Systems and methods for managing emulation sessions

• US 9,191,445 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sphere 3D, Inc. (Sphere 3D Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Giovanni Morelli
• Inventors: Morelli, Giovanni Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B
• Application Number:
  US13/742,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130185448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

A method and system for managing an emulation session of a computer product. The method and system involves receiving a request from a user device to establish the emulation session; establishing an electronic communication link between the user device and an emulation server for providing the emulation session to the user device; operating at least one server processor, the at least one server processor being in electronic communication with the user device and the emulation server and being separate from the user device processor, to determine emulation session data based on the received request and by monitoring the emulation session; to determine a plurality of emulation session parameters based on the received request; to determine a session action to be applied to the emulation session based on the plurality of emulation session parameters and the emulation session data; and to control the emulation session based on the session action.

Claims

1. A method for managing an emulation session of a computer product, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user device to establish the emulation session, the user device comprising a user device processor;

establishing an electronic communication link between the user device and an emulation server for providing the emulation session to the user device; and

operating at least one server processor, the at least one server processor being in electronic communication with the user device and the emulation server and the at least one server processor being separate from the user device processor, to;

retrieve emulation session data based on the received request, the emulation session data comprising at least one of (i) requested session data associated with the emulation session being requested and (ii) session status data retrieved by monitoring one or more emulation sessions being provided by the emulation server;

determine a plurality of emulation session parameters based on the received request, the plurality of emulation session parameters defining one or more conditions required to be satisfied for the requested emulation session to be provided by the emulation server;

determine a session action to be applied at the emulation server, the session action being determined based on the plurality of emulation session parameters and the emulation session data, wherein determining the session action comprises;

determining a status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data;

identifying a subset of emulation session parameters from the plurality of emulation session parameters based on the status of the emulation session;

in response to determining the status of the requested emulation session is an emulation requested status, defining the session action to comprise;

(i) commencing the requested emulation session and (ii) one or more instructions for providing the emulation session according to the subset of emulation session parameters; and

in response to determining the status of the requested emulation session is an emulation in progress status, defining the session action to comprise;

(i) maintaining the emulation session and (ii) one or more instructions for continuing the emulation session based on the subset of emulation session parameters; and

control the emulation server in accordance with the session action.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation requested status and the emulation in progress status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a plurality of user qualifications to be satisfied before an emulation status indicator is switched from the emulation requested status to the emulation in progress status;

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action further comprises, after receiving the request from the user device;

determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied based on at least one of the received request and the emulation session data; and

determining the emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

upon receiving the request from the user device to establish the emulation session and prior to determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied, the emulation status indicator is the emulation requested status; and

if the plurality of user qualifications is determined to be satisfied, the session action comprises;

switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation requested status to the emulation in progress status.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein

the request comprises a user identifier for a user of the user device requesting the emulation session;

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a user minimum account amount, the user minimum account amount representing a monetary value; and

determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied further comprises;

identifying a user account for the user based on the user identifier; and

determining if an amount of funds stored in the user account is greater than the user minimum account amount.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein

the request comprises a user identifier for a user of the user device requesting the emulation session and a computer product identifier for the computer product being requested to be provided in the emulation session;

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a maximum computer product requirement; and

determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied further comprises;

identifying a user account for the user based on the user identifier;

determining a number of identical emulation sessions associated with the user account, the identical emulation sessions being emulation sessions associated with the emulation in progress status and providing the computer product corresponding to the computer product identifier;

determining if the number of identical emulation sessions is more than the maximum computer product requirement; and

in response to determining the number of identical emulation sessions is greater than the maximum computer product requirement, defining the session action to comprise terminating at least one of the identical emulation sessions so that the number of identical emulation sessions is less than the maximum computer product requirement, otherwise, defining the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation session.

5. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a user device technical capacity requirement, the user device technical capacity requirement identifying one or more resources required for providing the emulation session;

and

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action further comprises, after receiving the request from the user device;

determining a user device technical capacity for the user device based on the emulation session data; and

determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied comprises determining if the user device technical capacity satisfies the user device technical capacity requirement.

6. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a communication link capacity requirement;

and

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action further comprises, after receiving the request from the user device;

determining a communication link capacity based on the emulation session data; and

determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied comprises determining if the communication link capacity satisfies the communication link capacity requirement.

7. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the request comprises a user identifier for a user of the user device requesting the emulation session; and

upon determining the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied, the session action further comprises;

identifying a user account for the user based on the user identifier;

determining a plurality of user preferences associated with the user account; and

commencing the emulation session in accordance with the determined plurality of user preferences.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation requested status and the emulation in progress status;

retrieving the emulation session data based on the received request further comprises determining a plurality of emulation components required for providing the computer product;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a plurality of product license limits, each product license limit in the plurality of product license limits indicates a maximum number of licenses available for each emulation component in the plurality of emulation components;

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action comprises, after receiving the request from the user device;

determining an emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

upon receiving the request from the user device to establish the emulation session and prior to determining a session action to be applied to the emulation server, the emulation status indicator is the emulation requested status; and

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action further comprises;

for each emulation component, determining a number of license uses indicating a number of emulation sessions using that emulation component and associated with the emulation in progress status; and

for each emulation component, determining if the number of license uses is less than the product license limit for that emulation component, and if so, defining the session action to comprise commencing the emulation session and switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation requested status to the emulation in progress status, otherwise defining the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation status indicator as the emulation requested status.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein determining the session action further comprises:

for each emulation component, in response to determining the number of license uses is equal to the product license limit, defining the session action to comprise terminating at least one of the emulation sessions using that emulation component so that the number of license uses is less than the product license limit.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of scaling parameters;

retrieving the emulation session data based on the received request further comprises determining a display size of the user device; and

determining the session action to be applied at the emulation server comprises;

selecting a scaling parameter from the plurality of scaling parameters based on the determined display size of the user device; and

defining the session action to comprise scaling a computer product image of the computer product provided in a display of the user device based on the scaling parameter.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the user device comprises a user device storage module;

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a preferred memory size threshold indicating a minimum memory size of the user device storage module in order to be used for providing at least a portion of the emulation session;

retrieving the emulation session data based on the received request further comprises determining a user memory size of the user device storage module; and

determining the session action to be applied at the emulation server comprises defining the session action to comprise;

determining if the user memory size satisfies the preferred memory size threshold;

commencing the emulation session; and

in response to determining the user memory size satisfies the preferred memory size threshold, saving at least a portion of data associated with the emulation session in the user device storage module.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation in progress status and the emulation inactive status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a user activity requirement;

operating the at least one server processor to determine an emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

prior to determining a session action to be applied to the emulation server, the emulation status indicator is the emulation in progress status; and

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action further comprises;

determining a user activity indicator based on the emulation session data; and

determining if the user activity indicator satisfies the user activity requirement, and if so, defining the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation session and retaining the emulation status indicator as the emulation in progress status, otherwise terminating the emulation session by closing the communication link and switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation in progress status to the emulation inactive status.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation in progress status and the emulation interrupted status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a maximum connection loss threshold, the maximum connection loss threshold being a maximum amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost before the emulation session is terminated;

operating the at least one server processor to determine an emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

prior to determining a session action to be applied to the emulation server, the emulation status indicator is the emulation in progress status; and

operating the at least one server processor to determine the session action further comprises;

determining a connectivity loss indicator based on the emulation session data, the connectivity loss indicator representing the amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost; and

determining if the connectivity loss indicator satisfies the maximum connection loss threshold, and if so, defining the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation session and retaining the emulation status indicator as the emulation in progress status, otherwise terminating the emulation session by closing the communication link and switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation in progress status to the emulation interrupted status.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the session action comprises at least one of:

in response to determining the emulation session data fails to satisfy the plurality of emulation session parameters, identifying at least one non-compliant emulation session parameter from the plurality of emulation session parameters and defining the session action based on the at least one non-compliant emulation session parameter, the at least one non-compliant emulation session parameter comprising the one or more conditions not satisfied by the emulation session data;

determining whether a user minimum account amount is satisfied based on at least one of the received request and the emulation session data, the user minimum account amount representing a monetary value, and defining the session action based on the user minimum account amount;

determining whether a user memory size satisfies a preferred memory size threshold; and

in response to determining the user memory size satisfies the preferred memory size threshold, saving at least a portion of data associated with the emulation session in a user device storage module;

determining a user device technical capacity for the user device based on the emulation session data, and determining if the user device technical capacity satisfies a user device technical capacity requirement, the user device technical capacity requirement identifying one or more resources required for providing the emulation session; and

determining a connectivity loss indicator based on the emulation session data, the connectivity loss indicator representing an amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost, and determining if the connectivity loss indicator satisfies a maximum connection loss threshold, the maximum connection loss threshold being a maximum amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost before the emulation session is terminated.

