System and method for user behavioral management in a computing environment

• US 8,914,494 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinton D. Bunch
• Original Assignee: Clinton D. Bunch
• Inventors: Bunch, Clinton D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US12/363,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A system and method for user behavioral management in a computing environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a computer having computing resources including, for example, a plurality of applications installed thereon. A monitoring module is associated with the computer in order to monitor a plurality of utilization parametrics to determine the utilization of the computing resources by a user and provide to the user a substantially realtime, visible indication of the utilization of the computing resources. The data captured relative to the utilization parametrics enables, at the management level, enterprise-wide administration of the computing resources and, at the user level, self-directed behavioral modification with respect to computing resource management.

Claims

1. A method for user self-directed management of computing resources in a computing environment, the method comprising:

providing a stealth mode wherein a user is unaware of a monitoring module and a transparent mode wherein the user is aware of the monitoring module;

in the stealth mode, providing guidelines to the monitoring module installed on a first computer, the guidelines governing computing resource management by the user of the first computer having the computing resources;

in the stealth mode, monitoring utilization parametrics that are indicative of the computing resource management by the user;

in the stealth mode, transferring data relative to the utilization parametrics over a network from the monitoring module to a processing module installed on a second computer;

based upon the data, generating a baseline user computing resource management profile at the processing module;

based upon the guidelines, the utilization parametrics, and the profile, providing a visual indicator in the transparent mode on the first computer for the user, the visual indicator indicating utilization of a computing element of the computing resources;

in the transparent mode, after providing the visual indicator and continuing to monitor the utilization parametrics, providing an option to the user to turn the visual indicator ON and OFF;

in the transparent mode, after providing the visual indicator, continuing to monitor the utilization parametrics that are indicative of the computing resource management by the user;

in the transparent mode, transferring additional data relative to the utilization parametrics over the network from the monitoring module to the processing module;

based upon the additional data, generating a user computing resource management report at the processing module; and

comparing the user computing resource management report to the baseline user computing resource management profile such that an administrator of the network that is an individual other than the user measures user self-directed computing resource behavioral management.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the visual indicator further comprises providing a substantially realtime, visible indication to the user of utilization of the computing element of the computing resources.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the visual indicator further comprises providing a visible indication to the user of the amount of authorized time relative to utilization of the computing element of the computing resources.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the visual indicator further comprises providing a visible indication to the user of the amount of authorized time relative to utilization of the Internet.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to first transferring data relative to the utilization parametrics, operating the monitoring module in a stealth mode.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein after providing the visual indicator, operating the monitoring module in a transparent mode.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising scaling the monitoring module to a plurality of monitoring modules for a respective plurality of users and computers.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing the baseline user computing resource management profile to a manager of the user.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing the user computing resource management report to a manager of the user.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing a visual indicator is after the generating a profile.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising based upon the report generated, adjusting the guidelines.