WO2013041863A2

WO2013041863A2 - Dynamic content associations

Info

Publication number: WO2013041863A2
Application number: PCT/GB2012/052320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeremy Bullock
Original assignee: Centrix Networking Limited
Priority date: 2011-09-23
Filing date: 2012-09-20
Publication date: 2013-03-28
Also published as: GB2495081A; WO2013041863A3; GB201116458D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system of delivering an application, such as for example a piece of software, code or data and overcomes problems concerning allocation of available resources in a flexible and resource efficient manner. A method of delivering an application to a user analyses capabilities of a user location; determines accessibility of user content and identifies associated applications and bases a decision made concerning provision of the application to the user and allocates an optimal resource. Optionally user requirements are determined and a number of users identified, together with user demand, user content and associated applications and the method provides applications to the user in an optimised format. The invention also provides a management system that includes: an optimiser operable in accordance with a plurality of user defined criteria (Rules) and in conjunction with one or more sub-groups so as to identify user content and associated applications and provide applications to the user in an optimised format, avoiding for example penalties or tariffs.

Description

Dynamic Content Associations

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method and system of delivering an application, such as for example a piece of software, code or data, to a user in a manner that is transparent to the user. In addition to user transparency, the method optimizes an end-user computing experience.

Background

Nowadays computer systems typically comprise one or many application server machines and many client machines for end-users. The application server machines host application software which can be provisioned to end-users by way of several different application delivery methods.

An example of such a delivery method is as a streaming application. A streaming application is one form of on-demand software distribution. This delivery method arises as a result of the way computer languages and operating systems produce and run application code. Only specific parts of a computer program need to be available at any instance for an end user to perform a particular function. An advantage of this is that a computer program does not need to be fully installed on a client computer. Instead chunks of program can be delivered over a network as and when they are required. Another example of a typical delivery method is an application session. An application session is a piece of software or code that is located intermediate an application layer and a main network and typically manages connectivity to the network, which may be one that is rapidly changing. Application session software effectively insulates an application server farm from the network by way of a programmable engine, so as to provide application specific call-control functions independent of each network. Often application session code incorporates a number of open standards. An advantage of application session software is that it is scalable to support many millions of subscribers via a single system.

Applications may be accessed via a virtual desktop, hosted on a remote server. In addition, the same application may be installed locally, for example on an end-user client machine, personal computer or a laptop. Companies and organisations possess hundreds, sometimes thousands, of data hardware resources, such as for example computer terminals and servers, which may be networked. However, servers are expensive capital equipment to purchase, to manage and to maintain.

Contemporary computer users are focussed on content, which may be documents or other office software, for example word processing programs, accountancy packages, spreadsheets, database software, video, music, graphics or other creative material. Generally users are less focussed on a particular application (specific software package) that is used to display or edit the content and are more concerned with end user experience or processing speed. This change in user behaviour and demand is a shift in computer interaction and results from relatively recent development of increasingly intuitive devices and marks a step towards ubiquitous computing. Computer management and IT departments of commercial organizations are increasingly moving to new application delivery mechanisms, such as on-demand local installation, virtual desktop infrastructures, streaming applications and session- based access to server-hosted applications. Advantages of these delivery mechanisms are explained below.

These shifts in desire and behaviour are to some extent at odds with one other. Hence maintaining the end-user experience in a server-based infrastructure, has proved difficult, which itself can be seen as limiting adoption of virtual infrastructures.

As a consequence of moving applications from an end-user's computer terminal (PC or laptop), into a server hosted environment, the content-focussed experience is made more difficult. This provides an opportunity for a mechanism that optimises the application delivery alongside the end-user experience.

