Network update manager

• US 7,136,858 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atlassian US, Inc. (Atlassian Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W., Friedman, Lee G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Yicun
• Application Number:
  US10/211,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

Network resource management systems are provided. A representative network update manager includes an updater coupled to a persistent database and to an administrative application residing on an application server and a memory operable to store a plurality of delayed updates. The network update manager is preferably operable to receive at least one update from the administrative application and subsequently update the persistent database. Methods and other systems for network resource management are also provided.

Claims

1. A network update manager, comprising:

an updater coupled to a persistent database and to a plurality of administrative applications residing on an at least one application server, the persistent database storing resource lists and associated class of service markers of users of a network that are modifiable by a network administrator via the plurality of administrative applications, a resource list including contacts and contact groups of a user and references to resources available to the user;

a means for monitoring the status of at least one user associated with at least one update;

a memory operable to store a plurality of delayed updates; and

the network update manager being operable to receive at least one update from the plurality of administrative applications and either update the persistent database through the updater or store the at least one update in memory, in response to a network presence status of a user associated with an update, wherein;

the network presence status of any user is determined according to whether a remote terminal associated with the user has registered on the network;

the network update manager sends an undate to be stored in the memory when the specific user associated with a specific update is present on the network;

the network update manager updates a record in the persistent database in response to the network presence status of a specific user associated with a specific update;

the network update manager updates the record if the specific user associated with the specific update is not present on the network;

the network update manager monitors the status of the specific user, waiting for the network presence status to become not present, and retrieves the update from memory and updates the persistent database in response to the network presence status change;

the network update manager is coupled to the persistent database, and operable to monitor a status of at least one user associated with at least one update and report the status to the updater;

monitoring the status of at least one user comprises a check of the status of the at least one user at least once per twenty-four hour period;

the network update manager is operable to receive and reply to an update status request from the persistent database, the update status request comprising a username;

the network update manager is operable to search the memory for a delayed update associated with the username, and provide the delayed update to the persistent database upon finding an update associated with the username;

the network update manager checks the memory for the delayed update when a user registers with the persistent database;

the at least one update comprises updating at least one class of service marker associated with the at least one user; and

the record in the persistent database comprises a list of users for which another user communicates over an instant messaging network and at least one network resource that the another user is authorized to access, network statuses of the users and the at least one network resource being provided to the another user via an instant messaging client, the network update manager performing an update of the record when the another user is not present on the network, the update being from the administrative application.

2. The network update manager of claim 1, wherein the class of service marker provides a basis for a resource server to refuse access to a resource when the user has an inadequate class of service marker.

3. The network update manager of claim 1, wherein authentication comprises providing a username and password.

4. A class of service management system, comprising:

a router coupled to a network and operable to authenticate and register a plurality of users with a presence database;

a persistent database coupled to the router and operable to provide a resource list and a class of service marker to the plurality of registered users, the persistent database storing resource lists and associated class of service markers of users of a network that are modifiable by a network administrator via the plurality of administrative applications, a resource list including contacts and contact groups of a user and references to resources available to the user;

a means for monitoring the status of at least one user associated with at least one update; and

a network update manager coupled to the persistent database and to a plurality of administrative applications that initiate updates to resource list and class of service marker information for a plurality of users, and operable to receive updates from an administrator through at least one of the administrative applications and apply the updates to a persistent database, the persistent database storing resource lists and associated class of service markers of users of a network that are modifiable by the administrator via the plurality of administrative applications, a resource list including contacts and contact groups of a user and references to resources available to the user;

wherein the network update manager updates a record in the persistent database in response to a network presence status of a specific user if the specific user associated with the specific update is not present on the network, wherein the network update manager comprises;

an updater coupled to the persistent database and to the plurality of administrative applications residing on at least one application server;

a memory operable to store a plurality of delayed updates; and

the network update manager being operable to receive at least one update from at least one of the administrative applications, updating the persistent database, or storing the at least one update in response to a network presence status of a user associated with an update, the network presence status of any user is determined according to whether a remote terminal associated with the user has registered on the network, wherein;

the network update manager stores an update in the memory when the specific user associated with a specific update is present on the network;

the updater monitors the status of the specific user, waiting for the network presence status to become not present, and retrieves the update from memory and updates the persistent database in response to the network presence status change;

wherein the network update manager is operable to monitor the status of at least one user associated with at least one update;

the network update manager is operable to receive and reply to an update status request from the persistent database, the update status request comprising a username;

the monitoring the status of at least one user comprises checking the status of the at least on user at least once over twenty-four hour period;

the network update manager is operable to search the memory for a delayed apdate associated with the username, and provide the delayed update to the persistent database upon finding an update associated with the username;

the network update manager checks the memory for the delayed update when a user register with the persistent database;

the at least one update comprises updating at least one class of service marker associated with the at least one user; and

the record in the persistent database comprises a list of users for which another user communicates over an instant messaging network and at least one network resource that the another user is authorized to access, network statuses of the users and the at least one network resource being provided to the another user via an instant messaging client, the network update manager performing an update of the record when the another user is not present on the network, the update being from the administrative application.

5. The network update manager of claim 4, wherein the class of service marker allows a resource server to refuse access to a resource when the user has an inadequate class of service marker.

6. The class of service management system of claim 4, wherein the persistent database is operable to send an update status request to the network update manager upon receiving a profile request from a user associated with the profile.

7. The class of service management system of claim 6, wherein the network update manager is operable to update the persistent database upon receiving the update status request from the persistent database.

8. A update management system, comprising:

an administrative application without a connection to a sewer, and operable to receive at least one update from a network administrator; and

a network update manager being coupled to the server and coupled to the administrative application, and operable to receive at least one update from the administrative application and update a database on the server based upon an availability status of the database, the server being operable to be coupled to at least one user through a network and provide services to the at least one user in response to information included in the database, wherein;

the database comprises at least one profile associated with the at least one user;

the database is operable to send an update status request to the network update manager upon receiving a profile request from the at least one user, requesting the at least one profile associated with the at least one user;

the profile comprises at least one class of service marker associated with the at least one user;

the network update manager is further operable to store the at least one update until the availability status of the database changes;

the network update manager is operable to check the availability of the database periodically until the database is available, applying the at least one update to the database upon a change in the availability status of the database;

the network update manager is coupled to the persistent database, and operable to monitor a status of at least one user associated with at least one update and report the status to the updater;

monitoring the status of at least one user comprises a check of the status of the at least one user at least once per twenty-four hour period;

the at least one update comprises updating at least one class of service marker associated with the at least one user; and

the database of the server maintains records comprising a list of users for which another users communicates over an instant messaging network and at least one network resource that the another user is authorized to access, network statuses of the users and the at least one network resource being provided to the another user via an instant messaging client the network update manager performing an update of the record when the another user is not present on the network, the update received from the administrative application.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the database further comprises at least one rule associated with the at least one class of service marker.

10. A method for managing network updates, comprising:

receiving an update to be applied to a plurality of records of a plurality of users, a record including a list of resources that are accessible to the user if the resources are presently available on a network, presence status of the resources being monitored by the user via a client application;

checking whether a profile associated with at least part of the update in a persistent database is currently being used, the persistent database storing resource lists and associated class of service markers of users of a network that are modifiable by a network administrator via the plurality of administrative applications, a resource list including contacts and contact groups of a user and references to resources available to the user;

updating the persistent database in response to the profile being unused;

receiving a request for update status for a user associated with the profile when the user register with the presence database;

delaying at least part of the update to the persistent database in response to the profile being used;

storing a delayed update in memory;

checking the memory for a delayed update associated with the user;

monitoring a status of a user associated with a delayed update, wherein;

checking whether the profile is being used comprises checking whether a user associated with the profile is registered with the presence database;

monitoring the status of a user comprises checking the status of a user at least once per twenty-four hour period;

the update comprises changing a plurality of class of service markers associated with a plurality of users, respectively;

at least one of the plurality of records comprising a list of users for which another user communicates over an instant messaging network and at least one network resource that the another user is authorized to access, network statuses of the users and the at least one network resource being provided to the another user via an instant messaging client, an update of the record being performed when the another user is not present on the network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

updating the persistent database after the profile becomes unused.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the update comprises changes to a plurality of profiles.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

updating the persistent database after the user ceases to be registered with the presence database.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

updating the persistent database upon receiving an update status request from the persistent database.

15. A method of updating user data, comprising:

receiving a plurality of update instructions to update data related to a user, the update instruction to be applied to a record of the user maintained in a persistent, database, the record including a list of resources that are accessible to the user if the resources are presently available on a network and associated class of service marker of the user that are modifiable by a network administrator, presence status of the resources being monitored by the user via a client application;

storing the plurality of update instructions;

in response to the user not being present on a network, receiving a request for any update instructions corresponding to the user;

responsive to receiving the request, providing the plurality of stored update instructions;

removing an earlier update instruction in favor of a later update instruction; and

updating the record of the user in accordance with one or more update instructions, wherein;

the update instruction is received from one of multiple applications;

receiving happens in response to a user registering with a presence database;

the update comprises changing a plurality of class of service markers associated with a plurality of users, respectively;

the record comprises a list of users for which another user communicates over an instant messaging network and at least one network resource that the another user is authorized to access, network statuses of the users and the at least one network resource being provided to the another user via an instant messaging client, an update of the record being performed when the another user is not present on the network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

acknowledging receipt of an update instruction.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein providing includes transmitting to a database.