Apparatus and methods for performing computer system maintenance and notification activities in an opportunistic manner
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for controlling computer system activities, the operations comprising:
- receiving a command entered with an input device of the computer system to begin opportunistic computer system maintenance activities where the command specifies a time period available for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities; and
initiating at least one computer system activity during the time period available for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, where opportunistic computer system maintenance activities are initiated only if at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied, where the opportunistic computer maintenance system activities comprise the at least one computer system activity that comprises at least one computer system maintenance task, the operations further comprising;
prior to initiating the at least one computer system activity, determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied; and
where the predetermined criterion concerns whether the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities is of sufficient duration to perform the at least one computer system maintenance activity, wherein the time period is identified by a user on the fly;
where determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied comprises;
calculating an estimate of the amount of time necessary to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion; and
comparing the estimate to the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities,whereby the at least one computer system maintenance task is initiated only if there is sufficient time to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion based on the comparison of the estimate and the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities.
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Abstract
The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for performing computer system maintenance and notification activities in an opportunistic manner during time periods identified by a user when the user expects not to be using the computer system. In methods and systems of the present invention, the user prioritizes computer system maintenance activities from high to low. When an opportunity arises to perform maintenance activities due to the user, for example, being away from the computer, the user specifies the length of time the user expects to be away from the computer using apparatus of the present invention. Methods of the present invention then initiate computer system maintenance activities beginning with the highest-priority maintenance activity that can be completed during the time period identified by the user. The method continues performing maintenance activities from highest to lowest priority for so long as there is enough time remaining to perform the next maintenance task. In the present invention notification activities using the computer system resource can be performed in an opportunistic manner. For example, in the present invention a user can specify a length of time the user expects to be away from the computer; during this period the computer system would automatically generate an “away from my desk” reply to anyone sending the user an e-mail.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for controlling computer system activities, the operations comprising:
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receiving a command entered with an input device of the computer system to begin opportunistic computer system maintenance activities where the command specifies a time period available for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities; and initiating at least one computer system activity during the time period available for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, where opportunistic computer system maintenance activities are initiated only if at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied, where the opportunistic computer maintenance system activities comprise the at least one computer system activity that comprises at least one computer system maintenance task, the operations further comprising; prior to initiating the at least one computer system activity, determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied; and where the predetermined criterion concerns whether the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities is of sufficient duration to perform the at least one computer system maintenance activity, wherein the time period is identified by a user on the fly; where determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied comprises; calculating an estimate of the amount of time necessary to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion; and comparing the estimate to the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities, whereby the at least one computer system maintenance task is initiated only if there is sufficient time to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion based on the comparison of the estimate and the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for controlling computer system activities, the operations comprising:
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receiving a selection of at least two computer system activities to be performed opportunistically as time slots for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities arise; saving the at least two computer system activities to a list stored in a memory of the computer system; receiving a command to begin opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, where the command specifies a time period available for performing opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, wherein the time period is identified by a user on the fly; selecting from the list at least one of the at least two computer system activities to be performed during the time period available for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities; and initiating the at least one computer system activity, where opportunistic computer system maintenance activities are initiated only if at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied, where the opportunistic computer maintenance system activities comprise the at least one computer system activity that comprises at least one computer system maintenance task, the operations further comprising; prior to initiating the at least one computer system activity, determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied; and where the predetermined criterion concerns whether the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities is of sufficient duration to perform the at least one computer system maintenance activity; where determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied comprises; calculating an estimate of the amount of time necessary to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion; and comparing the estimate to the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities, whereby the at least one computer system maintenance task is initiated only if there is sufficient time to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion based on the comparison of the estimate and the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer system having an ability to perform opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, the computer system comprising:
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at least one memory to store at least one program of machine-readable instructions, where the at least one program performs operations to control opportunistic computer system maintenance activities; at least one input device to initiate opportunistic computer system maintenance activities; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one input device, where the at least one processor performs the following operations when the at least one program is executed; receiving a command entered with the at least one input device of the computer system to begin opportunistic computer system maintenance activities; receiving an identification of a time period available for performing opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, wherein the time period is identified by a user on the fly; and initiating at least one computer system activity during the time period identified as available for opportunistic computer system maintenance activities, where opportunistic computer system maintenance activities are initiated only if at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied, where the opportunistic computer maintenance system activities comprise the at least one computer system activity that comprises at least one computer system maintenance task, the operations further comprising; prior to initiating the at least one computer system activity, determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied; and where the predetermined criterion concerns whether the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities is of sufficient duration to perform the at least one computer system maintenance activity; where determining if the at least one pre-determined criterion is satisfied comprises; calculating an estimate of the amount of time necessary to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion; and comparing the estimate to the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities, whereby the at least one computer system maintenance task is initiated only if there is sufficient time to perform the at least one computer system maintenance task to completion based on the comparison of the estimate and the time period identified as available for computer system maintenance activities. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification