Network and method for implementing network platform services for a computing device

• US 6,976,066 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffrey, Mark T., Mouhanna, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATES, KEVIN T
• Application Number:
  US09/711,289
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/227, 709/228, 709/220, 709/218, 709/223, 717/177, 717/176
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A network provides computer services to users and has a centralized data center (CDC) and regional data centers (RDCs) coupled to the CDC. Each RDC is coupled to a plurality of users and maintains for each associated user back up storage. Each user has a user machine with user data stored thereon, and such user data is automatically mirrored to the associated back up storage on the RDC. Each RDC maintains for each associated user a user profile corresponding to the user, and each user and each RDC has a physical location. A user newly couples to the network by contacting the CDC at a network address thereof and receiving from the CDC a network address of an RDC based at least in part on the location of the user. The RDC of the received network address maintains the user profile for the user, and the location of such RDC is expected to be relatively close to the location of the user as compared with the location of all other RDCs. Once coupled to the network, the user receives from the RDC a list of servers to use for services provided by the network for the user. The list of servers is obtained from the user profile for the user and comprises a list of corresponding network addresses. An application at a first network location may issue a command to a client at a second network location.

Claims

1. A method in combination with a network for implementing a network-based computing environment, the network comprising:

a centralized data center (CDC);

a plurality of regional data centers (RDCs) operatively coupled to the CDC, each RDC being operatively coupled to a plurality of clients by way of a communications network,

the method for an application to implement an action at a first network location, the application being at a second network location and coupled to an RDC thereat, the method comprising;

determining over the network what clients are available at the first location and coupled to an RDC thereat, each available client having capabilities;

determining over the network what capabilities each available client at the first location has;

selecting an available client at the first location having a capability required for the action to be implemented at the first location; and

issuing a command over the network to the selected client to perform at least a portion of the action, wherein the issued command is received over the network from the application by the selected client and the selected client performs at least a portion of the action in accordance with the received command,

wherein each client at the first location is coupled to the RDC thereat by way of a gateway having information on each client at the first location, and wherein determining what clients are available at the first location comprises obtaining the information on each client at the first location from the gateway, and

wherein the gateway has information on what capabilities each available client at the first location has, and wherein determining what capabilities each available client at the first location has comprises allowing the application to obtain the information on the capabilities of each client at the first location from the gateway.

2. A method in combination with a network for implementing a network-based computing environment, the network comprising:

a centralized data center (CDC);

a plurality of regional data centers (RDCs) operatively coupled to the CDC, each RDC being operatively coupled to a plurality of clients by way of a communications network,

the method for implementing an action at a first network location by way of an application at a second network location and coupled to an RDC thereat, the method comprising;

allowing the application to determine over the network what clients are available at the first location and coupled to an RDC thereat, each available client having capabilities;

allowing the application to determine over the network what capabilities each available client at the first location has, the application selecting an available client at the first location having a capability required for the action to be implemented at the first location;

facilitating issuance of a command over the network from the application to the selected client to perform at least a portion of the action; and

facilitating reception of the issued command over the network from the application by the selected client, wherein the selected client performs at least a portion of the action in accordance with the received command,

wherein each client at the first location is coupled to the RDC thereat by way of a gateway having information on each client at the first location, and wherein allowing the application to determine over the network what clients are available at the first location comprises allowing the application to obtain the information on each client at the first location from the gateway, and

wherein the gateway has information on what capabilities each available client at the first location has, and wherein allowing the application to determine over the network what capabilities each available client at the first location has comprises allowing the application to obtain the information on the capabilities of each client at the first location from the gateway.