METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING A METHOD FOR EXECUTION, BY A VIRTUAL MACHINE, OF AN APPLICATION PROGRAM

• US 20070180450A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: LOW, Anthony, MAZZAFERRI, Richard, CROFT, Richard, PEDERSEN, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/541 Client-server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1462 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5088 involving task migration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/22 Detection of presence or absence of input display information or of connection or disconnection of a corresponding information source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 : Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 : for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 : specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• 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 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 : Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 : Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 : Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A method for selecting a method of execution for an application includes the step of receiving credentials. A plurality of applications available to a client machine is enumerated responsive to the received credentials. A request to execute an enumerated application is received. One of a predetermined number of methods for executing the requested application is selected responsive to a policy, the predetermined number of methods including a method for executing the requested application in a computing environment provided by a virtual machine.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a method of execution for an application program, the method comprising:

(a) receiving credentials;

(b) enumerating a plurality of applications available to a client machine responsive to the received credentials;

(c) receiving a request to execute an enumerated application; and

(d) selecting one of a predetermined number of methods for executing the requested application, responsive to a policy, the predetermined number of methods including a method for executing the requested application in a computing environment provided by a virtual machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing access information associated with the enumerated application, the access information generated responsive to the selected method.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving credentials associated with a user of a client machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving a request to execute an enumerated application, the enumerated application comprising a plurality of application files.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises selecting a method for:

(d-1) streaming the requested application to a virtual machine; and

(d-2) executing the enumerated application in the virtual machine.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d) further comprises evaluating, before step (d-1), the virtual machine.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (d) further comprises determining to stream the requested application responsive to the evaluation.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d-1) comprises streaming to the virtual machine one of a plurality of files comprising the enumerated application.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing application-output data generated by the executing application via a presentation level protocol.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing application-output data generated by the executing application via an Independent Computing Architecture presentation level protocol or a Remote Desktop Windows presentation level protocol or an X-Windows presentation level protocol.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d-1) further comprises identifying a virtual machine responsive to an evaluation of the client machine.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d-1) further comprises selecting the virtual machine responsive to a policy.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises identifying a version of the requested application to execute.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (d) further comprises provisioning a virtual machine to execute the requested application, the virtual machine selected responsive to the identified version of the requested application.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step (d) further comprises identifying a template from which to provision a virtual machine, the template selected responsive to the identified version of the requested application.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(a-1) receiving a request from a client machine for access to a resource;

(a-2) gathering, by a collection agent, credentials; and

(a-3) receiving the gathered credentials.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step (a-2) further comprises gathering credentials by executing at least one script on the local machine.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a-2) further comprises gathering credentials associated with a user of the client machine.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a-3) further comprises evaluating the client machine responsive to the received credentials.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a-3) comprises streaming one of a plurality of files comprising the enumerated application to a virtual machine responsive to the gathered credentials.

21. An apparatus, in a system for providing access to a computing environment by a broker machine to a client machine, an execution machine executing a hypervisor providing access to hardware resources required by the computing environment, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver receiving credentials associated with a user of a client machine, enumerating a plurality of resources available to the user of the client machine, responsive to the received credentials, and receiving a request to execute an enumerated resource;

a server agent selecting one of a predetermined number of methods for executing the requested resource, responsive to a policy, the predetermined number of methods including a method for providing access to the requested resource in a computing environment provided by a virtual machine;

an identification component in communication with a virtual machine management component and with the server agent, and receiving an identification of the requested resource and an identification of one of a plurality of virtual machines, the identified virtual machine providing the computing environment;

an execution component provisioning the identified virtual machine; and

a management component establishing a connection between the client machine and the identified virtual machine.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a policy engine.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the policy engine applies a policy to the received credentials.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the policy engine makes an access control decision, responsive to the received credentials.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the server agent selects one of the predetermined number of methods for executing the requested application, responsive to the access control decision.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the server agent streams the requested application to the identified virtual machine for execution.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the server agent selects a method for streaming the requested application to the client machine.

28. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the identified virtual machine provides resource-output data generated by an execution of the resource in the computing environment via a presentation level protocol.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component further comprises identifying a virtual machine responsive to an evaluation of the client machine.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component further comprises identifying a virtual machine responsive to an evaluation of the requested resource.

31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component further comprises selecting the virtual machine responsive to a policy.

32. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component further comprises identifying a template from which to provision a virtual machine, the template selected responsive to an evaluation of the requested resource.

33. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component receives from the virtual machine management component the identification of the one of the plurality of virtual machines.

34. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component identifies one of a plurality of execution machines, a hypervisor executing on the identified execution machine.

35. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component identifies one of a plurality of execution machines, the identification component launching the identified virtual machine into a hypervisor executing on the identified execution machine.

36. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification component receives an identification of one of a plurality of execution machines.

37. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the execution component further comprises a means for launching the identified virtual machine into the hypervisor.

38. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a collection agent gathering credentials associated with the client machine.

39. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a collection agent gathering credentials associated with a user of the client machine.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein server agent determines to stream one of a plurality of files comprising the requested resource to a virtual machine responsive to an evaluation of the gathered credentials.

41. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the management component further comprises providing an internet protocol address associated with the identified virtual machine to the client machine.

42. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the management component further comprises providing an internet protocol address associated with the execution machine to the client machine.

43. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the management component further comprises providing a proxy for communication between the client machine and the virtual machine.

44. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the management component further comprises establishing a connection between the client machine and the virtual machine using a presentation-layer protocol.