision-level AH information units stored in the memory media, respective decision-level AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure containing information concerning object identities of other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure and containing information concerning links among such other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure;

a first link between a first decision-level AH information unit and a second decision-level AH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level AH information unit and a third decision-level AH information unit;

a Should-Have (SH) information structure which includes a plurality of SH information units which contain object identifies and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said SH information structure including;

multiple decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media, respective decision-level SH information units at higher levels in the SH information structure containing information concerning object identities of other SH information units at lower levels in the SH information structure and containing information concerning links among such other SH information units at lower levels in the SH information structure;

a first link between a first decision-level SH information unit and a second decision-level SH information unit; and

a second link between the first decision-level SH information unit and a third decision-level SH information unit.

61. The computer memory media of claim 60 wherein the AH information structure is stored in it first network computer and the SH information structure is stored in a second network computer.

62. The computer network of claim 60,

wherein respective AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure hierarchy include currentness data about the currentness of respective resources identified in the AH information structure;

and

wherein respective SH information units at higher levels in the SH information structure include currentness data about the currentness of respective lower level SH information units and SH resources linked to such respective SH information units.

65. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

respective AH information units in the AH information structure correspond to policies governing an organization served by the network; and

respective SH information units in the SH information structure correspond to policies governing an organization served by the network.

66. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

respective AH information units in the AH information structure correspond to security levels of users on the network; and

respective SH information units in the SH information structure correspond to security levels of users on the network.

67. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

respective AH information units in the AH information structure correspond to departmental organization of a workplace served by the network; and

respective SH information units in the SH information structure correspond to departmental organization of a workplace served by the network.

68. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63,

wherein respective AH information units include respective lists that identify other respective AH information units or respective AH resources;

and

wherein respective SH information units include respective lists that identify other respective SH information units or respective SH resources.

69. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63,

wherein respective AH information units include respective objects that are linked to other respective AH information units or that are linked to respective AH resources;

and

wherein respective SH information units include respective objects that are linked to other respective SH information units or that are linked to respective SH resources.

70. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure includes an application program; and

at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure includes an application program.

71. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure includes a program file; and

at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure includes a program file.

72. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure includes program data; and

at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure includes program data.

73. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein

at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure includes program instructions;

and

wherein at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure includes program instructions.

74. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure includes an icon; and

at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure includes an icon.

75. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

respective AH information units in the AH information structure correspond to policies governing an organization served by the network; and

respective SH information units in the SH information structure correspond to policies governing an organization served by the network.

76. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

respective AH information units in the AH information structure correspond to security levels of users on the network; and

respective SH information units in the SH information structure correspond to security levels of users on the network.

77. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

respective AH information units in the AH information structure correspond to departmental organization of a workplace served by the network; and

respective SH information units in the SH information structure correspond to departmental organization of a workplace served by the network.

78. The computer memory media of claim 60 or 63 wherein:

at least one respective AH resource identified in the AH information structure is linked in the AH information structure below a group of respective AH information units that are linked together in a hierarchy indicative of the departmental structure of an organization served by the network; and

at least one respective SH resource identified in the SH information structure is linked in the SH information structure below a group of respective SH information units that are linked together in a hierarchy indicative of the departmental structure of an organization served by the network.

63. Computer memory media for storing information used in one or more computers connected in a network, wherein the computer network can transfer the stored information between the memory media of different computers on the network, comprising:

an Already Have (AH) information structure which includes a plurality of AH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said AH information structure including;

multiple decision-level AH information units stored in the memory media, respective decision-level AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure containing information concerning object identities of other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure and containing information concerning links among such other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure;

a first link between a first decision-level AH information unit and a second decision-level AH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level AH information unit and a third decision-level AH information unit;

a Should-Have (SH) schema which includes a plurality of SH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said SH schema including;

multiple decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media;

a first link between a first decision-level SH information unit and a second decision-level SH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level SH information unit and a third decision-level SH information unit;

multiple non, decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media;

a third dynamic link between the second decision-level SH information unit and a first non-decision-level SH information unit and between the second decision-level SH information unit and a second non-decision-level SH information unit; and

a fourth link between the third decision-level SH information unit and a third non-decision level SH information unit.

