Methods, remote access systems, client computing devices, and server devices for use in remote access systems

• US 10,447,818 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qatar Foundation
• Original Assignee: Qatar Foundation
• Inventors: Yip, William, Ponsford, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Vostal, Ondrej C
• Application Number:
  US14/646,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20150296051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,519 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]

Abstract

A method of managing the execution of a computer program in a remote access system, comprising: connecting a client computing device to a server device; receiving a request from the client computing device to operate a computer program; determining a device on which to execute the computer program; and executing the computer program on the server device or the client computing device according to the determination, the computer program being executable on both the client computing device and the server device respectively. Furthermore: a method for selectively remotely installing programs; a method for remote access and assistance; a method for monitoring a remote user'"'"'s activity; a method for distributing group policies.

Claims

1. A method of providing support services to a client computing device for solving at least one problem encountered by the client computing device in response to a user requesting assistance to the problem encountered with the client computing device, the method comprising:

establishing a remote access connection between the client computing device and a server device such that one or more resources of the server device are useable by the client computing device in execution of one or more computer programs of the server device, the remote access connection including one or more virtual channels;

sending an assistance request from the client computing device to a support services device in response to a problem encountered by the client computing device, the support services device being connected to the server device;

providing, by a further client computing device, remote access to the client computing device, the further client computing device being connected to the server device and remotely controls the client computing device, the providing of the remote access to the client computing device by the further client computing device being in response to receipt of the assistance request by the support services device, wherein remote access is provided via one or more of the one or more virtual channels;

issuing, by the further client computing device, a request for configuration information of the client computing device, the configuration information of the client computing device including at least one of components of the client computing device and computer programs operating on the client computing device;

receiving, by the further client computing device, the configuration information requested from the client computing device;

analyzing, by the further client computing device, the received configuration information of the client computing device;

determining, by the further client computing device, a solution to the problem encountered by the client computing device in view of the analyzed configuration information of the client computing device;

accessing the client computing device with the further client computing device utilizing the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device; and

providing a computer file to the client computing device by the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device, the computer file executable on the client computing device and including instructions to solve the problem encountered by the client computing device, the computer file being associated with a transfer permitting parameter that indicates that the computer file can be transferred to the client computing device from the server device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing remote access includes providing information from the execution of one or more computer programs by the client computing device and/or the server device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing remote access includes providing information from the execution of one or more computer programs by the client computing device and/or the server device;

and at least one of the one or more computer programs is a computer program executed by the server device for the client computing device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing remote access includes providing information from the execution of one or more computer programs by the client computing device and/or the server device, wherein at least one of the one or more computer programs is a computer program executed by the server device for the client computing device;

and the information from the at least one computer program is delivered directly from the server device to the further client computing device.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein providing remote access includes providing information from the execution of one or more computer programs by the client computing device and/or the server device, wherein at least one of the one or more computer programs is a computer program executed by the server device for the client computing device;

and the information from the at least one computer program is delivered to the further client computing device via the client computing device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the support services device is the further client device.

7. A method according claim 1, wherein providing remote access includes providing information from the execution of one or more computer programs by the client computing device and/or the server device, wherein the support services device is the further client device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing remote access includes providing information from the execution of one or more computer programs by the client computing device and/or the server device;

and at least one of the one or more computer programs is a computer program executed by the server device for the client computing device, wherein the support services device is the further client device.

