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`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 1 of 19 PageID #: 2091
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`EXHIBIT B
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`EXHIBIT B
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`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 2 of 19 PageID #: 2092
`
`1111111111111111111111 1111111111 lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll llllll llll llll llll
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Cox ct al.
`
`(54) METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER
`PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR
`MANAGEMENT OF CONFIGURABLE
`APPLICATION PROGRAMS ON A
`NETWORK
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David E. Cox, Raleigh; Kent F. Hayes,
`Jr.; David L. Kaminsky, bolh of
`Chapel Hill; David B. Lindquist,
`Raleigh, all of NC (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: International Business l\ilachines
`Corporation, Am10ng, NY (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, lhe term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U .S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/211,529
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 14, 1998
`
`Int. CL 7
`.................... G06F Ll/00; G06F 15/16
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 709/223; 709/224; 709/225;
`709/201; 709i310; 707/103
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 709/223, 224,
`709/3 [(), 201, 225; 707 /103
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PAll:NT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,263,165
`5,440,739 *
`5,554,979 *
`5,634,010
`5,655,081
`5,680,615
`5,689,708
`5,745,879
`5,748,896
`5,764,887
`
`~
`
`1111993
`8/1995
`9/1996
`5/1997
`8/1997
`!Oi19fJ7
`ll/t997
`4/1998
`5/1998
`6/1998
`
`Janis ..................................... 395/725
`Beck et al. ............................. 70/221
`Kohar ct al. .................... 340/825.72
`C:iscon et al. ........................ 709i223
`Jlonnell ct al. ...................... 709/202
`Marlin et al. ........................ 707/103
`Regnier ct al. ...................... 709/302
`Wyman .................................... 705/1
`Daly et al. ........................... 709/223
`Kells et al.
`.......................... 713/200
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN P/1TENT DOCUMENTS
`
`US006324578BJ
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`( 10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`to
`"Guide
`policies.htm
`and
`h!tp://nf/pdc97/proiiles
`lV!icrosoft Windows NT 4.0 Profiles and Policies" pp. J-76.
`http:!/www/ic1Lorgib1lm.cbancrs/acap-chartcr.hlml "Appli(cid:173)
`cation Configuration Access Protocol (acap)," 68 pages.
`IBM Network Station Manager for Windows NT Server 4.0,
`Chapter 5. Using the InM Network Station Manager, pp.
`5-1 to 5-15.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary F'xaminer--Ayaz Sheikh
`Assistant Fxaminer---Frantz B. Jean
`(74) Attorney, /\gent, or Firm-Jeanine S. Ray-Yarletts;
`Myers Bigcl Sibley & Sajovec
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Management of configurable applications programs on a
`network is provided by using two program files for each
`configurable application program. The two program liles arc
`provided to a network server station which operates as the
`on-demand server for software d<0ployment and may also act
`as the application server. The on-demand server makes the
`first (configuration man:iger) program available to an admin(cid:173)
`istrator to obtain preferences for the conligurable prcfer(cid:173)
`cnc<.:s of tbc application program which have been desig(cid:173)
`nated as administrator preferences. The on-demand server
`also provides a second (application launcher) program to its
`client stations. The application launcher program not only
`provides for a user interface to execute the application
`program itself but also allows a user to specify one or more
`of the conligurable parameters or the application. program.
`An icon is displayed on the screen of the client statiou
`through which a user may initiate cxcculion of the applica(cid:173)
`tion program. The application lannchcr program provides
`the identity of the user to the server along with the request
`to initiate execution of the application program. The
`on-clemancl server then initiates execution of the application
`program using stored values for the user and administrator
`set preferences or, if no preferences have yet been obtained
`for the particular user, obtains user preferences before ini(cid:173)
`tiating execution of the application program.
`
`WO <J8i50853
`
`11/1998 (WO) ............................... G061'/')/44
`
`46 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0001
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 3 of 19 PageID #: 2093
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`5,771,354
`5, 778,368
`s .. 809,251
`5,813,009
`5.845,077
`5,848,243
`5,875,327
`5,881.216
`5,'111.Cl66
`5,933,601
`6,070,l'lO
`6,0<JS,067
`6,105,063
`6,105,066
`6,105,069
`6, l08 .. 712
`6,J 15,040
`6,158,010
`6,175,363
`6,175,832
`6,189JJ5l
`6,192,414
`6,195,432
`6,202,206
`
`.j
`
`6/1CJ98
`7/1998
`9/1998
`9/1998
`12/1998
`* 12/1998
`2/1999
`3/1999
`* 6/1999
`8/19~}9
`5/2000
`8/2000
`8/2000
`* 8/2000
`• 8/2000
`* 8/2000
`9/2000
`12/2000
`1/2001
`1/2001
`2/200J
`2/2001
`2/2001
`3/2001
`
`·*
`
`Crawford ............................. 709/229
`Hogan ct al. .......................... 707 /10
`May et al.
`........................... 709/223
`fohnson el al. ...... , ............... 797/100
`Fawcett ................................ 709/221
`Kulkarni ct al. ..................... 709/224
`Brandt et al. ............................ 71311
`Dickey ................................. 709/221
`Williams et at. .................... 70CJf300
`Fanshier et at. ..................... 709/223
`Reps ct al. ........................... 70'J/224
`................................ 707/10
`Erickson
`Hayes, Jr. ....... , .................... 709/223
`Haves, Jr ............................. 709/226
`Fra.nklin ct al. .................. ... 709/229
`Hayes, Jr ............................. 709/246
`Bladow et al.
`................. , .... 345/335
`Moriconi et al. .................... 713/201
`Williams et al. .................... 345/334
`Luzzi et al. ............................ 707 /JO
`Oh et al. . ... . ... ................... ..... 710/33
`Ilorn .................................... 709/239
`Takahashi
`.............. 380/278
`Demi et al.
`............................ 717/11
`
`http://www.softwarc.ibm.com/os/warp/library/sq202822.htm,
`"WorkSpacc on-Demaml Handbook," Chapters 2.3.1;
`6.2;6.3;6.3.l; 6.3.3; 6.5.
`hllp://www.tri1cal.com/SoftNC, Java Desktop Environment
`from Triteal, pp. 1-2.
`http://java.sun.com/produels/hot-javavicws/admin.html,
`"HotJava Views," pp. 1-24.
`http://esuite.lotus.com/eSuite/eSuile, "The Right Work
`Environment for Network Centric Computing," 24 pages.
`T1VfE 10 So/iware Distribution User's Guide, Version 3.1,
`Chapters l," 4 and 5.
`"A Common Desktop Environment for Platforms Based on
`the UNIX Operating System," By B. E. Cripe, J. A Brew(cid:173)
`ster, and D. E. Laursen. 1-lewlell-Paekard Journal, vol. 47_,
`No. 2, Apr. l, 1996, pp. 6--14.
`"Administration of Graphic User Interface and Multimedia
`Objects Using Cooperative Processing," IBM Technical
`Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 37, No. 9, Sep. l, l994, pp.
`675-678, XP000475542.
`* cited by examiner
`
`UNILOC_IBM__2016_0002
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`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 4 of 19 PageID #: 2094
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`
`20
`
`10'
`
`Network
`
`22
`
`22'
`
`Network
`
`24
`
`10"
`
`24'
`
`10"'
`
`Network
`
`Client
`
`Client
`
`Client
`
`FIG. 1
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0003
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 5 of 19 PageID #: 2095
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`
`Software
`Distribution
`
`Install Application
`File Packet
`
`Distribute
`Application
`Launcher to Clients
`
`Distribute
`Configuration
`Manager to
`Administrator
`Client
`
`Obtain User
`Preferences for
`Application
`
`Obtain
`Administrator
`Preferences for
`Application
`
`50
`
`52
`
`54
`
`56
`
`58
`
`Obtain Defaults
`
`64
`
`Yes
`
`Applications?
`
`No
`
`Distribution
`Complete
`
`FIG. 2
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0004
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 6 of 19 PageID #: 2096
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`
`OD Server
`
`Receive
`Application File
`Packet
`
`Identify Clients to
`Receive
`Application and
`Administrator
`
`Distribute
`Launcher(s) and
`Manager(s)
`
`Obtain Admin and/
`or Default
`Preferences
`
`Receive Initiate
`Execution Request
`and ID User
`Requesting
`
`84
`
`Obtain User Prefs
`Associated With
`Authorized User
`From Memory
`
`New User?
`
`70
`
`72
`
`74
`
`76
`
`78
`
`80
`
`82
`
`Obtain User Prefs
`Associated With
`Authorized User
`From launcher
`
`86
`
`Initiate Execution
`of Application with
`User Prefs
`
`FIG. 3
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0005
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 7 of 19 PageID #: 2097
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`
`Client: Launcher
`
`Receive
`Application
`Launcher
`
`Display Icon
`Associated With
`Application on
`Screen
`
`No
`
`Icon Selected?
