Data processing system and method for permitting a client computer system to temporarily prohibit remote management

• US 6,415,324 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Springfield, Randall Scott, Kern, Eric Richard, Ellison, Brandon Jon, Johnson, Robert Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/253,416
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/229, 709/203, 709/208, 345/741, 345/740
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A data processing system and method including a server computer system and a client computer system coupled together utilizing a network are described for permitting the client computer system to temporarily prohibit remote management of the client computer system. The client computer system sets a remote override condition in the client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of the client. The client temporarily prohibits all attempts to manage the client remotely utilizing the network when the remote override condition is set.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system including a server computer system and a client computer system coupled together utilizing a network for permitting said client computer system to temporarily prohibit remote management of said client computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

said client computer system transmitting a request for permission to set a remote override condition;

said client computer system setting said remote override condition in said client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of said client computer system; and

said client computer system temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network when said remote override condition in set.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

said server computer system determining whether to approve said request for permission;

in response to said server computer system determining to approve said request for permission, said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request approval; and

in response to said server computer system determining to reject said request for permission, said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request rejection.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

in response to said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request approval, said client computer system setting said remote override condition; and

in response to said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system, said client computer system being prohibited from setting said remote override condition.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

specifying an override period of time; and

said client computer system temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network only prior to an expiration of said override period of time.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

establishing an override password;

said client computer system temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network only after a correct entry of said override password.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of establishing an override bit in said client computer system, wherein said step of said client computer system setting a remote override condition in said client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of said client computer system further comprises the step of said client computer system setting said override bit in said client computer system.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of establishing said override bit in an electronically erasable storage device.

8. A data processing system including a server computer system and a client computer system coupled together utilizing a network for permitting said client computer system to temporarily prohibit remote management of said client computer system, comprising:

said client computer system executing code for transmitting a request for permission to set a remote override condition;

said client computer system executing code for setting said remote override condition in said client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of said client computer system; and

said client computer system executing code for temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network when said remote override condition is set.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising:

said server computer system executing code for determining whether to approve said request for permission;

in response to said server computer system executing code for transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request approval; and

in response to said server computer system determining to reject said request for permission, said server computer system executing code for transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request rejection.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

in response to said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request approval, said client computer system executing code for setting said remote override condition; and

in response to said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system, said client computer system executing code for being prohibited from setting said remote override condition.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

said client computer system executing code for specifying an override period of time; and

said client computer system executing code for temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network only prior to an expiration of said override period of time.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

said client computer system executing code for establishing an override password;

said client computer system executing code for temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network only after a correct entry of said override password.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising an override bit in said client computer system, wherein said client computer system executing code for setting a remote override condition in said client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of said client computer system further comprises said client computer system executing code for setting said override bit in said client computer system.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising an electronically erasable storage device including said override bit.

15. A data processing system including a server computer system and a client computer system coupled together utilizing a network for permitting said client computer system to temporarily prohibit remote management of said client computer system, comprising:

said client computer system executing code for setting a remote override condition in said client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of said client computer system;

said client computer system executing code for temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network when said remote override condition is set;

said client computer system executing code for transmitting a request for permission to set said remote override condition prior to said client computer system setting said remote override condition;

said server computer system executing code for determining whether to approve said request for permission;

in response to said server computer system determining to approve said request for permission, said server computer system executing code for transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request approval;

in response to said server computer system determining to reject said request for permission, said server computer system executing code for transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request rejection;

in response to said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system including a request approval, said client computer system executing code for setting said remote override condition;

in response to said server computer system transmitting a reply to said client computer system, said client computer system executing code for being prohibited from setting said remote override condition;

said client computer system executing code for specifying an override period of time;

said client computer system executing code for establishing an override password;

said client computer system executing code for temporarily prohibiting all attempts to manage said client computer system remotely utilizing said network only after a correct entry of said override password and only prior to an expiration of said override period of time; and

an electronically erasable storage device including said override bit, wherein said client computer system executing code for setting a remote override condition in said client computer system for temporarily prohibiting remote management of said client computer system further comprises said client computer system executing code for setting said override bit in said client computer system.