Dynamic generation of plugins based on user-customized catalogs

• US 9,880,814 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fisher, Stephen Alan, Roy, Alain Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kendall, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US15/236,300
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards dynamically generating a plugin module based on a customizable catalog. A plurality of application features may be determined based on a catalog of available application features of a visitor computer. One or more templates may be generated that lists application features. A plugin client and a corresponding plugin core that include application features listed in the one or more templates may be generated. The plugin client may then be provided to the host computer and the corresponding plugin core may be installed on the visitor computer. Information that may be associated with actions performed by users of the plugin client may be obtained from the host computer. Application features included in the plugin core may be determined based on the information obtained from the host computer. And, operations may be performed on the visitor computer based on the obtained information and the plugin core.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a visitor computer, over a network, with a host computer, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of application features based on a catalog of available application features of the visitor computer, wherein at least one of the application features is associated with one or more configuration parameters of visitor computer;

generating one or more templates that list one or more of the plurality of application features;

generating a plugin client and a corresponding plugin core that include the one or more application features listed in the one or more templates, wherein the plugin client is provided to the host computer and the corresponding plugin core is installed on the visitor computer;

obtaining information from the host computer that is associated with one or more actions performed by one or more users of the plugin client; and

when the obtained information is provided to the corresponding plugin core, performing further actions;

determining one or more of the one or more application features included in the plugin core based on the information obtained from the host computer; and

performing operations on the visitor computer based on the obtained information and the determined one or more application features that are included in the plugin core, wherein the performed operations include configuring one or more of the one or more configuration parameters of the visitor computer based on at least a portion of the obtained information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining one or more of default values, constraint values, permission levels, or tags, for one or more of the one or more application features that are listed in the one or more templates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality application features perform configuration of the one or more configuration parameters, wherein the one or more configuration parameters are associated with Open System Interconnect model (OSI) layers 4-7.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining one or more custom features that are listed in the one or more templates, wherein the one or more customer features comprise one or more of, a script, a program, or an interface to an external service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining feature group information that associates one or more of the one or more listed application features, wherein the feature group information includes dependencies information related to the associated one or more of the one or more listed application features.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more application features that are listed in the one or more templates are selected based on one or more applications of the visitor computer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing a processor readable non-transitory storage media to include instructions for configuring the visitor computer, over the network, with the host computer, wherein the execution of the instructions by a processor performs the method'"'"'s actions.

8. A host computer for configuring a visitor computer, over a network, comprising:

a memory for storing at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes the instructions to enable actions, including;

determining a plurality of application features based on a catalog of available application features of the visitor computer, wherein at least one of the application features is associated with one or more configuration parameters of visitor computer;

generating one or more templates that list one or more of the plurality of application features;

generating a plugin client and a corresponding plugin core that include the one or more application features listed in the one or more templates, wherein the plugin client is provided to the host computer and the corresponding plugin core is installed on the visitor computer;

obtaining information from the host computer that is associated with one or more actions performed by one or more users of the plugin client; and

when the obtained information is provided to the corresponding plugin core, performing further actions;

determining one or more of the one or more application features included in the plugin core based on the information obtained from the host computer; and

performing operations on the visitor computer based on the obtained information and the determined one or more application features that are included in the plugin core, wherein the performed operations include configuring one or more of the one or more configuration parameters of the visitor computer based on at least a portion of the obtained information.

9. The host computer of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining one or more of default values, constraint values, permission levels, or tags, for one or more of the one or more application features that are listed in the one or more templates.

10. The host computer of claim 8, wherein one or more of the plurality application features perform configuration of the one or more configuration parameters, wherein the one or more configuration parameters are associated with Open System Interconnect model (OSI) layers 4-7.

11. The host computer of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining one or more custom features that are listed in the one or more templates, wherein the one or more customer features comprise one or more of, a script, a program, or an interface to an external service.

12. The host computer of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining feature group information that associates one or more of the one or more listed application features, wherein the feature group information includes dependencies information related to the associated one or more of the one or more listed application features.

13. The host computer of claim 8, wherein the one or more application features that are listed in the one or more templates are selected based on one or more applications of the visitor computer.

14. A system for configuring a visitor computer, over a network, comprising:

a host computer that includes;

a memory for storing at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes the instructions to enable actions, including;

determining a plurality of application features based on a catalog of available application features of the visitor computer, wherein at least one of the application features is associated with one or more configuration parameters of visitor computer;

generating one or more templates that list one or more of the plurality of application features;

generating a plugin client and a corresponding plugin core that include the one or more application features listed in the one or more templates, wherein the plugin client is provided to the host computer and the corresponding plugin core is installed on the visitor computer;

obtaining information from the host computer that is associated with one or more actions performed by one or more users of the plugin client; and

when the obtained information is provided to the corresponding plugin core, performing further actions;

determining one or more of the one or more application features included in the plugin core based on the information obtained from the host computer; and

performing operations on the visitor computer based on the obtained information and the determined one or more application features that are included in the plugin core, wherein the performed operations include configuring one or more of the one or more configuration parameters of the visitor computer based on at least a portion of the obtained information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining one or more of default values, constraint values, permission levels, or tags, for one or more of the one or more application features that are listed in the one or more templates.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein one or more of the plurality application features perform configuration of the one or more configuration parameters, wherein the one or more configuration parameters are associated with Open System Interconnect model (OSI) layers 4-7.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining one or more custom features that are listed in the one or more templates, wherein the one or more customer features comprise one or more of, a script, a program, or an interface to an external service.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein generating the one or more templates, further comprises, determining feature group information that associates one or more of the one or more listed application features, wherein the feature group information includes dependencies information related to the associated one or more of the one or more listed application features.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more application features that are listed in the one or more templates are selected based on one or more applications of the visitor computer.