Distribution of software based on scheduled time to deploy software dynamic resource state of systems involved in deployment of software and based upon environmental conditions

• US 8,549,172 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kessler, Carl Shawn, Lanfranchi, Giovanni, Lindquist, David Bruce, Rajaraman, Bala
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUBIN, BLAKE J
• Application Number:
  US11/208,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,965 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

A method, computer program product and network management server for distributing software. The network management server receives a request to deploy an application on a designated target client station at a designated scheduled time. The network management server determines whether to deploy the application on the designated target client station at the designated time based on the resource state of the systems involved in the deployment of the software (e.g., processor usage of the network management server, processor usage of the target client station) as well as the environmental conditions (e.g., bandwidth usage, time of day pricing for connectivity at scheduled time, work orders on the target client station). By taking into consideration the dynamic resource state of the systems involved in the deployment of the software as well as the environmental conditions, software may be deployed on the client stations by the network management server more effectively.

Claims

1. A method for distributing software comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to deploy an application on a designated target client station at a designated scheduled time;

determining, by a network management server, whether to deploy said application on said designated target client station at said designated time based on a resource state of said designated target client station and a network management server as well as based on environmental conditions, wherein said environmental conditions are used to determine how opportune said deployment of said application on said designated target client station at said designated scheduled time is; and

determining if any work orders on said designated target client station have not been completed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining a bandwidth usage in a connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station if said bandwidth usage in said connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station is greater than a threshold.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining a time of day pricing for using a connection connecting said network management server with said designated target client station at said designated scheduled time.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station if an expense to use said connection at said designated scheduled time exceeds a threshold.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station because a work order on said designated target client station has not been completed.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining processor usage in one or more of said network management server and said designated target client station.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station because of excessive processor usage in one or more of said network management server and said designated target client station exceeding a threshold.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said environmental conditions comprises one or more of the following:

a bandwidth usage in a connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station, a time of day pricing for using said connection connecting said network management server with said designated target client station and work order tickets opened on said designated target client station.

10. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium for distributing software comprising the programming instructions for:

receiving a request to deploy an application on a designated target client station at a designated scheduled time;

determining whether to deploy said application on said designated target client station at said designated time based on a resource state of said designated target client station and a network management server as well as based on environmental conditions, wherein said environmental conditions are used to determine how opportune said deployment of said application on said designated target client station at said designated scheduled time is;

determining if any work orders on said designated target client station have not been completed; and

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station because a work order on said designated target client station has not been completed.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 10 further comprising the programming instructions for:

determining a bandwidth usage in a connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station; and

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station if said bandwidth usage in said connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station is greater than a threshold.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 10 further comprising the programming instructions for:

determining a time of day pricing for using a connection connecting said network management server with said designated target client station at said designated scheduled time; and

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station if an expense to use said connection at said designated scheduled time exceeds a threshold.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 10 further comprising the programming instructions for:

determining processor usage in one or more of said network management server and said designated target client station; and

adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station because of processor usage in one or more of said network management server and said designated target client station exceeding a threshold.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein said environmental conditions comprises one or more of the following:

a bandwidth usage in a connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station, a time of day pricing for using said connection connecting said network management server with said designated target client station and work order tickets opened on said designated target client station.

15. A network management server, comprising:

a memory unit operable for storing a computer program operable for distributing software; and

a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises;

circuitry for receiving a request to deploy an application on designated target client station at a designated scheduled time;

circuitry for determining whether to deploy said application on said designated target client station at said designated time based on a resource state of said designated target client station and a network management server as well as based on environmental conditions, wherein said environmental conditions are used to determine how opportune said deployment of said application on said designated target client station at said designated scheduled time is;

circuitry for determining if any work orders on said designated target client station have not been completed; and

circuitry for adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station because a work order on said designated target client station has not been completed.

16. The network management server as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for determining a bandwidth usage in a connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station; and

circuitry for adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station if said bandwidth usage in said connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station is greater than a threshold.

17. The network management server as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for determining a time of day pricing for using a connection connecting said network management server with said designated target client station at said designated scheduled time; and

circuitry for adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station if an expense to use said connection at said designated scheduled time exceeds a threshold.

18. The network management server as recited in claim 15, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for determining processor usage in one or more of said network management server and said designated target client station; and

circuitry for adjusting a time of deploying said application on said designated target client station because of processor usage in one or more of said network management server and said designated target client station exceeding a threshold.

19. The network management server as recited in claim 15, wherein said environmental conditions comprises one or more of the following:

a bandwidth usage in a connection that connects said network management server with said designated target client station, a time of day pricing for using said connection connecting said network management server with said designated target client station and work order tickets opened on said designated target client station.