Event-based application for performing configuration changes in a networked environment

• US 7,293,087 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quest Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ScriptLogic Corporation (Quest Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Styles, Brian, Bucklew, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamza; Faruk
• Application Number:
  US10/700,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-224, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system, a computer readable medium and a method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on client systems. This includes receiving one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more user selectable settings. The events, the settings and the environmental conditions are previously set graphically using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable selections therein on a server. These events, local run-time environmental conditions along with settings are delivered to a client system. A monitoring agent on the client system is used to detect when one or more predetermined events occur. When an event occurs, a test is made to determine if one or more local run-time environmental conditions are met, and if the conditions are met then the agent automatically applies one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system.

Claims

1. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client system, the method on a client system comprising:

receiving on a client system from a server system a file of one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more selectable configuration settings, wherein the local run-time environmental conditions are determined after a client system has started, and wherein the selectable configuration settings are specific to a group of users on the client system; and

running a monitoring agent on the client system to detect when one or more predetermined events of a user logon-on to the client system or a user log-off from the client system occurs then determining if the one or more local run-time environmental conditions are met and if the conditions are met then automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system;

wherein at least one of the predetermined events, the settings and the environmental conditions are previously set graphically on the server system using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable selections therein.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system to determine if the predetermined event occurs after a user logons on to the client system, the client system loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system to determine if the predetermined event occurs includes determining if at least one of a period of user inactivity occurs within a predetermined time window.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system includes applying at least one the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system by launching at least one of an additional application and script which uses the file received from the server system, to make a change to the one or more configuration settings.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system for automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system includes one or more selectable configuration settings for executing a custom application script so as to cause the custom application program to alter at least one of the configuration settings.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined events includes authenticating the user of the client system is a member of the specific group of users, and wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system includes automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system from the group of configuration settings consisting of security policies, drive mappings, startup applications, registry settings, printer deployment, Internet settings, desktop shortcuts, proxy server access, application paths, Microsoft Office paths, Microsoft Outlook/Exchange mail profiles, profiles, service packs, anti-virus updates, and other policies.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system for automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system includes running a monitoring agent to determine at least one of an installation and an execution of an unauthorized program and when one of the installation and the execution of the unauthorized program occurs then performing one or more of:

disabling a process running the unauthorized program;

sending an e-mail notification;

locking access to the client system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system for automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system includes one or more selectable configuration settings to a registry setting for an operating system running on the client system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running a monitoring agent on the client system for automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system includes one or more selectable configuration settings for an application running on the client system.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more user selectable settings includes receiving at least one of the predetermined events, environmental conditions and user selectable settings from a group of computer readable medium consisting of networks, diskettes, ODs, DVDs, and non-volatile memory.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions includes one or more environmental conditions of Domain, Site, Organization Unit Computer, Organization Unit User, Group Membership, Primary Group, User Name, TCP/IP address, Host Address, Computer Name, MAC Address, Terminal Services Application Name, Terminal Services Initial Program, Terminal Services Client Name, Terminal Services Session Name, Terminal Services Client TCP/IP Address, operating system, LAN connection, Dial-up connection, Desktop machine, Portables machine, Terminal Services Client, Member Server, and Domain Controller.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more user selectable settings includes receiving one or more local run-time environmental conditions of an IP subnet address, a LAN group membership, and a registry entry.

13. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client system, the method on a client system comprising:

receiving on a client system from a server system a file of one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more selectable configuration settings, wherein the local run-time environmental conditions are determined after a client system has started, and wherein the selectable configuration settings are specific to a group of users on the client system; and

running a monitoring agent on the client system to detect when one or more predetermined events of a start-up or shut down of the client system occurs then determining if the one or more local run-time environmental conditions are met and if the conditions are met then automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system;

wherein at least one of the predetermined events, the settings and the environmental conditions are previously set graphically on the server system using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable selections therein.

14. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client system, the method on a client system comprising:

receiving on a client system from a server system a file of one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more selectable configuration settings, wherein the local run-time environmental conditions are determined after a client system has started, and wherein the selectable configuration settings are specific to a group of users on the client system; and

running a monitoring agent on the client system to detect when one or more predetermined events of a hardware change to the client system occurs then determining if the one or more local run-time environmental conditions are met and if the conditions are met then automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system;

wherein at least one of the predetermined events, the settings and the environmental conditions are previously set graphically on the server system using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable selections therein.

15. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client system, the method on a client system comprising:

receiving on a client system from a server system a file of one or more predetermined events along with one or more local run-time environmental conditions along with one or more selectable configuration settings, wherein the local run-time environmental conditions are determined after a client system has started, and wherein the selectable configuration settings are specific to a group of users on the client system; and

running a monitoring agent on the client system to detect when one or more predetermined events of a network connection by the client system occurs then determining if the one or more local run-time environmental conditions are met and if the conditions are met then automatically applying at least one of the one or more selectable configuration settings on the client system;

wherein at least one of the predetermined events, the settings and the environmental conditions are previously set graphically on the server system using a graphical user interface with one or more user selectable selections therein.