Generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language (XML) configuration on a client having a windows-based embedded image

• US 8,751,778 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Marketing Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wyse Technology L.L.C. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Tukol, Sanmati Bahubali, Prabhala, Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, M
• Application Number:
  US13/035,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0889 Techniques to speed-up the configuration process
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language (XML) configuration on a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client. The apparatus may include a configuration generation module configured to generate an XML configuration file and configured to validate the XML configuration file based on a validation file. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the specific-purpose local client configured to automatically obtain the XML configuration file each time the specific-purpose local client boots up. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the specific-purpose local client configured to automatically apply, to the windows-based embedded image, a configuration change based on the XML configuration file each time the specific-purpose local client boots up.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language (XML) configuration on a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

processing instructions encoded in the memory, the processing instructions, when executed by the processor, operable to perform operations comprising;

generating an XML configuration file;

validating the XML configuration file based on a validation file; and

saving the XML configuration file to storage location accessible by the specific-purpose local client each time the specific-purpose local client boots up, the XML configuration file operable to, when executed by a processor of the specific-purpose local client, automatically apply a configuration change to the windows-based embedded image;

wherein the configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image with the configuration change on the specific-purpose local client; and

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the validation file comprises an XML schema definition (XSD) file.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein validating the XML configuration file comprises determining whether the XML configuration file conforms to one or more rules specified in the XML schema (XSD) file.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saving the XML configuration file to the storage location accessible by the specific-purpose local client comprises saving the XML configuration file to at least one of a storage device external to the specific-purpose local client and a remote repository server.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein generating the XML configuration file comprises capturing one or more settings of the specific-purpose local client and generating the XML configuration file based on the captured one or more settings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more settings comprise at least one of settings of a device of the specific-purpose local client, settings of the operating system, and connections settings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saving the XML configuration file to storage location accessible by the specific-purpose local client comprises saving the XML configuration file into a storage area that is to be retained on the specific-purpose local client across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the XML configuration file is operable to, when executed by the processor of the specific-purpose local client after a reboot of the specific-purpose local client, automatically apply, without a user'"'"'s intervention, the configuration change such that the configuration change appears, to the user of the specific-purpose local client, to be persistent across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for generating and/or editing the XML configuration file.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration change comprises one or more of the following:

a configuration change to a remote desktop connection, a configuration change to a device of the specific-purpose local client, or a configuration change to the operating system of the specific-purpose local client.

11. An apparatus for generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language (XML) configuration on a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

processing instructions encoded in the memory, the processing instructions, when executed by the processor, operable to perform operations comprising;

automatically obtaining, at the specific-purpose local client, an XML configuration file generated and validated by a remote server, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up; and

automatically applying, to the windows-based embedded image, a configuration change based on the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up,

wherein the configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image with the configuration change on the specific-purpose local client, and

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing instructions, when executed by the processor, are further operable to perform operations comprising:

determining whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image based on the XML configuration file;

applying a default configuration to the windows-based embedded image before applying the configuration change based on the XML configuration file, if it is determined that the previous state is to be reset; and

applying the configuration change based on the XML configuration file, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image, if it is determined that the previous state is not to be reset.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein automatically obtaining the XML configuration file comprises accessing the XML configuration file from a storage location accessible by the specific-purpose local client.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the storage location comprises at least one of a storage device external to the specific-purpose local client, a remote repository server, or a storage area retained on the specific-purpose local client across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client.

12. A method for generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language (XML) configuration on a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client, the method comprising:

generating, at a server remote from the specific-purpose local client, an XML configuration file;

validating, at the server, the XML configuration file based on a validation file;

automatically obtaining, at the specific-purpose local client, the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up; and

automatically applying, to the windows-based embedded image at the specific-purpose local client, a configuration change based on the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up,

wherein the configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image with the configuration change on the specific-purpose local client, and

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose.

13. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processing system to perform a method for generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language (XML) configuration on a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client, the instructions comprising code for:

generating an XML configuration file;

validating the XML configuration file based on a validation file;

automatically obtaining, at the specific-purpose local client, the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up; and

automatically applying, to the windows-based embedded image, a configuration change based on the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up,

wherein the configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image with the configuration change on the specific-purpose local client, and

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose.