Dynamic grouping of managed devices

• US 9,647,897 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JAMF Software, LLC (Jamf Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: JAMF Software, LLC (Jamf Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Halmstad, Richard Zachary, Anderson, Matthew John, Hengels, Bryan Christopher, Yohnk, Ryan Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Xia, Xuyang
• Application Number:
  US14/464,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 715740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A particular method includes generating, at a server configured to access inventory data associated with one or more managed devices, a graphical user interface (GUI) that is operable to define grouping criteria for one or more dynamic groups of managed devices. The method also includes receiving, at the server via the GUI, first grouping criteria and data identifying an action to be performed with respect to managed devices that satisfy the first grouping criteria. The first grouping criteria is based on at least second grouping criteria and a logical operator. The method further includes determining, at the server based on the inventory data, a group of managed devices that satisfy the first grouping criteria. The method includes initiating, by the server, transmission of a push notification regarding the action to each managed device in the group of managed devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, at a server, a graphical user interface (GUI) to define grouping criteria for one or more dynamic groups of managed devices;

receiving, at the server via the GUI, first grouping criteria and a first group identifier, wherein the first grouping criteria is used by the server to determine a first set of managed devices to include in a first dynamic group having the first group identifier;

after receiving the first grouping criteria at the server, receiving second grouping criteria and a second group identifier at the server via the GUI, wherein the second grouping criteria is used by the server to determine a second set of managed devices to include in a second dynamic group having the second group identifier, wherein the second grouping criteria includes;

a first criterion including the first group identifier; and

a second criterion indicating that inclusion of a particular managed device in the second dynamic group is conditioned on the particular managed device being included in the first dynamic group and satisfying the second criterion;

receiving, at the server via the GUI, a selection of an action to be queued with respect to managed devices of the second dynamic group;

in response to receiving the selection;

determining the second set of managed devices based on the second grouping criteria;

initiating, by the server, transmission of a push notification regarding the action to each managed device in the second set of managed devices, wherein the push notification is configured to initiate a check-in event that causes each managed device in the second set of managed devices to send a corresponding check-in request to the server; and

in response to receiving a particular check-in request from the particular managed device of the second dynamic group, sending a command to the particular managed device to perform the action; and

in response to detecting a change in the first set, automatically updating the second set of managed devices based on the second grouping criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set includes a managed computer, a managed mobile device, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second grouping criteria further includes at least one criterion that is distinct from the first group identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the GUI includes a count of active groups and includes an option to clone grouping criteria, wherein selection of the option with respect to the first grouping criteria automatically generates third grouping criteria that is identical to the first grouping criteria.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the second set includes adding or removing a managed device from the second set of managed devices to generate an updated second set of managed devices.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising initiating transmission of a second push notification associated with the second dynamic group to each managed device in the updated second set.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises installing an application at each of the managed devices of the second dynamic group, adjusting a configuration setting at each of the managed devices of the second dynamic group, providing content to each of the managed devices of the second dynamic group, sending a message to each of the managed devices of the second dynamic group, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, at the server, data identifying the managed devices included in the second dynamic group.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving updated inventory information from the particular managed device;

updating inventory data associated with the particular managed device based on the updated inventory information; and

when the updated inventory information results in addition of the particular managed device to the second dynamic group or removal of the particular managed device from the second dynamic group, updating the data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second grouping criteria includes at least one logical operator comprising an open parenthesis operator, a close parenthesis operator, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second grouping criteria includes at least one logical operator comprising a HAS operator, a DOES NOT HAVE operator, a MEMBER OF operator, a NOT MEMBER OF operator, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the server via the GUI, a delete command identifying the first dynamic group; and

in response to the delete command and based on the second grouping criteria including the first group identifier, displaying a prompt via the GUI, wherein the prompt requests user input regarding deletion of the second dynamic group or modification of the second grouping criteria.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second criterion includes a threshold battery charge level.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second criterion indicates that membership in the second set is conditioned on a location of a managed device.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating, at a server, a graphical user interface (GUI) to define grouping criteria for one or more dynamic groups of managed devices;

identifying first grouping criteria and a first group identifier received via the GUI, wherein the first grouping criteria is used by the processor to determine a first set of managed devices to include in a first dynamic group having the first group identifier;

after receiving the first grouping criteria, receiving second grouping criteria and a second group identifier via the GUI, wherein the second grouping criteria is used by the processor to determine a second set of managed devices to include in a second dynamic group having the second group identifier, and wherein the second grouping criteria includes;

a first criterion including the first group identifier; and

a second criterion indicating that inclusion of a particular managed device in the second dynamic group is conditioned on the particular managed device being included in the first dynamic group and satisfying the second criterion;

identifying a selection, received via the GUI, of an action to be queued with respect to managed devices of the second dynamic group;

in response to receiving the selection;

determining the second set of managed devices based on the second grouping criteria;

initiating transmission of a push notification regarding the action to each managed device in the second set of managed devices wherein the lush notification is configured to initiate a check-in event that causes each managed device in the second set of managed devices to send a corresponding check-in request to the server; and

in response to receiving a particular check-in request from the particular managed device of the second dynamic group, initiating transmission of a command to the particular managed device to perform the action; and

in response to detecting a change in the first set, automatically updating the second set of managed devices based on the second grouping criteria.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to store inventory data.

17. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating, at a server configured to access inventory data associated with one or more managed devices, a graphical user interface (GUI) to define grouping criteria for one or more dynamic groups of managed devices;

identifying, at the server, first grouping criteria and a first group identifier received via the GUI, wherein the first grouping criteria is used by the server to determine a first set of managed devices to include in a first dynamic group having the first group identifier;

after receiving the first grouping criteria at the server, receiving second grouping criteria and a second group identifier at the server via the GUI, wherein the second grouping criteria is used by the server to determine a second set of managed devices to include in a second dynamic group having the second group identifier, wherein the second grouping criteria includes;

a first criterion including the first group identifier; and

a second criterion indicating that that inclusion of a particular managed device in the second dynamic group is conditioned on the particular managed device being included in the first dynamic group and satisfying the second criterion;

identifying a selection, received via the GUI, of an action to be queued with respect to managed devices or users of the second dynamic group;

in response to receiving the selection;

determining the second set of managed devices based on the second grouping criteria;

initiating, by the server, transmission of a push notification regarding the action to each managed device in the second set of managed devices, wherein the push notification is configured to initiate a check-in event that causes each managed device in the second set of managed devices to send a corresponding check-in request to the server; and

in response to receiving a particular check-in request from the particular managed device of the second dynamic group, initiating transmission of a command to the articular managed device to perform the action; and

in response to detecting a change in the first set, automatically updating the second set of managed devices based on the second grouping criteria.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the GUI identifies a subset of frequently used grouping criteria.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the GUI includes:

an option to clone the first dynamic group by copying the first grouping criteria to a third dynamic group without reentry of the first grouping criteria for the third dynamic group; and

a count of active groups.