EP1266316A1 - Transfert d'environnement informatique - Google Patents

Transfert d'environnement informatique

Info

Publication number
EP1266316A1
EP1266316A1 EP00928098A EP00928098A EP1266316A1 EP 1266316 A1 EP1266316 A1 EP 1266316A1 EP 00928098 A EP00928098 A EP 00928098A EP 00928098 A EP00928098 A EP 00928098A EP 1266316 A1 EP1266316 A1 EP 1266316A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
user
computing environment
mobile computing
machine
supplier
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00928098A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hwee Hwa Pang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kent Ridge Digital Labs
Original Assignee
Kent Ridge Digital Labs
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kent Ridge Digital Labs filed Critical Kent Ridge Digital Labs
Publication of EP1266316A1 publication Critical patent/EP1266316A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
    • G06F9/445—Program loading or initiating
    • G06F9/44505—Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
    • G06F9/4451—User profiles; Roaming

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to mobile computing environments and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to mobile computing environments where the software application requirements of a user are provided by an external source.
  • ASPs Application Service Providers
  • An ASP manages and delivers software applications capabilities to multiple users from centralized data centres across a wide area network thus eliminating the need for their customers to purchase and maintain those software applications in-house.
  • Existing ASPs include US internetworking, IBM Global Services, EDS, USWeb, FutureLink, Oracle Online, Corio, ServiceNet, and World Technology Service.
  • an ASP must have not only expertise in the installation, integration and maintenance of all their software applications, but must also have a reliable hosting infrastructure. This can be very expensive to establish. Therefore, the entry barriers for a good ASP are quite high.
  • WO9857250 of Microsoft Crop discloses a method through which a file's attributes are used to determine whether it belongs to remote or local storage. If it indicates remote storage, the file system driver passes control to higher level drivers which then assume control to finish processing the I/O request.
  • the present invention does not use the file's attributes to determine whether it is local or remote. Rather, it implements a "virtual" drive and the requests destined for the virtual drive are automatically redirected to the file server by the file system monitor.
  • Microsoft's patent supports only SMB protocol, does not have protocol adaptation, and does not cover the migration of the computing environment.
  • WO9746956 of AT & T Corp discloses an internet file system that provides access to resources on the internet supporting multiple protocols transparent to applications.
  • the approach taken is to overwrite shared libraries used by an application. This implies that it cannot support applications that use static libraries.
  • the approach by the present invention is to use the kernel driver to intercept all file system calls and then to redirect the file system call to the appropriate file server.
  • the approach of the present invention can support applications that use either static or dynamic libraries.
  • the reference does not cover dynamic adaptation of protocol based on what is currently available from the file server. Finally, it does not disclose the migration of the computing environment.
  • EP0774723 of Matsushita Corp discloses a distributed server environment, where a central file management apparatus maintains a virtual file management table that indicates the file's virtual identity and the physical location of the file. Requests are directed from the file management apparatus to the appropriate server based on the actual location.
  • the system of the present application does not need a special server/machine, can work with standard file servers without modification, and all the information regarding remote files is maintained on the user's machine.
  • US5845282 This patent describes a method that establishes a data transfer link between a pen-based computer and a remote desktop computer, displays the files available for retrieval from the remote computer and translates each file that is selected to be transferred. This is essentially a file/directory mapping product.
  • At least one portable data processing device having a memory unit for storing file data and file management data of portable side files
  • a conversion unit for converting at least one of the file data and the management data of each requested file among the portable side files for which a file access request is issued by the processing unit, into a form suitable for the stationary data processing device.
  • the conversion enables the processing unit to access each request file among the portable side files according to converted file data/file management data obtained by the conversion unit.
  • This is essentially a file/directory mapping product.
  • US5561799 This relates to an extensible file system which layers a new file system over an old file system to provide coherent file data and describes a mechanism for layering a new file system over an existing file system, possibly residing in different computers.
  • a data movement facility connects the pager program in the existing file system to the cache program in the new file system, thus supplying coherent file data between them. This is also essentially a file/directory mapping product.
  • the present invention provides a method for transferring a computing environment from a supplier to a user, the method including the steps of:
  • the supplier is an Application Service Provider. More preferably, the transferring steps (d) and (e) occur over a network selected from the group consisting of a local area network, metropolitan area network, and wide area network.
  • the wide area network may be the internet.
  • the suppliers' machine and the data centre may be on separate servers, or on the same server.
  • the user can use the configured mobile computing environment subsequent to its recreation in step (f), but unauthorized changes to the configured mobile computing environment by the user may not be propagated back to the image data.
  • the image data is transferred back to the data centre.
  • Both the supplier's machine and the data centre may have a server administration module, the server administration module in the suppliers machine creating mobile computing environments.
