Controlling resources used by computing devices

• US 9,473,417 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AirWatch LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AirWatch LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reagan, Spencer Gibson, Manton, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Madamba, Glenford
• Application Number:
  US13/830,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20140280934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/225, 709/203, 709/208
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices provide control over resources used by computing devices. In some embodiments, a management application determines that multiple computing devices are available for management. The management application determines that each of the computing devices is executing a respective instance of a client application. The client application can communicate with the management application and control at least one computing resource of each computing device. The management application configures the computing resource of each computing device such that the computing device is restricted to accessing at least one common resource. The computing device is configured via communication between the management application and the respective instance of the client application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a management application executed on a processor, that computing devices are available for management;

determining, by the management application, that one or more computing devices are executing a respective instance of a client application, wherein the client application is configured to communicate with the management application and is further configured to control at least one respective computing resource; and

configuring, by the management application, the at least one respective computing resource such that at least one of the computing devices is restricted to accessing at least one common resource and prevented, for a duration in which the at least one common resource is being accessed, from accessing any other resource than the at least one common resource, wherein the at least one computing device is configured through communication between the management application and the respective instance of the client application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that computing devices are available for management comprises determining that the computing devices are grouped in a common organizational unit of a directory service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that computing devices are available for management comprises determining that the computing devices are positioned in a common geographic location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining that the computing devices are positioned in the common geographic location comprises determining that the computing devices are registered with the management application through a sensor device positioned in the common geographic location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that computing devices are available for management comprises determining that a respective application at the computing devices is accessing a common collaborative session via a data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the at least one respective computing resource of the computing devices such that the computing device is restricted to accessing the at least one common resource is performed based on identifying at least one attribute common to a plurality of entities, wherein each of the plurality of entities is associated with a respective one of the computing devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the at least one respective computing resource comprises configuring the at least one respective computing resource to access a file selected via the management application.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising configuring, by the management application, the at least one respective computing resource such that the computing device is prevented from accessing a portion of the file that is different from an additional portion of the file accessed by a different one of the computing devices.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising configuring, by the management application, the at least one respective computing resource such that the computing device is permitted to access a portion of the file that is different from an additional portion of the file accessed by a different one of the computing devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the at least one respective computing resource comprises configuring the at least one respective computing resource to execute an application selected via the management application.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring, by the management application, the at least one respective computing resource such that the computing device is prevented from performing a function of the application that is different from an additional function of the application performed by a different one of the computing devices.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring the at least one respective computing resource such that the computing device is permitted to perform a function of the application that is different from an additional function of the application performed by a different one of the computing devices.

13. A system comprising:

a processor;

a touch screen device in communication with the processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to execute a management application stored in the computer-readable medium for performing operations comprising;

determining that one or more computing devices are executing a respective instance of a client application, wherein the client application is configured to communicate with the management application and is further configured to control at least one respective computing resource;

selecting at least one computing device based on at least one input received to the touch screen device; and

configuring at least one respective computing resource of the at least one computing device such that the at least one computing device is restricted to accessing at least one resource managed by the management application and prevented, for a duration in which the at least one resource is being accessed, from accessing any other resource than the at least one resource that is managed, wherein the at least one computing device is configured via communication between the management application and a respective instance of the client application executed at the at least one computing device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for distributing the at least one resource from the computer-readable medium to the at least one computing device.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one transceiver configured to perform near-field communication with the computing devices, wherein the processor is configured for determining that at least one of the computing devices is executing the respective instance of the client application based on the near-field communication with the computing devices.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for:

rendering a graphical interface for display on the touch screen device; and

positioning a visual representation of the at least one resource in the graphical interface based on at least one selection input selecting the at least one resource and received via the touch screen device;

wherein the configuring the at least one respective computing resource such that the at least one computing device is restricted to accessing the at least one resource is performed in response to positioning the visual representation of the at least one resource in the graphical interface.

17. A system comprising:

a processor;

an input device in communication with the processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to execute a client application stored in the computer-readable medium for performing operations comprising;

initiating control of at least one computing resource of the system, wherein the at least one computing resource is configured for executing at least one command in response to at least one input received via the input device; and

configuring the at least one computing resource such that the processor is restricted to accessing at least one resource managed by a management application and prevented, for a duration in which the at least one common resource is being accessed, from accessing any other resource in response to receiving a command from the management application.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving an additional command to access at least one additional resource other than the at least one resource managed by the management application; and

disabling the command to access the at least one additional resource.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured for storing, in the computer-readable medium, data describing at least one operation performed at the system while accessing the at least one resource managed by the management application.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one transceiver configured to perform near-field communication with an additional computing device configured for accessing the management application, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the system to the management application via the near-field communication with the additional computing device.