Client Category Configuration

• US 20070239672A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Paranthaman, Gowri, Lakshminarayanan, Karthik, Foucher, Trevor
• Application Number:
  US11/277,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Client category configuration is described, in which, a computer-implemented method may be employed to find categories of clients based on configuration data obtained from the clients. A configuration recommendation is then created for a particular one of the categories based on configuration of one or more of the clients included in the particular category.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

finding categories of clients based on configuration data obtained from the clients; and

creating a configuration recommendation for a particular one of the categories based on configuration of one or more of the clients included in the particular category.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the categories are defined by criteria that include which applications, files, settings and plug-in modules are included by clients in the respective categories.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the categories correspond to hobbies or occupations of respective said clients.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration data describes actions taken by modules executed on respective said clients and reactions to the actions taken by the respective said clients.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data describes particular types of data that were backed-up by respective said clients; and

the configuration recommendation identifies at least one of the particular types.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 5, wherein the particular types are identified via file extensions.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data describes network access that was permitted to modules included on respective said clients; and

the configuration recommendation identifies permissible or impermissible network access regarding the modules to clients included in the particular category.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the configuration recommendation to at least one of the clients included in the particular category; and

determining by the at least one of the clients whether the configuration recommendation is applicable to the clients.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising categorizing a new client by comparing configuration of one or more modules on the new client with configurations described in each of a plurality of categories.

10. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

when a previously undetected module is detected in subsequent configuration data obtained from the clients, determining which of the clients include the module;

ascertaining which categories correspond to the clients that include the previously undetected module; and

updating at least one of the ascertained categories to include the previously undetected module

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

categorizing a client by comparing configuration of one or more modules on the client with configurations described in each of a plurality of categories; and

communicating a recommendation regarding configuration of at least one said module to the client based on the categorizing.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein the categories are defined by criteria that include which applications, files, settings and plug-in modules are included by clients in the respective categories.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein the categories correspond to hobbies or occupations of respective said clients.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein the categories correspond to actions taken by modules executed on respective said clients and reactions to the actions taken by the respective said clients.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, further comprising:

communicating an identification of the category to the client; and

determining, by the client, whether a subsequent recommendation regarding configuration is pertinent to the client based on the identification of the category.

16. A method as described in claim 11, farther comprising:

determining which of the clients include a previously undetected module;

ascertaining which categories correspond to the clients that include the previously undetected module; and

updating at least one of the ascertained categories to include the previously undetected module.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

when a previously undetected module is detected in configuration data obtained from a plurality of clients, determining which of the clients include the module;

ascertaining which categories correspond to the clients that include the module, wherein each of the categories describes a configuration of one or more other modules; and

updating at least one of the ascertained categories to include the module.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 17, wherein each of the categories was found based on previous configuration data obtained from one or more of the clients.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 17, wherein the categories are defined by criteria that include which applications, files, settings and plug-in modules are included by clients in the respective categories.

20. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 17, further comprising:

communication at least one of the updated categories to the plurality of clients;

creating configuration recommendations based on the categories; and

communicating the configuration recommendations to the plurality of clients, such that, east said client is to determine whether each said configuration recommendation is pertinent to the client based on the updated categories.