  • the server administration module also modifies existing mobile computing environments. More preferably the server administration module in the data centre manages user accounts. Furthermore, the server administration module in the data centre may regulate the transference of steps (d) and (e).
  • steps (d) and (e) may be on a physical storage medium.
  • the image data may be first received and saved in a user's server for use over several sessions, and the use may be by multiple users.
  • the image data may contain a limit on how many users are inclined in the multiple users and the limit is set by the supplier as part of step (b).
  • the limit is advantageously enforced by the recreated mobile computing environment.
  • a tracking agent is notified when the recreated mobile computing environment is installed on the user's machine. More preferably, authorization is sought by the recreated mobile computing environment to permit use by the user.
  • At least one user-specified component may be attached to the recreated mobile computing environment.
  • the at least one user-specific component may include a personal data directory.
  • the personal data directory is preferably installed on any one of the group consisting of the supplier's machine, the data centre, the user's machine, a user's server.
  • the recreated mobile computing environment masks off at least one component in a native computing environment on the user's machine.
  • the supplier may configure the mobile computing environment as a replacement for a previous mobile computing environment. Also the user may be able to return the mobile computing environment back to the supplier for troubleshooting and maintenance.
  • the data centre forwards a notice to the user's machine to deactivate the recreated mobile computing environment.
  • the mobile computing environment is returned to the data centre
  • Figure 1 is a basic flow chart of the supply chain cf (a) the prior art, and (b) the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the system architecture
  • Figure 3 is a representation of the server administration interface
  • Figure 4 is a representation of the mobile computing environment
  • Figure 5 is a representation of the user account manager interface
  • Figure 6 is a representation of the user login interface
  • Figure 7 is a flow chart of one form of the invention. Description of preferred embodiments
  • FIG. 1(a) there is shown the present system used by an Application Service Provider ("ASP").
  • ASP Application Service Provider
  • a ASP 10 obtains a number of software applications from the software developer 12. The software is subjected to license conditions.
  • a user 14 logs into the server of the ASP and in the ASP's server uses one or more software applications under appropriate commercial terms. The user 14 sends their data to the ASP 12 over the internet.
  • FIG. 1(b) shows the supply chain according to the present invention.
  • the ASP 10 obtains a number of software applications from the software developer 12. The software is subjected to license conditions.
  • the ASP creates a mobile computing environment such as, for example, a virtual computer. This is configured on the ASP's server, and saved. It is then transmitted as image data to a data centre 16 which saves the image data, then onforwards it to the user 14.
  • the mobile computing environment is recreated from the image data, and the user can use the relevant software application in the user's machine. All subsequent communication to and from the user is from the data centre 16.
  • the configured computing environment may include one or more of the required software applications, environment settings, screen background, drive and directory mappings, usage history, and short cuts.
  • the data centre 16 can host mobile computing environment created by several ASPs, and the user 14 can select any suitable mobile computing environment for their session, and still have access to their drive/directory for their documents and data.
  • the ASP 10 and data centre 16 each use a backend server that holds the available mobile computing environments, together with a server administration module 18.
  • a mobile computing environment 20 is created in the ASP 10 and forwarded to the data centre16.
  • a user login module 22 is provided in both the ASP 10 and data centre 16.
  • a user login interface is shown.
  • the server administration module 18 is used to create and/or modify computing environments 20, manage user 14 accounts, and regulate the transference of mobile computing environment 20.
  • Figure 4 shows the interface for the mobile computing environment manager, which enumerates all mobile computing environment currently registered in the ASP server giving such information as, for example, issue of the software, platform(s) supported, and user licenses.
  • the server administration module 18 can:
  • the administration module 18 can then configure the mobile computing environment 20 including the installation of all required software.
  • the mobile computing environment 20 is then saved on the ASP's server.
  • the administration module 18 is able to specify the platforms in which the mobile computing environment 20 is valid, as well as being able to set passwords for activation and maintenance.
  • the mobile computing environment 20 can be created and saved in advance of anticipated user 14 requirements.
  • the administration module 18 can then modify the configuration of the mobile computing environment 20, including the installation and/ or removal of software.
  • the platform settings and user password can also be changed, then the mobile computing environment 20 is saved as image data.
  • the mobile computing environment manager also provides the interface for activating and deactivating mobile computing environment for various supported platforms.
  • the user account manager located in the data centre 16, the interface for which is illustrated in Figure 5, is used to create and manage user accounts.
  • each user account also has associated with it:
  • the administration module 18 can add to and remove from this list.
  • the user login module 22 has an interface shown in Figure 6.
  • the module 22 first checks whether the account is resident locally. If the account has been sent to a remote server, user 14 is given the opportunity to recall it. To do that, a request to release the account is first lodged with the outgoing request manager of the remote server, a request to receive the account is send from the remote sever to the incoming request manager of the local server, then the account is finally transferred. Until the transfer is complete, the user is not able to work on his account.