9. A method of providing support services to a client computing device for solving at least one problem or more problems encountered by the client computing device in response to a user requesting assistance to the problem encountered with the client computing device, the method comprising:

establishing a remote access connection between the client computing device and a server device such that one or more resources of the server device are useable by the client computing device in execution of one or more computer programs of the server device, the remote access connection including one or more virtual channels;

receiving an assistance request at a support services device from the client computing device in response to a problem encountered by the client computing device, the support services device being connected to the server device;

providing, by a further client computing device, remote access to the client computing device, the further client computing device being connected to the server device and remotely controls the client computing device, the providing of the remote access to the client computing device by the further client computing device being in response to receipt of the assistance request by the support services device, wherein remote access is provided via one or more of the one or more virtual channels;

issuing, by the further client computing device, a request for configuration information of the client computing device, the configuration information of the client computing device including at least one of components of the client computing device and computer programs operating on the client computing device;

receiving, by the further client computing device, the configuration information requested from the client computing device;

analyzing, by the further client computing device, the received configuration information of the client computing device;

determining, by the further client computing device, a solution to the problem encountered by the client computing device in view of the analyzed configuration information of the client computing device;

accessing the client computing device with the further client computing device utilizing the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device; and

providing a computer file to the client computing device by the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device, the computer file executable on the client computing device and including instructions to solve the problem encountered by the client computing device, the computer file being associated with a transfer permitting parameter that indicates that the computer file can be transferred to the client computing device from the server device.

10. A client computing device configured to operate in a remote access system, the client computing device connected to a server device, wherein the user may request assistance to a problem encountered with the client computing device, the client computing device comprising:

memory; and

a processor configured to;

establish a remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device such that one or more resources of the server device are useable by the client computing device in execution of one or more computer programs of the server device, the remote access connection including one or more virtual channels;

send an assistance request from the client computing device to a support services device in response to a problem encountered by the client computing device, the support services device being connected to the server device;

provide, by a further client computing device, remote access to the client computing device for providing support services to the client computing device for solving one or more problems encountered by the client computing device, the further client computing device being connected to the server device and remotely controls the client computing device, the remote access to the client computing device by the further client computing device being provided in response to receipt of the assistance request by the support services device, wherein remote access is provided via one or more of the one or more virtual channels;

issue, by the further client computing device, a request for configuration information of the client computing device, the configuration information of the client computing device including at least one of components of the client computing device and computer programs operating on the client computing device;

receive, by the further client computing device, the configuration information requested from the client computing device;

analyze, by the further client computing device, the received configuration information of the client computing device;

determine, by the further client computing device, a solution to the problem encountered by the client computing device in view of the analyzed configuration information of the client computing device;

access the client computing device with the further client computing device utilizing the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device; and

provide a computer file to the client computing device by the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device, the computer file executable on the client computing device and including instructions to solve the problem encountered by the client computing device, the computer file being associated with a transfer permitting parameter that indicates that the computer file can be transferred to the client computing device from the server device.

11. A server device configured to operate in a remote access system, the server device connected to a client computing device, wherein the user may request assistance to a problem encountered with the client computing device, the server device comprising:

memory; and

a processor configured to;

establish a remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device such that one or more resources of the server device are useable by the client computing device in execution of one or more computer programs of the server device, the remote access connection including one or more virtual channels;

receive an assistance request at a support services device from the client computing device in response to a problem encountered by the client computing device, the support services device being connected to the server device; and

provide, by a further client computing device, remote access to the client computing device for providing support services to the client computing device for solving one or more problems encountered by the client computing device, the further client computing device being connected to the server device and remotely controls the client computing device, the remote access to the client computing device by the further client computing device being provided in response to receipt of the assistance request by the support services device, wherein remote access is provided via one or more of the one or more virtual channels;

issuing, by the further client computing device, a request for configuration information of the client computing device, the configuration information of the client computing device including at least one of components of the client computing device and computer programs operating on the client computing device;

receiving, by the further client computing device, the configuration information requested from the client computing device;

analyzing, by the further client computing device, the received configuration information of the client computing;

determining, by the further client computing device, a solution to the problem encountered by the client computing device in view of the analyzed configuration information of the client computing device;

accessing the client computing device with the further client computing device utilizing the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device; and

providing a computer file to the client computing device by the remote access connection between the client computing device and the server device, the computer file executable on the client computing device and including instructions to solve the problem encountered by the client computing device, the computer file being associated with a transfer permitting parameter that indicates that the computer file can be transferred to the client computing device from the server device.