(12) United States Patent
`Arrouye et al.
`
`US006256635B1
`US 6,256,635 B1
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONFIGURING A COMPUTER USING
`SCRIPTING
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors; Yan Arrouye, cuper?no; John
`(jomiskey, San Jose; Chris Nebe],
`Sunnyvale; Richard Ford, Arlington;
`Michel Guittet, Redmond; Alice Li,
`Los Altos, all of CA (US)
`
`(73)
`
`_
`_
`_
`Asslgnee' Apple Computer’ Inc" cupemno’ CA
`(Us)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U-S-C- 154(k)) by 0 days-
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(51)
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Appl. No.: 09/074,705
`
`Filed:
`
`May 8, 1998
`
`7
`Int. Cl- .................................................... ..
`US. Cl. .......................... .. 707/102; 707/10; 707/200;
`709/220; 709/223; 713/1; 717/11
`Field of Search ............................ .. 707/10, 102, 103,
`707/200, 201; 709/220, 221, 223, 226;
`713/1; 717/11
`
`References Cited
`
`U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS
`12/1992 Galis et al. .......................... .. 706/45
`5,175,800
`5/1995 Filip et al. ......................... .. 707/103
`5,414,812
`5,784,539 * 7/1998 LenZ ..................................... .. 706/45
`577847563 : 7/1998 Marshall et a1
`709/221
`578387907
`11/1998 Hansen """"" "
`709/220
`5,931,909 * 8/1999 Taylor
`709/221
`6,029,196 * 2/2000 LenZ
`709/221
`6,066,182 * 5/2000 Wilde et al. . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 717/11
`6,078,951 * 6/2000 Pashupathy et al. .............. .. 709/217
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0791881
`0803808
`
`8/1997 (EP) .
`10/1997 (EP) .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“AppleScript: Easy—to—learn Automation for Macintosh
`Systems,” a PDF printable version of 6—page document,
`dovvnloaded on Jul. 11,2000, at WWW.apple.com/apple
`scr1pt/techsheet/AppleScr1pt.00.html.*
`“Process Manager for a Personal Computer” IBM Technical
`Disclosure Bulletin, US, IBM Corp. NeW York, vol. 30, No.
`6, pp. 10—15 XP000035572 ISSN: 0018—8689 11/1987.
`“Method for Updating Con?guration Once” IBM Technical
`Disclosure Bulletin, US, IBM Corp. NeW York, vol. 38, No.
`2, pp. 537—538 XP0000502680 ISSN: 0018—8689 2/1995.
`
`* Cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Hosain T. Alam
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—The Hecker LaW Group
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`_
`A method and apparatus for con?gurmg a computer. One
`embodiment of the invention Combines all of the prior art
`control panels related to networking into a consolidated
`NetWork Setup Control Panel. In addition, the invention
`provides for computer con?guration by scripting. The con
`?guration may be for a type of system setting or for netWork
`con?gurations and protocols. Through scripting, a computer
`may be con?gured locally or remotely on a netWork. One
`embodiment of the invention provides for a centralized
`database or Con?guration Library consisting of collected
`data relating to available con?guration settings. This data
`base is not limited to con?guration information and can be
`used as a general database containing information the user
`desires to store_ To modify a con?guration by scripting, the
`invention provides for a Scripting Interface consisting of a
`Scripting Server and Scripting Plug-In. The Scripting Server
`-
`-
`receives the script forWarded from a user or netWork
`d .
`.
`h
`.
`d d
`.
`h
`a lmmstr‘i‘tol’ parses t e Scnpt an
`etefmmes ,1 e aPPrO'
`PnaFe scnptmg Plug-1W0 forward the deslred actlon t°~ The
`Scripting Plug-In receives the commands and executes the
`appropriate actions to modify the con?guration as directed.
