Device Configuration Assessment via Self-Reporting Inventory
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of interconnected devices increases, tracking and maintaining device configurations becomes increasingly difficult, especially with multiple levels of use rights, access levels, and time periods associated with software licenses, leading to high costs in enumerating inventory for networked computing systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for receiving data indicative of enumerated resources of a computing device without dependency on write permissions, using a lightweight executable module to generate a data object that includes historical data analysis, predicting event probabilities, and sending communications when an event is likely to occur, enabling proactive support and upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional inventory enumeration methods are used to track device configurations and software licenses, then complete configuration tracking is achieved, but operational expenses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to self-report their configuration states and resource usage data automatically. Each device performs self-enumeration of its resources and communicates this information to the service provider, eliminating the need for expensive manual or centralized enumeration processes while maintaining accurate configuration tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where devices report their configuration states, license usage, and resource inventory data back to the service provider. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring of device configurations and license compliance without requiring expensive periodic re-enumeration, thus reducing operational expenses while maintaining tracking accuracy.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive device inventory enumeration is performed across all networked computing devices, then complete configuration information is obtained, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the inventory enumeration process into device-level and service provider-level components. Each device independently enumerates its own resources and maintains local configuration data, while the service provider aggregates this information. This segmentation reduces system complexity by distributing the enumeration functionality rather than requiring a centralized complex enumeration system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial enumeration at the device level, collecting only the specific configuration information and resource data that is relevant for license management and support purposes. This selective data collection approach obtains sufficient configuration information without implementing comprehensive exhaustive enumeration of all possible device attributes, thereby reducing system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If detailed tracking of software licenses and device configurations is implemented, then service support quality improves, but the cost of enumerating inventory increases
Solution Approach 1:
Devices automatically perform self-enumeration of their software licenses, configuration settings, and resource inventory, then report this data to the service provider. This self-service approach enables detailed tracking of license usage and device configurations without requiring expensive manual enumeration processes, thus improving support service quality while reducing enumeration costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous automated collection and reporting of configuration data and license information. Rather than performing expensive periodic re-enumeration, the system maintains continuous tracking through automated device reporting, ensuring up-to-date information for support services while minimizing enumeration-related costs through the use of lightweight client agents.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for facilitating operation of a plurality of computing devices. Data indicative of enumerated resources of a computing device is collected. The data is collected without dependency on write permissions to a file system of the one computing device. A condition of the computing device is determined based on historical data associated with enumerated resources of other computing devices. The identified condition can be updated as updated historical data becomes available. A communication to the computing device may be sent based on the identified condition.