Application streaming and network file system optimization via feature popularity

• US 7,908,391 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Sobel, William E., Hernacki, Brian, Satish, Sourabh
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US12/055,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57

Abstract

The performance of a remotely originated application is improved by determining the most popular application features, and proactively making the corresponding application content available to local computers on which the application runs. An application streaming or network file system transmits an application to a plurality of endpoints for execution. The server determines the relative popularity of the application features, and maps the features to corresponding application content. The server proactively pushes the application content corresponding to the most popular features to the endpoints. The popularity of application features is dynamically updated on a regular, ongoing basis. The proactive pushing of code pages is kept current with the updated popularity determinations.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for optimizing transmission of application program content from a server for execution on an endpoint, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, by a sever computer, a popularity measurement of each of a plurality of application program features;

mapping code pages of the application to the application program features;

identifying at least one code page of the application associated with at least one popular application program feature; and

proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint further comprises:

proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, without receiving a request for said at least one code page from the endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint further comprises:

receiving an indication from the endpoint that execution of the application is starting on the endpoint; and

responsive to receipt of said indication, proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, without receiving a request for said at least one code page from the endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

proactively transmitting a plurality of code pages associated with a specific subset of the application program features, said subset comprising most popular ones of the program features.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dynamically updating the popularity measurement of at least one of the plurality of application program features.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

responsive to the updating step, proactively transmitting at least one additional code page of the application corresponding to at least one popular program feature from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

responsive to the updating step, re-ranking the popularity of the application program features of the plurality and proactively transmitting a plurality of code pages associated with a specific subset of the application program features, said subset comprising most popular ones of the program features.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

building a cache comprising code pages corresponding to a specific subset of the application program features, said subset comprising most popular ones of the program features; and

proactively transmitting the cache to at least one endpoint, responsive to at least one event from a group of events consisting of;

establishment of a new endpoint;

endpoint;

transmission of a new version of an application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of an update to an application to at least one endpoint; and

an update in popularity of application program features.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

proactively transmitting at least one code page of at least one application corresponding to at least one popular application program feature to at least one endpoint, responsive to at least one event from a group of events consisting of;

establishment of a new endpoint;

transmission of a new application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of a new version of an application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of an update to an application to at least one endpoint; and

an update in popularity of application program features.

10. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program product for optimizing transmission of application program content from a server for execution on an endpoint, the computer program product comprising:

program code for determining a popularity measurement of each of a plurality of application program features;

program code for mapping code pages of the application to the application program features;

program code for identifying at least one code page of the application associated with at least one popular application program feature; and

program code for proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the program code for transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint further comprises:

program code for proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, without receiving a request for said at least one code page from the endpoint.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the program code for transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint further comprises:

program code for receiving an indication from the endpoint that execution of the application is starting on the endpoint; and

program code for, responsive to receipt of said indication, proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, without receiving a request for said at least one code page from the endpoint.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

program code for proactively transmitting a plurality of code pages associated with a specific subset of the application program features, said subset comprising most popular ones of the program features.

14. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

program code for dynamically updating the popularity measurement of at least one of the plurality of application program features.

15. The method computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

program code for, responsive to the updating step, proactively transmitting at least one additional code page of the application corresponding to at least one popular program feature from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint.

16. The method computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

program code for, responsive to the updating step, re-ranking the popularity of the application program features of the plurality and proactively transmitting a plurality of code pages associated with a specific subset of the application program features, said subset comprising most popular ones of the program features.

17. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

program code for building a cache comprising code pages corresponding to a specific subset of the application program features, said subset comprising most popular ones of the program features; and

program code for proactively transmitting the cache to at least one endpoint.

18. The method computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

program code for proactively transmitting the cache to at least one endpoint, responsive to at least one event from a group of events consisting of;

establishment of a new endpoint;

transmission of a new application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of a new version of an application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of an update to an application to at least one endpoint; and

an update in popularity of application program features.

19. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

program code for proactively transmitting at least one code page of at least one application corresponding to at least one popular application program feature to at least one endpoint, responsive to at least one event from a group of events consisting of;

establishment of a new endpoint;

transmission of a new application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of a new version of an application to at least one endpoint;

transmission of an update to an application to at least one endpoint; and

an update in popularity of application program features.

20. A computer system comprising hardware and software, for optimizing transmission of application program content from a server for execution on an endpoint, the computer system comprising:

means for determining a popularity measurement of each of a plurality of application program features;

means for mapping code pages of the application to the application program features;

means for identifying at least one code page of the application associated with at least one popular application program feature; and

means for proactively transmitting said at least one identified code page of the application from the server to the endpoint, for execution of the application on the endpoint.