Application Layer Capture for Automated Desktop Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise desktop management is complex due to the sheer number of user computers, diverse operating systems, and applications, as well as geographic dispersion and variable network bandwidths, making it challenging for IT departments to efficiently manage software updates, installations, and application distribution without disrupting end-user experience.
Innovation Solution
A desktop management system that uses a central server to create and manage application layers by comparing snapshots of client devices before and after modifications, producing official application layers for efficient deployment and suggesting applications based on usage patterns across similar devices, thereby reducing manual intervention and downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If IT administrators manually install applications using installers on user devices, then applications can be installed on client devices, but the process is time-consuming and requires manual assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates application layers by capturing the state of a user device before and after application installation, then stores this differential state as a copy that can be rapidly deployed to other devices. Instead of manually running installers on each device, the system copies the application layer state changes across multiple devices, dramatically reducing installation time and eliminating manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-capturing application installation states and creating application layers in advance. When deployment is needed, these pre-prepared application layers are already available for rapid distribution, eliminating the need to perform time-consuming installation processes on each target device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If IT administrators manage a large number of diverse client devices across multiple geographic locations, then comprehensive device management is achieved, but network bandwidth constraints and latency reduce management efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application deployment process into distinct components: capturing the baseline device state, capturing the post-installation state, and computing the differential application layer. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables efficient distribution of only the necessary changes across the network, reducing bandwidth consumption and improving management efficiency for dispersed devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential application installation changes from the full device state by computing differences between pre- and post-installation snapshots. This extraction eliminates unnecessary data transmission over the network, allowing efficient management of diverse devices across geographic locations without being constrained by bandwidth and latency issues.
3Extent of automation
If application layers are created by comparing snapshots before and after modification, then automated application deployment is achieved, but the snapshot comparison process requires computational resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates application layers as lightweight, disposable representations of application installation states. Rather than maintaining full device snapshots or complex installation scripts, the system uses efficient data structures to represent only the essential state changes, reducing the computational resources required for comparison and deployment while maintaining high automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A desktop management system is described that provides an automated process for distributing and suggesting modifications. The system is comprised of a central server and multiple client devices connected through a network. Application layer drafts for a particular modification (such as an installation, update, un-installation, fix, etc.) are generated based on snapshots of client devices before and after the modification is applied. Several application layer drafts are produced for a particular modification. Based on commonalities between the several application layer drafts, an official application layer is produced. When a client device requests a modification, an official application layer for the requested modification is retrieved and merged onto the requesting client device to apply the modification. If a client device on the network lacks an application that is present on similar client devices on the network, the system can suggest the application to the client device.