64. The computer memory media of claim 63 wherein the AH information structure is stored in a first network computer and the SH schema is stored in a second network computer.

80. A method of managing resources in a network of distributed computers comprising the steps of:

providing in the computer network a plurality of Already Have (AH) information units;

linking the plurality of AH information units in a respective AH information structure that corresponds to a respective network computer and that identifies resources that such network computer already has (AH resources) or that identifies policies that already apply to such network computer (AH policies);

providing in the computer network respective AH structural data that are indicative of the linkages among AH information units in the AH information structure;

relating in the computer network the AH structural data to respective AH information units in the AH information structure;

providing in a portable memory medium a plurality of Should Have (SH) information units;

linking the plurality of SH information units in a Should Have (SH) schema in the portable memory medium that identifies resources that such network computer should have (SH resources) or that identifies policies that should apply to multiply to such network computer (SH policies);

dynamically linking at least one SH information unit at a higher level in the SH schema either to multiple SH information units or to multiple SH resources at a lower level in the SH schema;

providing in the portable memory medium respective numerical identifiers and relating in the portable memory medium such numerical identifiers to respective SH information units.

81. The method of claim 80 further including the steps of:

transporting the transportable medium containing the SH schema to the respective network computer; and

loading the SH schema into the network computer from the portable transportable medium.

82. Computer memory media for storing information used in one or more computers connected in a network, wherein the computer network can transfer the stored information between the memory media of different computers on the network, comprising:

an Already Have (AH) information structure which includes a plurality of AH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said AH information structure including;

multiple decision-level AH information units stored in the memory media, respective decision-level AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure containing information concerning object identities of other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure and containing information concerning links among such other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure;

a first link between a first decision-level AH information unit and a second decision-level AH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level AH information unit and a third decision-level AH information unit;

a Should-Have (SH) information structure which includes a plurality of SH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said SH information structure including;

multiple decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media, respective decision-level SH information units at higher levels in the SH information structure containing information concerning object identities of other SH information units at lower levels in the SH information structure and containing information concerning links among such other SH information units at lower levels in the SH information structure;

a first link between a first decision-level SH information unit and a second decision-level SH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level SH information unit and a third decision-level SH information unit; and

computer program comparison means stored in the memory media for comparing the respective object identity information and links information of respective decision-level AH information units and respective decision-level SH information units in order to identify portions of the AH information structure that differ from portions of the SH information structure.

83. The memory media of claim 82 wherein the AH information structure includes:

multiple non-decision level AH information units stored in the memory media, respective non-decision-level AH information units containing information concerning policies that already apply to a respective computer connected in the network or concerning resources that such respective computer already has;

a third link between the second decision-level AH information unit and a first non-decision level AH information unit;

a fourth link between the third decision-level AH information unit and a second non-decision-level AH information unit;

wherein the second decision-level AH information unit contains information concerning the object identity contained in the first non-decision-level AH information unit;

wherein the third decision-level AH information unit contains information concerning the object identity contained in the second non-decision level AH information unit;

wherein the first decision-level AH information unit contains,

information concerning the object identity contained in the first non-decision-level AH information unit and the link between the second decision-level AH information unit and the first non-decision-level AH information unit; and

information concerning the object identity contained in the second non-decision-level AH information unit and the link between the third decision-level AH information unit and the second non-decision-level AH information unit.

84. The memory media of claim 82,

wherein the AH information structure includes:

multiple non-decision-level AH information units stored in the memory media, respective non-decision-level AH information units containing information concerning policies that already apply to a respective computer connected in the network or concerning resources that such respective computer already has;

a third link between the second decision-level AH information unit and a first non-decision level AH information unit;

a fourth link between the third decision-level AH Information-nation unit and a second non-decision level AH information unit;

wherein the second decision-level AH information unit contains information concerning the object identity contained in the first non-decision-level AH information unit;

wherein the third decision-level AH information unit contains information concerning the object identity contained in the second non-decision-level AH information unit;

