On-Demand Application Delivery via Virtual Disk Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems require pre-installation and registration of applications on local devices to execute applications via URIs, limiting on-demand access and flexibility in application delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method and architecture that utilize a client computing device to receive user input activating a URI with a scheme name, application identifier, and launch identifier, identifying an agent service to process the URI, transmitting a request to an application manager server for virtual disk assignment and execution path, and mounting a virtual disk to execute the application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If applications are pre-installed and registered on local devices to execute via URIs, then application execution reliability is improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the application storage and execution environment from the local device by using virtual disks mounted on-demand. Applications are stored remotely and only loaded into the client device's virtual disk when needed, eliminating the need for permanent local installation while maintaining execution reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically mounts virtual disks containing applications only when they are needed, rather than having static pre-installed applications. This dynamic provisioning allows the same client device to access different applications from different virtual disks as needed, reducing local storage requirements while maintaining access reliability.
2Speed
If applications are pre-installed on local devices, then application access speed is improved, but storage space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes applications from permanent local storage by using remote virtual disks. Applications are stored on centralized servers and mounted only when needed, dramatically reducing the storage space required on client devices while maintaining fast access speeds through optimized network retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-provisioning virtual disks with applications on remote servers. When a user needs an application, the virtual disk is already prepared and can be quickly mounted, reducing the perceived access time while eliminating the need for large local storage capacities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications are delivered on-demand through virtual disks, then adaptability and flexibility are improved, but network traffic and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application delivery process into distinct components: virtual disk images stored remotely, mounting operations when needed, and execution from the mounted disk. This segmentation allows for efficient on-demand delivery while reducing unnecessary network traffic by only transferring data when the application is actually required.
Solution Approach 2:
The client device autonomously manages the virtual disk mounting and application execution process. When a user activates a URI, the client automatically retrieves the appropriate virtual disk, mounts it, and launches the application without requiring continuous server intervention, thereby reducing computational overhead on the server side.
Data Source
AI summary
A computerized method of executing an application based on a uniform resource identifier (URI) includes receiving user input indicating activation of the URI. The URI includes a scheme name, an application identifier for an application, and a launch identifier. The method also includes identifying an agent service registered to process the URI based on the scheme name. The method further includes transmitting an application request to an application manager server, the application request including at least the application identifier and the launch identifier, and receiving, from the application manager server, an assignment of a virtual disk associated with the application and an execution path of the application. The method also includes mounting the virtual disk and executing the application from the virtual disk using the execution path.