Agnostic Data Collection Platform Decoupling Endpoint Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote management systems are tightly coupled to hardware, software, and OS platforms of endpoint devices, making it costly and resource-intensive for enterprises to manage diverse devices and maintain interoperability, especially with upgrades and changes.
Innovation Solution
An agnostic data collection platform with a three-layered architecture, using an OS-agnostic programming language for agents that manage collectors through a broker, enabling communication via an OS-agnostic publish-subscribe protocol, decoupling data collection from specific environments and platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a customized remote management system is deployed to manage diverse endpoint devices, then device management capability is improved, but system complexity and maintenance cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized management interface and common data format as intermediaries between diverse endpoint devices and the remote management system. This intermediary layer translates device-specific protocols into a unified format, enabling management of multiple device types without increasing overall system complexity. The standardized interface acts as a mediator that decouples the diversity of endpoint devices from the management system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal management data format and standardized interface that can handle multiple types of endpoint devices through a single system architecture. The common data structure is designed to accommodate various device types (workstations, servers, mobile devices) with different hardware and software configurations, allowing one system to perform multiple device management functions without requiring device-specific customization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different remote servers are deployed to support different OS platforms, then platform compatibility is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal remote server architecture with a common data format that can process management information from multiple OS platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS, mobile OS) through a single server instance. The standardized interface and agnostic data structures enable one server to handle diverse platform requirements without needing separate specialized servers for each OS type, thereby reducing the total number of servers required.
3Manufacturing precision
If management applications are tightly coupled to specific hardware and software platforms, then device-specific management precision is improved, but system interoperability and upgrade flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized management interface and common data format as intermediaries between device-specific management applications and the core management system. This intermediary layer preserves device-specific management precision by maintaining detailed device information while translating it into a unified format for system-wide interoperability. The standardized interface acts as a mediator that decouples device-specific precision requirements from overall system compatibility.
4Measurement precision
If customized management applications are deployed on each device to report events, then data collection accuracy is improved, but software engineering resources and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where endpoint devices automatically generate and report management events using standardized data formats without requiring complex customized management applications on each device. The devices self-report events (system logs, security events, performance data) in a unified format that the remote management system can process directly, eliminating the need for extensive customization and reducing software engineering resources required for deployment and maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A collector is configured to obtain management data associated with a managed device. The collector formats the management data in a platform independent message and sends to a hardware/Operating System (OS) broker. The broker forwards the message to a hardware/OS agnostic agent, who is subscribed to receive the management data. The agent adds identifying information associated with the managed device to the management data of the message, packages the management data, and forwards the management data to a data collection server or an endpoint device where the management data with the identifying information may be processed by a remote management workflow for managing the managed device.