System and method for a desktop agent for use in managing file systems
First Claim
1. A system for desktop computer file management in a network, comprising:
- an appliance communicatively coupled to the network and having a computer readable medium storing a first set of computer instructions configured to select a set of desktop computers and further configured to deploy a desktop agent to a desktop computer in the set of desktop computers, the desktop agent comprising a second set of computer instructions configured to;
install the desktop agent on a computer readable medium in the desktop computer;
automatically implement the following on the desktop computer without communicating with the appliance over the network;
a task queue for storing a set of tasks, wherein each task in the set of tasks is associated with;
a classification defining files to which the each task applies;
a directory scope defining areas of a local filesystem on the desktop computer on which the each task is to be performed; and
a policy action associated with the each task;
a harvest module configured to access one or more locations in the local filesystem of the desktop computer to obtain or determine metadata on one or more files in the local filesystem according to the directory scope associated with the each task;
a classification module configured to determine if each of the one or more files in the local filesystem meets the classification associated with the each task by evaluating at least a portion of the metadata obtained or determined by the harvest module; and
a policy module configured to apply the policy action associated with the each task to the one or more files based on the classification determined by the classification module;
process the set of tasks in the task queue; and
uninstall the desktop agent from the desktop computer after the set of tasks in the task queue has been completed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of desktop agents for use in file management are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments a set of desktop computers within a particular networked environment where it is desired to install these desktop agents may be determined. Desktop agents may then be installed on these desktops. A desktop agent on a particular desktop computer may register with an appliance such as that described above and be given an objective including one or more tasks. For each of the tasks provided, the desktop agent may return a list of files which can be collected based on the classification(s) associated with that task. Specific files to collect may then be selected from the list of files such that these specific files may be sent from the desktop computer to the appliance by the desktop agent and stored.
108 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for desktop computer file management in a network, comprising:
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an appliance communicatively coupled to the network and having a computer readable medium storing a first set of computer instructions configured to select a set of desktop computers and further configured to deploy a desktop agent to a desktop computer in the set of desktop computers, the desktop agent comprising a second set of computer instructions configured to; install the desktop agent on a computer readable medium in the desktop computer; automatically implement the following on the desktop computer without communicating with the appliance over the network; a task queue for storing a set of tasks, wherein each task in the set of tasks is associated with; a classification defining files to which the each task applies; a directory scope defining areas of a local filesystem on the desktop computer on which the each task is to be performed; and a policy action associated with the each task; a harvest module configured to access one or more locations in the local filesystem of the desktop computer to obtain or determine metadata on one or more files in the local filesystem according to the directory scope associated with the each task; a classification module configured to determine if each of the one or more files in the local filesystem meets the classification associated with the each task by evaluating at least a portion of the metadata obtained or determined by the harvest module; and a policy module configured to apply the policy action associated with the each task to the one or more files based on the classification determined by the classification module; process the set of tasks in the task queue; and uninstall the desktop agent from the desktop computer after the set of tasks in the task queue has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for desktop computer file management in a network, the method comprising:
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installing a desktop agent of an appliance on a desktop computer communicatively coupled to the appliance over the network, wherein the desktop agent comprises instructions translatable by the desktop computer; automatically implementing, by the desktop agent, the following on the desktop computer without communicating with the appliance over the network; a task queue for storing a set of tasks, wherein each task in the set of tasks is associated with; a classification defining files to which the each task applies; a directory scope defining areas of a local filesystem on the desktop computer on which the each task is to be performed; and a policy action associated with the each task; a harvest module configured to access one or more locations in the local filesystem of the desktop computer to obtain or determine metadata on one or more files in the local filesystem according to the directory scope associated with the each task; a classification module configured to determine if each of the one or more files in the local filesystem meets the classification associated with the each task by evaluating at least a portion of the metadata obtained or determined by the harvest module; and a policy module configured to apply the policy action associated with the each task to the one or more files based on the classification determined by the classification module; processing, by the desktop agent, the set of tasks in the task queue; and uninstalling the desktop agent from the desktop computer after the set of tasks in the task queue has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions translatable by a processor for:
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installing a desktop agent of an appliance on a desktop computer communicatively coupled to the appliance over a network; automatically implementing the following on the desktop computer without communicating with the appliance over a network; a task queue for storing a set of tasks, wherein each task in the set of tasks is associated with; a classification defining files to which the each task applies; a directory scope defining areas of a local filesystem on the desktop computer on which the each task is to be performed; and a policy action associated with the each task; a harvest module configured to access one or more locations in the local filesystem of the desktop computer to obtain or determine metadata on one or more files in the local filesystem according to the directory scope associated with the each task; a classification module configured to determine if each of the one or more files in the local filesystem meets the classification associated with the each task by evaluating at least a portion of the metadata obtained or determined by the harvest module; and a policy module configured to apply the policy action associated with the each task to the one or more files based on the classification determined by the classification module; processing the set of tasks in the task queue; and uninstalling the desktop agent from the desktop computer after the set of tasks in the task queue has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification