Distributed settings control protocol

• US 6,538,668 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanko, James G., Stoltz, Benjamin H., Ruberg, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/289,794
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/698, 345/733, 345/735, 345/736, 345/740, 345/744, 345/746, 345/747, 345/762, 345/765, 345/778, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/220, 709/221, 709/223
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

A distributed settings control protocol. One or more embodiments of the invention provide the ability for an application running on a server across a network to modify various settings related to the terminals such as display resolution, audio output configuration (such as volume control or headphones v. speaker), and energy saver procedures. These abilities are provided by adhering to several protocol properties. One or more embodiments may include but are not limited to the following properties: (1) a terminal maintains knowledge regarding which applications are currently viewing or accessing the terminal; (2) applications/programs and servers know the state of terminal settings (referred to as idempotence and consistency); (3) to modify a setting a server provides the correct current setting to the terminal prior to the terminal completing a change (referred to as locking compliance), (4) the settings are mobile from one terminal to another; (5) the settings on each terminal are independent of other terminals to provide for differences between terminal models and hardware (referred to as model independence); and (6) a user, a third party agent, a manufacturer, or other entity is permitted to set any desired policy related to the settings (referred to as policy free). By adhering to the above properties, the protocol of one or more embodiments ensures that settings are maintained accurately and consistently across a network while permitting multiple entities to modify and configure the settings.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a setting across a network comprising:

providing computational services from a computational service provider to a user through a first terminal via a network;

providing a first setting on said first terminal;

obtaining a second setting and a third setting for said first terminal;

determining whether to utilize said third setting on a second terminal by matching said second setting with said first setting; and

utilizing said third setting on said second terminal if said second setting matches said first setting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing said first setting on said first terminal with said third setting if said second setting matches said first setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first application and a second application on said computational service provider have knowledge of said third setting if said second setting matches said first setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said computational service provider comprises a first server and a second server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a first application is operating on said first server and a second application is operating on said second server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first application and said second application maintain knowledge of said third setting even after said user has switched to said second terminal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said second setting and said third setting are provided from said first application via said network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second application is informed of said third setting if said second setting matches said first setting.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising informing said first application of said first setting if said second setting does not match said first setting.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

rejecting said third setting if said second setting does not match said first setting; and

informing said first application of said rejection.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein informing said first application of said rejection comprises informing said first application of said first setting.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein said third setting is obtained by said first server and said second server if said second setting matches said first setting.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said first setting is stored in a setting table of said first terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said third setting is stored in said setting table if said determination is made to utilize said third setting.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting is used for controlling a display.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting is used for controlling audio output.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting is used for controlling mouse acceleration.

18. A system comprising:

a network;

a first terminal connected with said network, said first terminal providing interface services to a user;

a first setting stored on said first terminal;

a second setting and a third setting provided to said first terminal via said network;

a server connected with said network and configured to determine whether to utilize said third setting on a second terminal, said server providing computational services to said user through said first terminal via said network; and

a second terminal configured to utilize said third setting if said server determines to utilize said third setting.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said server determines whether to utilize said second setting by matching said second setting with said first setting.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said first setting on said first terminal is updated by said third setting if said second setting matches said first setting.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said server further determines whether to utilize said third setting based on a policy.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said policy is based on a user preference.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said policy is based on a hardware of a terminal.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said policy is based on a terminal location.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said policy is based on a configuration of a network.

26. The system of claim 18, further comprising an application operating on said server and wherein said second setting and said third setting are provided from said application via said network.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said application comprises a controlling program executing on said server and wherein said first terminal is remotely controlled over said network by said controlling program.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a second server connected with said network; and

a second application operating on said second server, wherein said second application is informed of said third setting if said second setting matches said first setting.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a second server connected with said network;

a second application operating on said second server; and

a fourth setting provided to said first terminal from said second application via said network.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said server determines to utilize said third setting if said second setting is provided to said first terminal before said fourth setting.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said second application on said second server is informed of said third setting if said second setting is provided to said first terminal before said fourth setting.

32. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a second server connected with said network;

a first application operating on said server; and

a second application operating on said second server;

wherein said first application and said second application have knowledge of said third setting; and

wherein said second setting and said third setting are provided from said second application.

33. A method of configuring a setting across a network comprising:

providing computational services from a computational service provider to a user through a first terminal via a network;

providing a first setting on said first terminal;

obtaining a second setting and a third setting for said first terminal via said network;

determining whether to update said third setting on said first terminal by matching said second setting with said first setting;

updating said first setting on said first terminal if said second setting matches said first setting;

determining whether to utilize said third setting on a second terminal; and

utilizing said third setting on said second terminal, if a determination is made to utilize said third setting.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said determining whether to utilize said third setting is based on a policy.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said policy comprises one of a user preference policy, a terminal hardware policy, a terminal location policy, and a network policy.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein a plurality of applications operating on said computation service provider have knowledge of said third setting if said second setting matches said first setting.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said computational service provider comprises a plurality of servers and wherein said plurality of servers are informed of said third setting if said first terminal has been updated with said third setting.