`
`44 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`E] % NETWORK SETUP
`
`[) Connecllon Status
`V Edlt Configurations
`
`El E
`
`E
`
`Checked (/) llama wlll be available lor“Home Office":
`/ I
`NAME
`I TYPE
`/ (PU Apple AT Nel
`AppleTalk
`/ (F9 Apple Internet
`TCP/IP
`#9 Mlcroweb
`TCP/IP
`$ MicroweblSP
`Remote Access(PPP)
`/ 8%? Mixed DiaI'Up@Ap~-
`FlemoleAccess(AFlAP) T
`
`:
`E
`
`E]
`
`NETWORK SETUP CONTROL PANEL, MAIN WINDOW
`
`l?
`
`001
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`om?
`
`89>
`E95: mowwwooml
`
`
`
`o:
`
`2:
`
`Fm
`
`EDGE
`
`002
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`200
`
`Access Database
`
`Modify Database
`
`202
`
`Readers Accessing?
`
`Notify Reader by
`(a) Message; and/or
`(b) Operation Fail
`
`206
`
`Reader Close Database
`
`Reader Open Database
`
`208
`
`210
`
`FIGURE 2
`
`003
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 6f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`300
`User Transmits /
`Command to Script
`Interference
`
`Scripting Server
`Receives Command
`
`302
`
`Scripting Server
`Interprets Commands
`
`304
`
`306
`S
`t.
`S _
`crip ing erver
`Forwards Commands /
`to Scripting Plug-In
`
`Scripting Plug-in
`Executes Action
`
`308
`
`Scripting Plug-In
`Notifies Operating
`System
`
`310
`
`FIGURE 3
`
`004
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`FIGURE 4A
`
`400A
`
`402A
`
`Scripting
`Server
`
`Con?guration Library
`
`404A
`
`File System
`
`406A
`
`Configuration Library
`
`File System
`
`4045
`
`4065
`
`005
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`500
`
`504
`
`Format A
`
`Format 8
`
`Map
`
`Map
`
`502
`
`506
`
`Format C
`
`Format C
`
`08
`
`Store Data
`
`Database
`
`FIGURE 5
`
`006
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 6f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`600
`/
`Network Scripting
`Server
`
`602
`
`608
`
`604
`
`606
`
`OT Configuration Library
`
`Configuration Library
`
`File System
`
`FIGURE 6
`
`007
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`702
`Existing Control Panels
`Modify Existing Files and /
`Date Stamp Files with Dale
`Change Made
`
`From Step 818
`
`704
`
`Check Date Stamp
`of Each Legacy File
`
`706
`
`Yes
`
`D
`
`Commence
`Import
`Operation
`
`712
`/
`
`File Support
`Multiple
`Configurations?
`
`720
`
`714
`/
`
`718
`/
`
`Create a
`Create
`Configuration in New
`Database for Each —> Globals
`Configuration
`
`_
`Create a Configuration
`To Figure 8
`in New Database for ————> grlggg’s
`Configuration
`_‘
`
`l
`
`Y )
`
`FIGURE 7
`
`008
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`From Figure 7
`
`.
`
`Continue execution until
`
`.
`
`.
`
`800
`
`" _ _ _ _ —>
`
`complete
`
`Commence export
`
`802
`
`804
`
`Legacy tile protocols support
`multiple configurations?
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`Write matched
`configurations to legacy
`tiles in legacy file format
`
`806
`
`Write currently active
`configurations to legacy file
`In legacy file format
`
`812
`
`Write new configurations
`from new database to old
`legacy file format
`
`808
`
`810
`
`Write global settings
`
`Write global settings
`
`Capture date stamp
`
`814
`
`816
`
`Continue
`
`FIGURE 8
`
`8,8
`
`009
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`900
`
`Draft
`Script
`
`902
`
`Configure
`Remote Computer
`
`9 04
`
`Launch Script on Remote
`Scripting
`Server
`
`906
`
`FIGURE 9
`
`010
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`or mEDGI
`
`N02 1 mEmI
`
`82152
`
`z QIEE N njmE
`
`F GEE
`
`0009
`
`mobmmo
`/ m8?
`<89
`
`woo? _ wamouwm
`
`011
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`mm
`
`3 mEDUE
`
`
`
`
`
`mOFIO m:>_OI uEm tom
`
`012
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONFIGURING A COMPUTER USING
`SCRIPTING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the ?eld of computer software,
`and, more speci?cally, to netWork protocols and con?gura
`tion.
`Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain
`material that is subject to copyright protection. The copy
`right oWner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction
`by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as
`it appears in the Patent and Trademark Of?ce ?le or records,
`but otherWise reserves all copyright rights Whatsoever.
`Apple, Macintosh, AppleTalk, AppleScript, and all Apple
`based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered
`trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and
`other countries.
`2. Background Art
`In modern computing environments, it is commonplace to
`employ multiple computers or Workstations linked together
`in a netWork to communicate betWeen, and share data With,
`netWork users. A netWork also may include resources, such
`as printers, modems, ?le servers, etc., and may also include
`services, such as electronic mail.
`A netWork can be a small system that is physically
`connected by cables (a local area netWork or “LAN”), or
`several separate netWorks can be connected together to form
`a larger netWork (a Wide area netWork or “WAN”). Other
`types of netWorks include the internet, tel-com netWorks, the
`World Wide Web, intranets, extranets, Wireless netWorks,
`and other netWorks over Which electronic, digital, and/or
`analog data may be communicated. Individual computers
`often use various ports to physically connect to a netWork.
`For example, if you need to dial into a netWork using the
`phone lines and a modem, the modem port may be utiliZed.
`Other ports that may be used include a Printer Port, Ethernet,
`Infrared, and Remote Access.
`To enable the computers on a netWork to communicate
`With each other, a set of standardiZed rules for exchanging
`the information betWeen the computers, referred to as a
`“protocol”, is utiliZed. Protocols generally specify the data
`format, timing, sequencing, and error checking of data
`transmissions. Numerous protocols are used in the netWork
`ing environment. For example, transmission control
`protocol/internet protocols (“TCP/IP”) are the protocols
`used on the internet and on many multiplatform netWorks,
`and AppleTalk is the netWork protocol built into every
`Macintosh computer.
`To enable individual computers to utiliZe a speci?c
`protocol, numerous computer settings, including the settings
`for the desired protocol, must be properly con?gured. Sev
`eral softWare applications for controlling the settings,
`referred to here as “utilities” may be utiliZed to control the
`con?guration and modi?cation of a protocol to enable
`netWork capabilities. For example, in a Macintosh
`environment, the folloWing “control panel” user interface
`utilities may be utiliZed to con?gure a computer for various
`types of netWork access: AppleTalk, TCP/IP, OT/PPP (Open
`Transport/Point-to-Point), Infrared, Dial Assist, and
`Modem. Further, the information and data relating to each
`protocol are stored independently from other protocols in
`individual ?les. These ?les are accessible to one user at a
`time. If tWo users desire to access the con?guration ?le, the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`?rst user to open the ?le With the information is permitted
`access and the second user is denied access. Some prior art
`methods permit multiple users to read a ?le at the same time.
`HoWever, these methods do not provide any protection for
`those users should the ?le be modi?ed by another user While
`they are reading it.
`In some situations, if one of the protocols is con?gured in
`a certain manner, one of the other protocols does not operate.
`For example, if tWo con?gurations or devices try and use the
`same non-sharable port, the user may not be alloWed to use
`the desired port until the con?icting device is deactivated
`(e.g., a printer can’t be activated if it shares the same port as
`“modem settings”). To deactivate the con?icting device, the
`user has to search numerous control panels to locate the
`con?icting device and deactivate or delete the con?icting
`con?guration by adjusting the settings. Thus, the use of an
`individual control panel for each protocol forces the user to
`make adjustments and modi?cations in numerous control
`panels in order to properly con?gure the computer. For
`example, if a user desires to enable multiple netWorking
`protocols (e.g., one TCP/IP protocol With a static IP address
`(IP addresses are discussed beloW), one TCP/IP protocol
`With a dynamic IP address, and one AppleTalk protocol),
`numerous control panels for each protocol must be accessed
`and con?gured properly. In addition, if a user desires to
`connect to the internet, but has a protocol other than TCP/IP
`active (e.g., AppleTalk), the connection cannot be processed.