As mentioned above, in recent years delivery mechanisms have undergone changes. One such delivery mechanism is on-demand local installation. This allows applications to be deployed in real-time to any client from a virtual application server. On-demand local installation removes the need for local installation of the applications. Instead, only a piece of control code needs to be installed on a personal computer. All application data is permanently stored on the virtual application server. Whichever software is needed is either streamed or locally cached from an application server on demand and run locally. Another delivery mechanism is virtual desktop infrastructures. So called virtual desktop infrastructure arises when groups of pre-defined users have tended to pool hardware resources and so reduce capital costs of purchase and hire of hardware and software resources.

Specific routers (switches) operating under control of software are used to augment a virtual infrastructure of systems. The virtual infrastructure of systems can be accessed and shared by many users, for example by way of a wide area network (WAN) or a local area network (LAN) connection. Users may not be located in the same building and so share remote facilities, yet their user experience is no different from someone with a direct connection to their own dedicated computer. The major difference is a saving in cost of hardware and maintenance as well as a saving in licence fees payable for use of software.

Another is session-based access to server-hosted applications which are a type of Internet hosting in which the client leases an entire server and does not share this facility with any external user. This is more flexible than shared hosting, as organizations have full control over the server(s) hosted and offered, including choice of operating system and hardware. Furthermore maintenance and server administration can usually be provided by the hosting company.

Cloud computing is a term given to a technique that enables users to work in a variety of locations, by accessing remotely stored data and using remote systems, so as to perform a task that was previously done using resources at a desk. There are many advantages in cloud computing, in particular, surety of access to data (by way of alternative data paths as systems are networked), reduced purchase and operational costs, the ability to back-up data in several locations, the capabilities of rapid changes from small to large requirements (and vice versa) and of course flexibility of access with respect to user location.

Recently the success of so-called cloud computing has impacted across small user groups, or small numbers of user groups, often referred to as an estate. Practically it is the end result that is usually modelled, rather than the impact of the sum of individual computer devices.

Cloud based systems include databases, web servers business applications which can be consolidated and can run side by side - so improving efficiency. However, they also have separate operating systems - for example Windows (Trade Mark) or Linux (Trade Mark).

Prior Art

An example of a virtualized desktop manager is described in US Patent Application US 2003/0189597 (Microsoft Corporation) and describes a method for a user to preview multiple virtual desktops in a graphical user interface. The method comprises receiving an indication from a user to preview multiple virtual desktops and to display multiple panes on the display. Although successful, the system described did not allocate resources in any predefined or proscribed manner.

The present invention arose to overcome this and provides a system and method to allocate available resources in a flexible and resource efficient manner.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of delivering an application which analyses capabilities of a user location; determines accessibility of user content and identifies associated applications and bases a decision made concerning provision of the application to the user and allocates an optimal resource.

The optimal resource may be delivered, for example via the Internet, made available from existing resources, such as pooled resources, purchased, as a bespoke software package or delivered by way of a combination of an application session and/or virtual desktop infrastructure and/or a streaming application.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of establishing user requirements comprising the steps of: determining a number of users; identifying user demand, identifying user content and associated applications and providing applications to the user in an optimised format. The optimal format may include: selecting software that is available from an open source software provider and/or purchasing licences of software packages and/or purchasing bespoke Off the shelf software. Alternatively the optimal format may optimise a software management suite.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a database management system including: an optimiser operable in accordance with a plurality of user defined criteria and in conjunction with one or more sub-groups so as to impose one or more predefined tariffs to users in accordance with demand and licence criteria.

In this latter embodiment the invention selects optimal packages according to cost. Alternative criteria may be applied, such as speed, bandwidth, number of users and scalability.

It is seen therefore that the system determines whether a particular user, who is demanding access to a resource, which may be software or an application or a specific tool, establishes firstly if that user is authorised for that purpose. If the user is not authorised, the system determines the quickest and/or easiest and/or cheapest manner in which the resource can be delivered. The optimal outcome may be to purchase a temporary or permanent user licence or establish a temporary virtualized resource.

Alternative discrimination criteria may be applied, for example this may be: the available bandwidth or a limited licence, for example based upon numbers of users, amount of time of total usage time, cumulative data required or a combination of these.

