Self-Provisioning Local Client Configuration History
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In enterprise environments, managing and applying changes to embedded images on client devices is inefficient due to the need for manual installation of large customized images, which is impractical for frequent and minor changes across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A specific-purpose local client with a write-filter and configuration history memory unit that allows for self-provisioning by automatically retrieving and applying XML configuration files, enabling persistent changes without reinstalling the entire embedded image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual installation of customized embedded images is used to apply configuration changes, then configuration changes can be applied persistently across reboots, but the process becomes impractical for frequent and minor changes across multiple client devices due to large image sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration data from the embedded image, storing configuration information in separate XML files in a configuration history memory unit rather than modifying the entire embedded image. This allows only the necessary configuration data to be transferred and applied,而不是reinstalling the whole image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses XML configuration files as lightweight copies or representations of the actual configuration settings. These XML files contain the essential configuration information needed to restore settings after reboot, serving as a simplified substitute for transferring and installing entire customized embedded images.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire embedded image is downloaded and installed to apply configuration changes, then all configuration changes are applied, but the time and bandwidth required increase significantly for frequent and minor changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary configuration information from the embedded image and stores it in separate XML configuration files. This extraction allows the system to transfer and apply only the specific configuration changes needed, rather than transferring and installing the entire embedded image, thereby reducing time and bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing configuration information in XML files in the configuration history memory unit before actual configuration changes are needed. This allows the client device to quickly retrieve and apply configuration settings without needing to download or process large embedded images at the time of configuration updates.
3Productivity
If frequent configuration changes are made across multiple client devices, then the system remains up-to-date, but the manual reinstallation of embedded images becomes increasingly impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the client device to automatically retrieve, parse, and apply XML configuration files from the configuration history memory unit without requiring manual intervention for image reinstallation. The system autonomously manages configuration updates, reducing the complexity of frequent configuration changes across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of configuration management from transferring entire embedded images to transferring and applying XML configuration files. This parameter change dramatically reduces the size and complexity of configuration updates, making frequent changes across multiple client devices practical and efficient.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Examples of specific -purpose local clients are provided for self -provisioning of configurations and for obviating reinstallation of entire windows-based embedded images onto the specific -purpose local clients. Each local client may have a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter, and may include a configuration history memory unit configured to store a plurality of extensible markup language (XML) configuration files. The configuration history memory unit may be in a persistent storage area of the local client to allow the plurality of XML configuration files to be retained on the local client when it is shut down. The local client may include a retrieval module configured to facilitate automatically locating a remote repository server containing a new XML configuration file, to facilitate automatically obtaining the new XML configuration file from the remote repository server over a network, and to facilitate automatically obtaining a previous XML configuration file from the configuration history memory unit.