`The user may have to deactivate the active protocol (e.g.,
`AppleTalk) using that protocol’s control panel, and then
`activate the TCP/IP protocol using the TCP/IP control panel.
`To route messages and communicate betWeen computers
`using a TCP/IP protocol, each individual computer must be
`identi?ed With a unique identi?er or address. The unique
`identi?er is referred to as an internet address or Internet
`Protocol (IP) address. An individual computer can be
`assigned a static IP address that does not change. An
`individual computer can also maintain a dynamic IP address
`such that Whenever it connects to the netWork, the computer
`is assigned an IP address. In this manner, each time the
`individual computer connects to the netWork, a different IP
`address may be assigned to the computer.
`It is often beyond the scope of the user’s knoWledge to
`con?gure a netWorking protocol. For example, an employee
`that solely performs Word processing is not likely to have the
`knoWledge to con?gure his/her computer for netWork access
`and operation. Thus, it is desirable for a netWork adminis
`trator to be able to con?gure a user’s computer from the
`administrator’s or another’s computer (referred to as
`“remote con?guration”).
`To enable a computer to execute a sequence of instruc
`tions or commands, a computer program is utiliZed. One
`type of computer program that provides for the automation
`of a task or a series of tasks is called a script. A script can
`be used to perform simple tasks such as a ?le back-up , or
`more complex tasks such as adding capability to a program
`or presentation. A scripting language is used to create a
`script.
`TWo common methods are utiliZed in scripting languages:
`(1) Event Scripting; and (2) Semantic Scripting. Event
`scripting consists of mimicking a user’s actions and events
`as they are performed in a user interface. For example,
`copying the user’s actions entailed in moving a mouse over
`a screen location containing a checkbox for activating sound
`and depressing the mouse button. Semantic scripting con
`sists of function speci?c commands that perform speci?c
`actions. For example, the execution of a command to
`
`013
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
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`

`

`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`3
`activate sound. In the Macintosh environment, one type of
`semantic scripting language that is often utilized is called
`AppleScript.
`To enable network con?guration, one prior art method
`referred to as “Location Manager”) allows users to assign
`speci?c settings to a “location” for a variety of capabilities
`including networking, printers, time Zone, ?le sharing,
`sound, and frequently used applications. Once a location is
`set up, a user can select that location and the computer
`system recogniZes the user’s preferences for that environ
`ment. For example, a home location and an office location
`may be set up for the various printers and networks available
`at the user’s home and of?ce. However, it is not possible for
`a network administrator to remotely con?gure a computer or
`adjust network settings.
`Another prior art method used to con?gure a network
`referred to as “NetInfo” provides for a centraliZed database
`that contains the available con?gurations. When a user
`wants to con?gure his/her computer for network
`capabilities, the user accesses the centraliZed database to
`determine what options are available. However, it is not
`possible for a network administrator to remotely con?gure a
`user’s computer or adjust network settings. This prior art
`method is more fully described in US. Pat. No. 5,410,691
`entitled “Method and Apparatus for Providing a Network
`Con?guration Database” issued on Apr. 25, 1995 and US.
`Pat. No. 5,459,863 entitled “Method of Maintaining Integ
`rity in a Network Database” issued on Oct. 17, 1995.
`Another prior art method provides the ability to swap
`various con?guration ?les in order to con?gure a computer.
`However, the system is not noti?ed when the ?le swapping
`occurs and does not recogniZe the new con?guration. To
`enable the system to recogniZe the new con?guration, the
`computer must be restarted or one of the control panels must
`be manually adjusted.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention provides for the con?guration of a com
`puter. One embodiment of the invention combines the prior
`art control panels related to networking into a consolidated
`Network Setup Control Panel. In addition, the invention
`provides for computer con?guration by scripting. The con
`?guration may be for any type of system setting or for
`network con?gurations and protocols. Through scripting, a
`computer may be con?gured locally or remotely on a
`network.