More particularly optimising a computer processor, so as to allocate available resources, comprises the steps of: performing an assessment of resources available to a user group; determining typical usage parameters based upon one or more user criteria; comparing immediate and future demand with usage parameters and delivering a resource so as to satisfy the aforementioned criteria.

Ideally the method takes into consideration one or more of the following attributes prior to or during the application delivery selection process.

Preferably the decision is based upon the location of content and so, as part of the delivery process, the available bandwidth and network characteristics of the delivery infra structure are taken into consideration.

In addition to the location of the content, decisions may also be based upon the location of applications. For example some applications may be present on one or more systems; in which case an application not required by one user may be offered or flagged as available, for use by another user.

Alternatively, or in addition to the foregoing delivery mechanisms, access can be provided, in the form of network connected states, and this may be performed in accordance with a predetermined time and/or cost tariff. Another variable which may be taken into consideration when determining optimal user access is immediate demand that is being made by existing or potential users on a hosting platform.

Preferably the method takes into consideration user needs, when determining optimal usage is the type of access required. For example some users may only require read access - so called read only consumers; whereas other users may require read and write access, so called producers.

The system can be readily extended to other factors, as are often considered by suppliers and designers, such as appropriate corporate policies and security limitations. For example, specific corporate bulk licences may only permit a limited number of concurrent users to access a specific application or software package. Exceeding pre-set limits may trigger a higher tariff or impose some other penalty, and as such an IT manager would tend to consider alternative solutions ahead of an expensive tariff. Certain other conditions may need to be assessed in order to ascertain whether the user requirement justifies incurring the penalty, and these may be prescribed by an IT manger upon installation of software managing the system.

Ideally in a network the application exchanges data with one or more further computers via the network. Advantageously a set of calculations is performed detailing concurrency values for a predefined group of variables. Statistical techniques - such as Monte Carlo methods can be employed in order to achieve optimal tolerance ranges for concurrency.

A period of time may also be determined, by when the aforementioned processes, listed within the usage information must have either started or stopped.

It is appreciated that the invention also applies to a database management system including: an optimiser operable in accordance with a plurality of user defined criteria and in conjunction with one or more sub-groups so as to impose one or more predefined tariffs to users in accordance with demand and licence criteria.

An example of one method will now be described, with reference to the Figures, in which:

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a system of workstations networked in 'cloud based' local area network (LAN);

Figures 2a to 2d are diagrammatical overview of a system and shows examples of hierarchical diagrams that illustrate some key parameters, in the form of RULES; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatical overview of a system communicating with a wide area network (WAN), a database a server farm and a virtualised office.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Referring to the Figures, and specifically Figure 1 , which shows a four personal computers 10 operating as a virtualised system by way of a 'cloud computer' host 20 which has access to a database 30. The cloud host 20 provides user applications for word processing document in a specific environment that may be opened for an end-user at PC terminals 10a - 10d using a locally installed copy of Microsoft WordPad (Trade Mark) software, a copy of Microsoft Word for Windows (Trade Mark) software delivered via an application session on a Citrix (Trade Mark) server farm, or an online word processing application, for example from Google (Trade Mark) Docs.

The choice of which to use depends on where the file(s) is/are stored, the user experience; whether the end-user is connected to the Internet, which may be required for some delivery formats, for example Google (Trade Mark) Docs and/or a corporate network. In the latter case access to a corporate network may be required for access to the Citrix (Trade Mark) server farm. In general an application running locally on the end-user's machine provides the best interactive and performance capability than any application running remotely.

However, WordPad (Trade Mark) software is less feature-rich and a less desirable application to Microsoft Word (Trade Mark) software. Therefore, the choice may be in favour of a remote application over a local application if connectivity, licensing, bandwidth and other constraints do not negate the benefit of using Word (Trade Mark) software over WordPad (Trade Mark) software. A rule, as shown for example in Figure 2a, may be to enable local WordPad software to be used for read-only access to the content if the user is disconnected from the network. An alternative rule is shown in Figure 2b and this may be applicable to the same user or group of users at the same or at a different time.