  • the module 22 checks the mobile computing environment the user 14 has activated and notifies the user 14 if newer, updated versions are available.
  • the user 14 can activate any mobile computing environment 20 that is made available through the user account manager.
  • the selected mobile environment is loaded the user's machine, recreated, then takes over from the native environment on the user's machine. At the same time the user's home directory is mapped to the mobile computing environment 20.
  • a file monitor is started on the user's machine.
  • the file monitor intercepts every file system request on the mobile computing environment 20 directories. If the target file has been downloaded previously, the file monitor directs the native file system to satisfy the request from the downloaded file. If not, the file monitor downloads the target file from the file server that hosts it, decrypts the file, then directs the native file system to satisfy the request from the file.
  • the file server could be an FTP server, an HTTP server, an SMB server, an NFS server, or a server running another protocol. Periodically, newly created files/directories and modified files/directories are uploaded to their respective host file servers.
  • the user 14 Upon the user 14 logging out, the user 14 has the option of requesting that their account be sent to a remote server.
  • the request will first be presented to the outgoing request manager of the local server for approval, then to the incoming request manager of the remote server, before the transfer is effected.
  • the file monitor ensures that all newly created files/ directories and modified files/ directories are uploaded. It then removes all of the user's files and directories from the user's machine before quitting. Any allowed changes to the mobile environment 20 are then propagated back to the server and the mobile computing environment 20 is removed from the user's machine and returned to the data centre 16. The user's machine is now in its original state.
  • Any unauthorized changes to the mobile computing environment 20 do not permanently effect the mobile computing environment 20 as such changes are not propagated back to the image data, and the mobile computing environment is reconstructed from the image data for each subsequent use.
  • All transfers may be over a network, metropolitan area network or a wide area network.
  • a physical storage medium such as, for example, a disk or a CD ROM, may be used.
  • the image data may be transferred from the data centre 16 to a user's server for use over a number of sessions. Multiple users may be possible, although it is preferred that the image data contains a limit on the number of users.
  • the limit may be set by the supplier 10 as part of the configuration of the mobile computing environment 20. The limit may be enforced by the server software at the user's machine.
  • a tracking agent may be notified whenever the mobile computing environment is loaded by the user. This may be required to enable the account manager to ensure compliance by the user with the agreed terms under which the user 14 uses the mobile computing environment 20.
  • the mobile computing environment 20 preferably seeks authorization from the data centre 16 whenever the mobile computing environment is loaded on the user's machine.
  • the user 14 may specify a mobile computing environment 20 as a replacement for a previous mobile computing environment sent to the user 14 by data centre 16. Furthermore, the user 14 can return the mobile computing environment 20 to the ASP10 for one or more of troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrade, or the like.
  • the data centre 16 can send a notice to the mobile computing environment whereupon it is deactivated or returned, in accordance with the log out procedure described above.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé servant à transférer un environnement informatique du fournisseur à l'utilisateur et consistant à : (a) charger un environnement informatique mobile sur une machine du fournisseur, (b) configurer cet environnement informatique mobile, (c) sauvegarder cet environnement configuré sous forme de données d'image, (d) transférer ces données d'image à un centre de données et les sauvegarder dans ce centre, (e) transférer les données d'image à la machine de l'utilisateur et (f) recréer l'environnement informatique mobile configuré sur la machine de l'utilisateur à partir des données d'image.
EP00928098A 2000-03-18 2000-04-13 Transfert d'environnement informatique Withdrawn EP1266316A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SG200001263 2000-03-18
SG200001263 2000-03-18
PCT/SG2000/000074 WO2001071600A1 (fr) 2000-03-18 2000-04-13 Transfert d'environnement informatique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1266316A1 true EP1266316A1 (fr) 2002-12-18

Family

ID=20430541

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00928098A Withdrawn EP1266316A1 (fr) 2000-03-18 2000-04-13 Transfert d'environnement informatique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1266316A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001071600A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2381334A (en) * 2001-08-04 2003-04-30 Vistorm Ltd Updating roaming user profiles
US20130073670A1 (en) * 2011-09-15 2013-03-21 Microsoft Corporation Geo-Migration Of User State

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5623604A (en) * 1992-11-18 1997-04-22 Canon Information Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for remotely altering programmable firmware stored in an interactive network board coupled to a network peripheral
US5495411A (en) * 1993-12-22 1996-02-27 Ananda; Mohan Secure software rental system using continuous asynchronous password verification
CN101303717B (zh) * 1995-02-13 2015-04-29 英特特拉斯特技术公司 用于安全交易管理和电子权利保护的系统和方法
AUPP252798A0 (en) * 1998-03-24 1998-04-23 Griffits, John Philip Enhanced trusted systems processing
US6119146A (en) * 1998-05-04 2000-09-12 Int Labs, Inc. Computer network having multiple remotely located human interfaces sharing a common computing system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0171600A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001071600A1 (fr) 2001-09-27

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