`One embodiment of the invention provides for a central
`iZed database consisting of the collected data relating to
`available con?guration settings. This database is not limited
`to con?guration information and can be used as a general
`database containing any type of information the user desires
`to store. The database may be accessed by an administrator
`desiring to con?gure a computer. When con?guring a com
`puter for network accessibility, the database may be modi
`?ed directly using the Network Setup Control Panel. One
`embodiment of the invention provides for modi?cation of
`the database and computer con?guration through scripting.
`To modify a con?guration by scripting, the invention
`provides for a Scripting Interface consisting of a Scripting
`Server and Scripting Plug-In. The Scripting Server is pro
`grammed with the general knowledge of the structure and
`type of objects representing con?gurations stored in the
`database. The Scripting Server receives the script forwarded
`from a user or network administrator, parses the script and
`determines the appropriate Scripting Plug-In to forward the
`desired action to (by accessing the general knowledge the
`
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`Scripting Server maintains). The Scripting Plug-In is pro
`grammed to maintain knowledge of the speci?c ?elds and
`methods of the objects stored in the database. Thus, the
`Scripting Plug-In receives the commands and executes the
`appropriate actions to modify the con?guration as directed.
`To create a script, one embodiment of the invention
`provides for the use of a dictionary containing available
`commands and objects that may be modi?ed. After creating
`a script, the administrator merely executes the script on a
`copy of the Scripting Server that is run either remotely or
`locally. In this manner, a computer may be con?gured using
`scripting.
`In addition, one embodiment of the invention provides for
`backwards compatibility with prior art con?guration settings
`(using the ?le formats that existed in the prior art). The
`backwards compatibility method includes exporting and
`importing various con?guration settings into the consoli
`dated database.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a
`computer system capable of providing a suitable execution
`environment for an embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the multiple reader protection provided
`by one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the method of processing scripts pro
`vided by one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 4a demonstrates the architectural design of one
`embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 4b demonstrates the architectural design of FIG. 4a
`customiZed for network con?guration of one embodiment of
`the invention
`FIG. 5 illustrates the ?le mapping used to combine
`incompatible ?le formats of one embodiment of the inven
`tion.
`FIG. 6 demonstrates the architectural design of FIG. 4b
`customiZed with an additional library to enable additional
`features of one embodiment of the invention.
`FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a method for enabling backwards
`compatibility with prior art ?le formats provided by one
`embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 9 illustrates a method for performing a computer
`con?guration of one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 10 demonstrates a database of one embodiment of
`the invention.
`FIG. 11 is a screen print-out of a combined Network Setup
`Control Panel of one embodiment of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The invention is a method and apparatus for con?guring
`a computer. In the following description, numerous speci?c
`details are set forth to provide a more thorough description
`of embodiments of the invention. It is apparent, however, to
`one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced
`without these speci?c details. In other instances, well known
`features have not been described in detail so as not to
`obscure the invention.
`Embodiment of Computer Execution Environment
`(Hardware)
`An embodiment of the invention can be implemented as
`computer software in the form of computer readable code
`executed on a general purpose computer such as computer
`100 illustrated in FIG. 1, or in the form of bytecode class
`
`014
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`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
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`

`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`5
`?les running on such a computer. Akeyboard 110 and mouse
`111 are coupled to a bi-directional system bus 118. The
`keyboard and mouse are for introducing user input to the
`computer system and communicating that user input to
`processor 113. Other suitable input devices may be used in
`addition to, or in place of, the mouse 111 and keyboard 110.
`I/O (input/output) unit 119 coupled to bi-directional system
`bus 118 represents such I/O elements as a printer, A/V
`(audio/video) I/O, etc.
`Computer 100 includes a video memory 114, main
`memory 115 and mass storage 112, all coupled to
`bi-directional system bus 118 along With keyboard 110,
`mouse 111 and processor 113. The mass storage 112 may
`include both ?xed and removable media, such as magnetic,
`optical or magnetic optical storage systems or any other
`available mass storage technology. Bus 118 may contain, for
`example, thirty-tWo address lines for addressing video
`memory 114 or main memory 115. The system bus 118 also
`includes, for example, a 32-bit data bus for transferring data
`betWeen and among the components, such as processor 113,
`main memory 115, video memory 114 and mass storage 112.