Figure 3 illustrates an overview of a system communicating with a wide area network (WAN) 20, a database 30, a server farm 40 and two examples of a virtualised office 50A and 50B.

The application delivery selection process, for example as determined by rules in Figure 2, is driven by the configured rules which can be modified by appropriate system administrators; information analysis of the application and determining the network estate. These rules are described in detail below.

Attributes such as available bandwidth and current demand on the hosting platform are dynamic values which can be monitored and fed into the decision process 60 which is then provided to the manager which oversees the application delivery process 70. Rules of preferred delivery mechanisms given the satisfaction of a set of conditions may be configured by system administrators.

When an end-user 10a or 10b requests a document to be opened, the application delivery process 70 runs a decision making process and selects a delivery mechanism for the application. The application is then automatically started, along with any dependent infrastructure that is required, such as starting a virtual machine at a server farm 40 image to deliver the application to the virtual office 50A.

Windows FTA is a static solution with a user centric control. Citrix content redirection documented here: ( http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/xenapp5fp2- w2k3/ps-pub-content-redirect-conf ig-concept-v2.html ) is a static system with more IT administration and control that allows combinations of local applications and XenApp hosted applications to host content.

It is apparent that the method may be applied locally or over a large area network. Alternatively dedicated hardware may be provided for use as part of a system and the hardware may be distributed over two or more locations.

The invention has been described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures and it will be appreciated that variation may been made to the embodiments described. For example, the invention can be used in any computing environment not just cloud or virtual machine environments. The management system can be located anywhere and interface with user workstations in any appropriate manner. For example, workstations can log into the management server or the management system can run as a service on the client or in the cloud.

It will be readily apparent that the term "optimal resource" as used herein is not limited to mean a hardware or physical resource and primarily refers to an optimal application.

Claims

1 . A management system for delivering an application, the system analyses capabilities of a user location; determines accessibility of user content; identifies associated applications; bases a decision concerning provision of the application to the user; and allocates an optimal resource, by way of an optimiser, which is operable in accordance with a plurality of user defined criteria and is operable in conjunction with one or more sub-groups, in order to identify user content and associated applications and provide applications to the user in an optimised format.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is configured to impose one or more predefined tariffs in accordance with demand and licence criteria.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the system includes: a means for determining whether a particular user, who is demanding access to software or an application or a tool, is an authorised user for that purpose.

4. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the system includes: a means for determining the quickest and/or easiest and/or cheapest manner in which a resource can be delivered.

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5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the system includes: a means for determining available bandwidth and/or availability of licence that is based upon numbers of users and/or amount of time of usage and/or total bandwidth or a combination of these variables.

6. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the system includes: a means for allocating available resources based upon an assessment of available resources; determining typical usage parameters based upon one or more criteria; and comparing immediate and future demand with usage parameters.

7. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the decision is based upon the location of the content.

8. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the decision is based upon determining optimal user access and immediate demand that is being made by users on a hosting platform.

9. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the decision is based upon the type of access required by a user, for example whether the access is read only access or write access.

10. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the decision is based upon appropriate corporate policies and security limitations.

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1 1 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein the decision is based upon a statistical analysis using a probabilistic model, for example for determining concurrency values for a predefined group of variables.

12. A method of establishing user requirements comprising the steps of: determining a number of users; identifying user demand, identifying user content and associated applications and providing applications to the user in an optimised format.

13. A method of delivering a mechanism which analyses capabilities of a user location; determines accessibility of the user's content; identifies associated applications and bases a decision made concerning provision of the application to the user and allocates an optimal resource.

14. A method according to either claim 1 2 or 13 wherein an optimised format is chosen in dependence upon one or more of the following: a licensing format, a penalty provision; and availability to a group or sub group of users.

15. A method according to any of claims 1 2 to 14 wherein an optimised format is chosen in dependence upon an optimised software management suite.

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