Adaptive Software Discovery Scan via External Trigger Override
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software asset management systems face a tradeoff between detecting software changes in a timely manner and minimizing resource consumption, with periodic scans leading to potential time lags in detecting unauthorized software or desired changes, and increasing resource usage with more frequent scans.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an override software module that triggers early scans based on external information about software applications, such as updates or vulnerabilities, while maintaining a balance between detection lag and resource consumption by adjusting scan frequencies only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If periodic scans are performed at default time intervals, then resource consumption is minimized, but detection lag increases and software changes are not detected timely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining software information from external sources (such as software vendor websites or update repositories) before conducting scans. This allows the system to proactively identify software that needs to be detected or updated, triggering scans only when relevant information is available, thereby reducing detection lag without requiring continuous scanning and minimizing resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring external sources for software information and using this information to dynamically adjust scan timing. When external information indicates software changes, updates, or vulnerabilities, the system receives feedback and triggers appropriate scan actions, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes detection timing based on actual software state changes rather than fixed intervals.
2Loss of time
If scan frequency is increased to reduce detection lag, then software changes are detected more timely, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making scan frequency adaptive rather than static. Scan intervals are dynamically adjusted based on external software information: when external sources indicate software changes or updates, scan frequency increases to capture these changes; when no changes are detected, scan frequency returns to default lower intervals. This dynamic adjustment ensures timely detection of software changes while minimizing resource consumption during stable periods.
3Reliability
If scans are performed frequently to ensure timely detection of unauthorized software, then detection capability is improved, but system performance and resource usage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary information gathering from external sources before initiating scans. By obtaining software identification information, version data, and update status from external repositories in advance, the system can trigger scans only when relevant software changes are detected externally. This preliminary action ensures reliable detection of unauthorized or changed software while avoiding unnecessary scans that would degrade system performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A first computer system is scanned at configured, default time intervals by a software asset management (“SAM”) software application installed on the first computer system, wherein the scanning detects other software applications installed on the first computer system. The SAM software application generates a list of the other software applications installed on the first computer system and stores the list on a computer readable storage medium. An override software module triggers the SAM software application to perform an early scan of the first computer system, before a scan of the first computer system that the SAM software application would otherwise perform at a next default scan time. The triggering is in response to information obtained from a source external to the first computer system about a triggering one of the software applications on the list.