`Alternatively, multiplex data/address lines may be used
`instead of separate data and address lines.
`In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 113 is
`a microprocessor manufactured by Motorola, such as the
`680X0 processor or a microprocessor manufactured by Intel,
`such as the 80X86, or Pentium processor. HoWever, any
`other suitable microprocessor or microcomputer may be
`utiliZed. Main memory 115 is comprised of dynamic random
`access memory (DRAM). Video memory 114 is a dual
`ported video random access memory. One port of the video
`memory 114 is coupled to video ampli?er 116. The video
`ampli?er 116 is used to drive the cathode ray tube (CRT)
`raster monitor 117. Video ampli?er 116 is Well knoWn in the
`art and may be implemented by any suitable apparatus. This
`circuitry converts pixel data stored in video memory 114 to
`a raster signal suitable for use by monitor 117. Monitor 117
`is a type of monitor suitable for displaying graphic images.
`Computer 100 may also include a communication inter
`face 120 coupled to bus 118. Communication interface 120
`provides a tWo-Way data communication coupling via a
`netWork link 121 to a local netWork 122. For example, if
`communication interface 120 is an integrated services digital
`netWork (ISDN) card or a modem, communication interface
`120 provides a data communication connection to the cor
`responding type of telephone line, Which comprises part of
`netWork link 121. If communication interface 120 is a local
`area netWork (LAN) card, communication interface 120
`provides a data communication connection via netWork link
`121 to a compatible LAN. Wireless links are also possible.
`In any such implementation, communication interface 120
`sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical
`signals Which carry digital data streams representing various
`types of information.
`NetWork link 121 typically provides data communication
`through one or more netWorks to other data devices. For
`example, netWork link 121 may provide a connection
`through local netWork 122 to local server computer 123 or
`to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider
`(ISP) 124. ISP 124 in turn provides data communication
`services through the World Wide packet data communication
`netWork noW commonly referred to as the “Internet” 125.
`Local netWork 122 and Internet 125 both use electrical,
`electromagnetic or optical signals Which carry digital data
`streams. The signals through the various netWorks and the
`signals on netWork link 121 and through communication
`interface 120, Which carry the digital data to and from
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`computer 100, are exemplary forms of carrier Waves trans
`porting the information.
`Computer 100 can send messages and receive data,
`including program code, through the netWork(s), netWork
`link 121, and communication interface 120. In the Internet
`example, remote server computer 126 might transmit a
`requested code for an application program through Internet
`125, ISP 124, local netWork 122 and communication inter
`face 120. In accord With the invention, one such application
`is that of remotely con?guring a computer.
`The received code may be executed by processor 113 as
`it is received, and/or stored in mass storage 112, or other
`non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner,
`computer 100 may obtain application code in the form of a
`carrier Wave.
`Application code may be embodied in any form of
`computer program product. A computer program product
`comprises a medium con?gured to store or transport com
`puter readable code, or in Which computer readable code
`may be embedded. Some examples of computer program
`products are CD-ROM disks, ROM cards, ?oppy disks,
`magnetic tapes, computer hard drives, servers on a netWork,
`and carrier Waves.
`The computer systems described above are for purposes
`of example only. An embodiment of the invention may be
`implemented in any type of computer system or program
`ming or processing environment.
`UtiliZation of Computer SoftWare
`As indicated in the background, control panels may
`contain multiple related functions and data structures. To
`encapsulate these related functions and data structures, one
`embodiment of the invention utiliZes a standard object
`oriented programming (OOP) language approach. To pro
`vide an understanding of encapsulation of related data
`structures and methods, an overvieW of object-oriented
`programming is provided beloW.
`Object-Oriented Programming
`Object-oriented programming is a method of creating
`computer programs by combining certain fundamental
`building blocks, and creating relationships among and
`betWeen the building blocks. The building blocks in object
`oriented programming systems are called “objects.” An
`object is a programming unit that groups together a data
`structure (one or more instance variables) and the operations
`(methods) that can use or affect that data. Thus, an object
`consists of data and one or more operations or procedures
`that can be performed on that data. The joining of data and
`operations into a unitary building block is called “encapsu
`lation.”