15. A system for managing an emulation session of a computer product, the emulation session being provided by an emulation server to a user device having a user device processor, the system comprising:

an administrator module comprising an administrator processor in electronic communication with the user device and the emulation server, and an administrator storage module having instructions stored thereon for configuring the administrator processor to;

receive a request from the user device to establish the emulation session;

establish an electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server for providing the emulation session to the user device;

retrieve emulation session data based on the received request, the emulation session data comprising at least one of (i) requested session data associated with the emulation session being requested and (ii) session status data retrieved by monitoring one or more emulation sessions being provided by the emulation server;

determine a plurality of emulation session parameters based on the received request, the plurality of emulation session parameters defining one or more conditions required to be satisfied for the requested emulation session to be provided by the emulation server;

determine a session action to be applied at the emulation server, the session action being determined based on the plurality of emulation session parameters and the emulation session data, wherein determining the session action comprises;

determining whether the emulation session data satisfies the plurality of emulation session parameters;

in response to determining the emulation session data satisfies the plurality of emulation session parameters;

determining a status of the requested emulation session based on the emulation session data;

in response to determining the status of the requested emulation session is an emulation requested status, defining the session action to comprise;

(i) commencing the requested emulation session and (ii) one or more instructions for providing the emulation session according the plurality of emulation session parameters;

in response to determining the status of the requested emulation session is an emulation in progress status, defining the session action to comprise;

(i) maintaining the emulation session and (ii) one or more instructions for continuing the emulation session based on at least one emulation session parameter of the plurality of emulation session parameters;

otherwise, indicating the emulation session data fails to satisfy the plurality of emulation session parameters; and

control the emulation server in accordance with the session action.

16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation requested status and the emulation in progress status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a plurality of user qualifications to be satisfied before an emulation status indicator is switched from the emulation requested status to the emulation in progress status;

the administrator processor is further configured, after receiving the request from the user device, to;

determine if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied based on at least one of the received request and the emulation session data; and

determine the emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

upon receiving the request from the user device to establish the emulation session and prior to determining if the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied, the emulation status indicator is the emulation requested status; and

if the plurality of user qualifications is determined to be satisfied, the session action comprises;

switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation requested status to the emulation in progress status.

17. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein

the request comprises a user identifier for a user of the user device requesting the emulation session;

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a user minimum account amount, the user minimum account amount representing a monetary value; and

the administrator processor is further configured to;

identify a user account for the user based on the user identifier; and

determine if an amount of funds stored in the user account is greater than the user minimum account amount.

18. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein

the request comprises a user identifier for a user of the user device requesting the emulation session and a computer product identifier for the computer product being requested to be provided in the emulation session;

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a maximum computer product requirement; and

the administrator processor is further configured to;

identify a user account for the user based on the user identifier;

determine a number of identical emulation sessions associated with the user account, the identical emulation sessions being emulation sessions associated with the emulation in progress status and providing the computer product corresponding to the computer product identifier;

determine if the number of identical emulation sessions is more than the maximum computer product requirement; and

in response to determining the number of identical emulation sessions is greater than the maximum computer product requirement, define the session action to comprise terminating at least one of the identical emulation sessions so that the number of identical emulation sessions is less than the maximum computer product requirement, otherwise, defining the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation session.

19. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a user device technical capacity requirement, the user device technical capacity requirement identifying one or more resources required for providing the emulation session;

and

the administrator processor is further configured, after receiving the request from the user device, to;

determine a user device technical capacity for the user device based on the emulation session data; and

determine if the user device technical capacity satisfies the user device technical capacity requirement.

20. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein

the plurality of user qualifications comprises a communication link capacity requirement;

and

the administrator processor is further configured, after receiving the request from the user device, to;

determine a communication link capacity based on the emulation session data; and

determine if the communication link capacity satisfies the communication link capacity requirement.

21. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein:

the request comprises a user identifier for a user of the user device requesting the emulation session; and

upon determining the plurality of user qualifications is satisfied, the session action further comprises;

identifying a user account for the user based on the user identifier;

determining a plurality of user preferences associated with the user account; and

commencing the emulation session in accordance with the determined plurality of user preferences.

22. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation requested status and the emulation in progress status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a plurality of product license limits, each product license limit in the plurality of product license limits indicates a maximum number of licenses available for each emulation component in the plurality of emulation components;

upon receiving the request from the user device to establish the emulation session and prior to determining a session action to be applied to the emulation server, the emulation status indicator is the emulation requested status; and

the administrator processor is further configured to;

determine a plurality of emulation components required for providing the computer product;

determine an emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

for each emulation component, determine a number of license uses indicating a number of emulation sessions using that emulation component and associated with the emulation in progress status; and

for each emulation component, determine if the number of license uses is less than the product license limit for that emulation component, and if so, defining the session action to comprise commencing the emulation session and switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation requested status to the emulation in progress status, otherwise defining the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation status indicator as the emulation requested status.

23. The system as defined in claim 22, for each emulation component, if the number of license uses is equal to the product license limit, the administrator processor is configured to define the session action to comprise terminating at least one of the emulation sessions using that emulation component so that the number of license uses is less than the product license limit.

24. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of scaling parameters;

the administrator processor is further configured to;

determine a display size of the user device; and

select a scaling parameter from the plurality of scaling parameters based on the determined display size of the user device; and

define the session action to comprise scaling a computer product image of the computer product provided in a display of the user device based on the scaling parameter.

25. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein:

the user device comprises a user device storage module;

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a preferred memory size threshold indicating a minimum memory size of the user device storage module in order to be used for providing at least a portion of the emulation session;

the administrator processor is further configured to define the session action to comprise;

determining a user memory size of the user device storage module;

determining if the user memory size satisfies the preferred memory size threshold;

commencing the emulation session; and

if the user memory size is determined to satisfy the preferred memory size threshold, saving least a portion of data associated with the emulation session in the user device storage module.

26. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation in progress status and the emulation inactive status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a user activity requirement;

prior to determining a session action to be applied to the emulation session, the emulation status indicator is the emulation in progress status;

the administrator processor is further configured to;

determine an emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

determine a user activity indicator based on the emulation session data; and

determine if the user activity indicator satisfies the user activity requirement, and if so, define the session action to comprise;

maintaining the emulation session and retaining the emulation status indicator as the emulation in progress status, otherwise terminating the emulation session by closing the communication link and switching the emulation status indicator from the emulation in progress status to the emulation inactive status.

27. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein

the plurality of emulation session parameters comprises a plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session, the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session being stored in a storage module in electronic communication with the at least one server processor and comprising the emulation in progress status and the emulation interrupted status;

the plurality of emulation session parameters further comprises a maximum connection loss threshold, the maximum connection loss threshold being a maximum amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost before the emulation session is terminated;

prior to determining a session action to be applied to the emulation server, the emulation status indicator is the emulation in progress status;

the administrator processor is further configured to;

determine an emulation status indicator indicating the status of the emulation session based on the emulation session data, the status of the emulation session is one of the plurality of pre-defined statuses of the emulation session;

determine a connectivity loss indicator based on the emulation session data, the connectivity loss indicator representing the amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost; and

determine if the connectivity loss indicator satisfies the maximum connection loss threshold, and if so, define the session action to comprise maintaining the emulation session and retaining the emulation status indicator as the emulation in progress status, otherwise terminating the emulation session by closing the communication link and switch the emulation status indicator from the emulation in progress status to the emulation interrupted status.

28. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the session action comprises at least one of:

in response to determining the emulation session data fails to satisfy the plurality of emulation session parameters, identifying at least one non-compliant emulation session parameter from the plurality of emulation session parameters and defining the session action based on the at least one non-compliant emulation session parameter, the at least one non-compliant emulation session parameter comprising the one or more conditions not satisfied by the emulation session data;

determining whether a user minimum account amount is satisfied based on at least one of the received request and the emulation session data, the user minimum account amount representing a monetary value, and defining the session action based on the user minimum account amount;

determining whether a user memory size satisfies a preferred memory size threshold; and

in response to determining the user memory size satisfies the preferred memory size threshold, saving at least a portion of data associated with the emulation session in a user device storage module;

determining a user device technical capacity for the user device based on the emulation session data, and determining if the user device technical capacity satisfies a user device technical capacity requirement, the user device technical capacity requirement identifying one or more resources required for providing the emulation session; and

determining a connectivity loss indicator based on the emulation session data, the connectivity loss indicator representing an amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost, and determining if the connectivity loss indicator satisfies a maximum connection loss threshold, the maximum connection loss threshold being a maximum amount of time for which the electronic communication link between the user device and the emulation server is lost before the emulation session is terminated.