wherein the first decision-level AH information unit contains,

information concerning the object identity contained in the first non-decision-level AH information unit and the link between the second decision-level AH information unit and the first non-decision level AH information unit; and

information concerning the object identity contained in the second non-decision-level AH information unit and the link between the third decision-level AH information unit and the second non-decision-level AH information unit;

wherein the SH information structure includes;

multiple non-decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media, respective non-decision level SH information units containing information concerning policies that should apply to a respective computer connected in the network or concerning resources that such respective computer should have;

a third link between the second decision-level SH information unit and a first non-decision level SH information unit;

a fourth link between the third decision-level SH information unit and a second non-decision level SH information unit;

wherein the second decision-level SH information unit contains information concerning the object identity contained in the first non-decision-level SH information unit;

wherein the third decision-level SH information unit contains information concerning the object identity contained in the second non-decision-level SH information unit;

wherein the first decision-level SH information unit contains,

information concerning the object identity contained in the first non-decision level SH information unit and the link between the second decision level SH information unit and the first non-decision level SH information unit; and

information concerning the object identity contained in the second non-decision level SH information unit and the link between the third decision level SH information unit and the second non-decision-level SH information unit.

85. The memory media of claim 82 wherein the respective object identities include numerical values.

86. Computer memory media for storing information used in one or more computers connected in a network, wherein the computer network can transfer the stored information between the memory media of different computers on the network, comprising:

(I) an Already Have (AH) information structure which includes a plurality of AH information units which include object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said AH information structure including;

multiple decision-level AH information units stored in the memory media, respective decision-level AH information units at higher levels in the AH information structure containing information concerning object information about other AH information units at lower levels in the AH information structure;

a first link between a first decision-level AH information unit and a second decision-level AH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level AH information unit and a third decision-level AH information unit;

(II) a Should-Have (SH) schema which includes a plurality of SH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said SH schema including;

multiple decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media;

a first link between a first decision-level SH information unit and a second decision-level SH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level SH information unit and a third decision-level SH information unit;

multiple non-decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media;

a third dynamic link between the second decision-level SH information unit and a first non-decision-level SH information unit and between the second decision-level SH information unit and a second non-decision-level SH information unit;

a fourth link between the third decision-level SH information unit and a third non-decision level SH information unit;

(III) interrogation computer program means for interrogating a respective computer in the network about the configuration of such interrogated computer or about policies that apply to such interrogated computer and for providing interrogation results in the memory media;

(IV) link resolution computer program means stored in the memory media for resolving the fourth dynamic link by selecting either the second non-decision-level SH information unit or the third non-decision-level SH information unit based upon the provided interrogation results;

(V) SH structure resolution computer program means stored in the memory media for resolving an SH structure from the SH schema, including;

a) first program code means for reading contents of respective SH information units in the SH schema;

b) second program code means for;

87. computing object information for the second decision-level SH information unit based upon the object identity of the selected one of the first and second non-decision-level SH information units,computing object information for the third decision-level SH information unit based upon the object identity of the third non-decision-level SH information unit,computing object information for the first decision-level SH information unit based upon the object information of the second decision-level SH information unit and the object information of the third decision-level SH information unit;

(VI) computer program comparison means stored in the memory media for comparing respective object information of respective decision-level AH information units with respective object information of corresponding decision-level SH information units in order to identify portions of the AH information structure that differ from portions of the SH information structure.

89. The memory media of claim 87,

wherein the fourth link includes a dynamic link between the third decision-level SH Information-nation unit and the third non-decision-level SH information unit and between the third decision-level SH information unit and a fourth non-decision-level SH information unit.

88. A Should-Have (SH) schema which includes a plurality of SH information units which contain object identities and which are linked in a multi-level hierarchy stored in the memory media, said SH schema including:

multiple decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media;

a first link between a first decision-level SH information unit and a second decision-level SH information unit;

a second link between the first decision-level SH information unit and a third decision-level SH information unit;

multiple non-decision-level SH information units stored in the memory media;

a third dynamic link between the second decision-level SH information unit and a first non-decision-level SH information unit and between the second decision-level SH information unit and a second non-decision-level SH information unit;

a fourth link between the third decision-level SH information unit and a third non-decision level SH information unit.