`An object can be instructed to perform one of its methods
`When it receives a “message.” A message is a command or
`instruction sent to the object to execute a certain method. A
`message consists of a method selection (e.g., method name)
`and a plurality of arguments. A message tells the receiving
`object What operations to perform.
`One advantage of obj ect-oriented programming is the Way
`in Which methods are invoked. When a message is sent to an
`object, it is not necessary for the message to instruct the
`object hoW to perform a certain method. It is only necessary
`to request that the object execute the method. This greatly
`simpli?es program development.
`Object-oriented programming languages are predomi
`nantly based on a “class” scheme. The class-based object
`oriented programming scheme is generally described in
`Lieberman, “Using Prototypical Objects to Implement
`Shared Behavior in Object-Oriented Systems,” OOPSLA 86
`Proceedings, September 1986, pp. 214—223.
`
`015
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`US 6,256,635 B1
`
`7
`Aclass de?nes a type of object that typically includes both
`variables and methods for the class. An object class is used
`to create a particular instance of an object. An instance of an
`object class includes the variables and methods de?ned for
`the class. Multiple instances of the same class can be created
`from an object class. Each instance that is created from the
`object class is said to be of the same type or class.
`To illustrate, an employee object class can include “name”
`and “salary” instance variables and a “setisalary” method.
`Instances of the employee object class can be created, or
`instantiated for each employee in an organization. Each
`object instance is said to be of type “employee.” Each
`employee object instance includes “name” and “salary”
`instance variables and the “setisalary” method. The values
`associated With the “name” and “salary” variables in each
`employee object instance contain the name and salary of an
`employee in the organization. A message can be sent to an
`employee’s employee object instance to invoke the “seti
`salary” method to modify the employee’s salary (i.e., the
`value associated With the “salary” variable in the employee’s
`employee object).
`A hierarchy of classes can be de?ned such that an object
`class de?nition has one or more subclasses. A subclass
`inherits its parent’s (and grandparent’s etc.) de?nition. Each
`subclass in the hierarchy may add to or modify the behavior
`speci?ed by its parent class. Some object-oriented program
`ming languages support multiple inheritance Where a sub
`class may inherit a class de?nition from more than one
`parent class. Other programming languages support only
`single inheritance, Where a subclass is limited to inheriting
`the class de?nition of only one parent class.
`An object is a generic term that is used in the object
`oriented programming environment to refer to a module that
`contains related code and variables. A softWare application
`can be Written using an object-oriented programming lan
`guage Whereby the program’s functionality is implemented
`using objects. The encapsulation provided by objects in an
`object-oriented programming environment may be eXtended
`to the notion of control panels and representations of the
`control panel con?gurations stored in a database.
`Embodiment of SoftWare Apparatus for Con?guring a Com
`puter
`One embodiment of the invention provides for the ability
`to easily and remotely con?gure a computer for netWork
`accessibility. The multiple control panels that are used in the
`prior art to properly con?gure a computer are consolidated
`into one Network Control Panel that alloWs the con?gura
`tion of the various protocols that the computer operating
`system supports. To provide for one Network Control Panel,
`the present invention implements several unique features.
`One embodiment of the invention provides for a central
`iZed database that remains persistent on the computer that
`consists of the collected data relating to available con?gu
`ration settings. This database is not limited to con?guration
`information and can be used as a general database contain
`ing information the user desires to store. The database may
`be accessed by an administrator desiring to con?gure any
`computer.
`The consolidated database provides advantages and fea
`tures not available in the prior art. Some of these advantages
`include: (1) A combined uniform database containing a
`collection of the incompatible ?le formats for the individual
`con?gurations; (2) The database may be vieWed and read by
`multiple readers and may be modi?ed by one user or Writer
`concurrently (the embodiment provides protection for the
`readers When the database is modi?ed by a Writer); (3) The
`database maintains crash protection; (4) The database is
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`capable of receiving remote commands or remote scripting;
`(5) The database maintains ba