Enrolled Device OS Update Management Service

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating system update management systems often create incompatibilities and vulnerabilities when updating software components, leading to potential data loss or unauthorized access, especially in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments where diverse devices with varying operating systems and software configurations are used.

Innovation Solution

A management service that oversees software updates on enrolled devices by identifying available updates, communicating with an agent application to prevent unauthorized installations, and allowing administrators to specify and manage updates through a centralized console, ensuring compatibility and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If operating system updates are automatically installed on enrolled devices, then security vulnerabilities are fixed and performance is improved, but incompatibilities are created causing software and hardware to stop functioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity vulnerability fixationVSAvoidsoftware compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the agent application detect and report available operating system updates to the management service before installation occurs. Administrators can then evaluate the updates and make informed decisions about deployment timing and scope, preventing premature installation that would cause incompatibility issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the agent application continuously monitors device status, detects available updates, and reports them to the management service. The management service then provides feedback to administrators through the console, enabling them to assess compatibility risks before approving update deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If operating system updates are manually approved by administrators, then software compatibility is maintained, but security vulnerabilities remain unfixed until approval

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoftware compatibilityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability fixation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The agent application performs preliminary detection of available updates and prepares compatibility information before administrator approval is sought. This allows administrators to make informed decisions with advance knowledge of potential compatibility impacts, rather than reacting to security threats without preparation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If updates are deployed across diverse BYOD devices, then enterprise data security is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenterprise data securityVSAvoiddevice management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management service acts as an intermediary between administrators and diverse enrolled devices. The agent application on each device serves as another intermediary, translating device-specific update information into standardized reports for the management service. This layered intermediary structure simplifies management of heterogeneous BYOD devices while maintaining security control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The management service and agent application provide universal functionality across diverse device types and operating systems. The system handles multiple device platforms, update types, and administrative workflows through a single unified console, reducing management complexity despite device diversity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If update installation is prevented without administrator authorization, then unauthorized access is prevented, but update deployment time and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoidupdate deployment speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The agent application performs preliminary detection and reporting of available updates before installation is blocked. This advance notification allows administrators to quickly review and approve updates when security risks are clear, reducing the time updates remain pending while maintaining the authorization requirement for security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3552098B1Operating system update management for enrolled devices
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 VMWARE INC
  • EP3552098B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3552098B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3552098B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Operating system update management for enrolled devices is disclosed according to various examples. In one example, a computing environment can receive an identifier from at least one of a multitude of client devices enrolled with a management service, where the identifier is indicative of a software update available for the at least one of the plurality of client devices. The computing environment can query a service using the identifier to identify information pertaining to the software update and cause a display of the information in at least one user interface. In response to a specification of a subset of the client devices being received, for example, by an administrator, the computing environment can cause the subset of the plurality of client devices to perform an installation of the software update.