Utilizing demonstration data based on dynamically determining feature availability

• US 10,862,731 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Cox, Timothy, Miles, Norman, Joyce, Scott, Labaj, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, S M A
• Application Number:
  US13/929,516
• Time in Patent Office: 2,721 Days
• Field of Search: 709203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program product for selectively utilizing demonstration data based on dynamically determining feature availability on computer systems. A first request is received from a client device for computer system feature data related to a computer system feature. A second request is sent to a computer system to invoke by the computer system the computer system feature. Response computer system feature data including feature status information is received. The computer system feature data is formed based on the response computer system feature data, if the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is available on the computer system. The computer system feature data is formed based on demonstration data, if the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is not available on the computer system. The computer system feature data is sent to the client device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a management server comprising:

receiving, at the management server, a first request from a client device for computer system feature data related to a computer system feature;

sending, by the management server, a second request to a computer system to invoke, by the computer system, the computer system feature;

receiving, at the management server from the computer system in response to the second request, response computer system feature data including feature status information;

determining, by the management server, whether or not the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is available on the computer system;

having determined that the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is available on the computer system;

(i) obtaining, by the management server, live computer system data from the response computer system feature data received from the computer system, the live computer system data pertaining to the computer system feature that is available on the computer system; and

(ii) forming, by the management server, the computer system feature data based on the live computer system data;

having determined that the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is not available on the computer system;

(i) obtaining, by the management server, non-live computer system data from other than the response computer system feature data received from the computer system, the non-live computer system data including one or more of dynamically generated sample computer system feature data and mock computer system feature data; and

(ii) forming, by the management server, the computer system feature data based on the non-live computer system data; and

sending, by the management server, the computer system feature data to the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the management server, a third request from the client device for second computer system feature data related to the computer system feature;

sending, by the management server, a fourth request to a second computer system to invoke by the second computer system the computer system feature;

receiving, by the management server, from the second computer system in response to the fourth request second response computer system feature data comprising second feature status information;

if the second feature status information indicates that the second computer system feature is available on the second computer system;

(i) obtaining, by the management server, second live computer system data from the second response computer system feature data; and

(ii) forming, by the management server, the second computer system feature data based on the second live computer system data;

if the second feature status information indicates that the second computer system feature is not available on the second computer system;

(i) obtaining, by the management server, second non-live computer system data; and

(ii) forming, by the management server, the second computer system feature data based on the second non-live computer system data; and

sending, by the management server, the second computer system feature data to the client device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the non-live computer system data and the second non-live computer system data are the same.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the non-live computer system data includes retrieving, by the management server, the non-live computer system data from a file stored on the management server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the non-live computer system data includes retrieving, by the management server, the non-live computer system data from a remote repository.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the non-live computer system data includes dynamically generating, by the management server, the non-live computer system data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the non-live computer system data includes retrieving, by the management server, the non-live computer system data based on one or more configuration parameters.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the live computer system data is based on one or more of (i) a current operation of the computer system and (ii) a current configuration of the computer system, and wherein the non-live computer system data is not based on either one of (i) the current operation of the computer system and (ii) the current configuration of the computer system.

8. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions being operable to cause one or more data processing apparatus to:

receive a first request from a client device for computer system feature data related to a computer system feature;

send a second request to a computer system to invoke, by the computer system, the computer system feature;

receive from the computer system in response to the second request, response computer system feature data including feature status information;

determine whether or not the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is available on the computer system;

having determined that the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is available on the computer system;

(i) obtain live computer system data from the response computer system feature data received from the computer system, the live computer system data pertaining to the computer system feature that is available on the computer system; and

(ii) form the computer system feature data based on the live computer system data;

having determined that the feature status information indicates that the computer system feature is not available on the computer system;

(i) obtain non-live computer system data from other than the response computer system feature data received from the computer system, the non-live computer system data including one or more of dynamically generated sample computer system feature data and mock computer system feature data; and

(ii) form the computer system feature data based on the non-live computer system data; and

send the computer system feature data to the client device.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further including instructions being operable to cause the one or more data processing apparatus to:

receive a third request from the client device for second computer system feature data related to the computer system feature;

send a fourth request to a second computer system to invoke by the second computer system the computer system feature;

receive from the second computer system in response to the fourth request second response computer system feature data comprising second feature status information;

if the second feature status information indicates that the second computer system feature is available on the second computer system;

(i) obtain second live computer system data from the second response computer system feature data; and

(ii) form the second computer system feature data based on the second live computer system data;

if the second feature status information indicates that the second computer system feature is not available on the second computer system;

(i) obtain second non-live computer system data; and

(ii) form the second computer system feature data based on the second non-live computer system data; and

send the second computer system feature data to the client device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the non-live computer system data and the second non-live computer system data are the same.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, further including instructions being operable to cause the one or more data processing apparatus to retrieve the non-live computer system data from a file stored on the management server.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further including instructions being operable to cause the one or more data processing apparatus to retrieve the non-live computer system data from a remote repository.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further including instructions being operable to cause the one or more data processing apparatus to dynamically generate the non-live computer system data.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further including instructions being operable to cause the one or more data processing apparatus to retrieve the non-live computer system data based on one or more configuration parameters.

16. A method performed by a management server, comprising:

in response to a first request from a client device for computer system feature data related to a computer system feature, sending, by the management server, a second request to a computer system to invoke, by the computer system, the computer system feature;

receiving, at the management server, feature status information from the computer system in response to the second request;

determining that the computer system feature is not available on the computer system based on the feature status information;

having determined that the computer system feature is not available on the computer system;

(i) obtaining, by the management server, non-live computer system data from other than the computer system, the non-live computer system data including one or more of dynamically generated sample computer system feature data and (d) mock computer system feature data; and

(ii) forming, by the management server, the computer system feature data based on the non-live computer system data; and

sending, by the management server, the computer system feature data to the client device.