`
`Obtain User ID and
`Provide Request
`with ID to Server
`
`No
`
`Provide User
`Preferences
`
`90
`
`92
`
`94
`
`96
`
`98
`
`100
`
`102
`
`Run Application
`With User and
`Admin Prefs
`
`FIG. 4
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0006
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 8 of 19 PageID #: 2098
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`
`186
`
`188
`
`190
`
`192
`
`194
`
`License Mgmnt
`
`Receive License
`Request
`
`Establish Default
`
`Apply Administrator
`Overrides
`
`Apply User Overrides
`and Update Database
`if Changes
`
`Track License Usage
`
`End
`
`FIG. 5
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0007
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 9 of 19 PageID #: 2099
`
`US 6,324,578 Dl
`
`1
`METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER
`PROGHAM PHODUCTS FOR
`MANAGEMENT OF CONFIGURABLE
`APPLICATION PIWGHAMS ON A
`NETWORK
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPUCJ\JIONS
`
`This applieation is related to the following application
`filed concurrentlv hcr(;with: METHODS, SYSTEMS AND
`COMPUTER PI{OGRAM PRODUCTS FOR CENTRAL(cid:173)
`IZED MANAGEMENT OF APPLICATION PROGRAMS
`ON A NE'lWORK. This application is also related to U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09i072,597 filed May 5, 1998 15
`and entitled: Client-Server System for Maintaining a user
`Desktop Consistent with Server Application User Access
`Permissions which is incorporated herein by rckrcncc in its
`entirety.
`
`2
`created by a system administrator for each different version
`to be in:>talled. Furthermore, once installed at a client, a user
`must typically lJsc that spccitlc client station. The applica(cid:173)
`tion generally cannot be automatically deleted from the
`client station's desktop or automatically upgraded the next
`1ime the user starts the application. Similarly, the Tivoli
`Management Envirommmt (l'ME) HF" system from Tivoli
`Systems, Inc. provides a software distribution feature which
`may be used to transmit a file package to client and server
`10 stations on a network from a central Tivolirn server.
`A further complication in network systems is that,
`typically, these systems include combinations of network
`applications and native applications as well as combinations
`of different connection types and hardware devices. As used
`herein "native applications" refers to applicatiom; which are
`installed local!v on a workstation such that characteristics
`associated with the native application arc stored on the
`workstation. ]11c combinations of network connections,
`differing hardwilre, native applications and network appli-
`20 cations makes portability of preferences or operating envi(cid:173)
`ronment characteristics which provide consistency from
`workstation to workstation difficult. Furthermore, differ(cid:173)
`ences in hardware or corn1eclions lllilY create ine!Jiciencies
`as users move from workstation .to workstation. For
`25 example, a user may, in a first session, access the network
`utilizing a high speed connection and a workstation with a
`high resolution color monitor to execute an application and
`th~n, in a later session, access the network to execute the
`same application from a mobile cbrnputer with a mono-
`30 chrome display and a low speed modem connection to the
`network. Thus, session content, such as color display data or
`preferences associated with tbe application, which may have
`been appropriate for the first session, may be inappropriate
`or inefficient in a later session.
`Efforts to address mobility of uses in a network have
`included effort-; to provide preference mobility such as, for
`example, Novell's Z.E.N.worksrn, Microsoft's "Zero
`Administration" initiative for Windows® and International
`l3usine&s Machines Corporation's (IBM·'s) Workspace On
`40 Demamlrn. However, these solutions each typically require
`pre-installation of software at the workstation to support
`their services. For example, Novell's Z.E.N. and IBM's
`Workspace On Demand utilize a designer-supplied support
`layer in the operating system to enable their services. In
`45 addition to modifying the workstations operating system at
`startup to setup tasks to customize the user's environment,
`the Microsoft Z<.:ro Administration solution may be limited
`to a homogeneous environment where the workstation and
`the server arc utilizing the same operating system.
`Another approach to centralized management is the tra-
`ditional mainframe moclel, such as \Vith the IBM 3270
`svstern, or an X Windows environment. I lowever, in each of
`tl;ese ,;pproaches, the client device is treated as a dumb
`terminal with execution of the applications occurring at the
`55 server rather than the client. Accordingly, the communica(cid:173)
`tion between the server and t.hc client is typically presenting
`' characters for a display screen of the client and/or receiving
`kt:v strokes from the client. \Vimlows Zero Administration,
`as 'r1escribcc1 above, is client rather than user oriented and
`60 installs applications on client stations which do not fully
`support roaming by users. The JAVATM environm.;nt utiliz.;d
`on the Internet for web applications provides an ability for
`hardware independent application development but fails to
`provide an integrated framework for presenting multiple
`65 independent applications to a user. While various web
`applications do allmv personalizing of a spccitk application
`display by us0r, this capability is generally not managed
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`·nie present invention relates to network management in
`general and in particular to application program m;mage(cid:173)
`mcnt on a computer network.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Traditional mainframe computer configurations provided
`for user interface to the computer through computer termi(cid:173)
`nals which were directly connected by wires to ports of the
`mainframe computer. As computing technology has
`evolved, processing power has typically evolved from a
`central processing center with a number of relatively low(cid:173)
`processing power terminals to a distributed environment of
`networked processors. Examples of this shift .in processing 35
`include local or wide area comput..:r networks which inter(cid:173)
`connect individual work stations where each workstation has
`substantial independtmt processing capabilities. This shift
`may be further seen in the popularity of the Internet which
`interconnects many proce&5ors and networks of processors
`through devices such as, for example, routers. 'Ibis type of
`network environment ·is often referred to as a client-server
`environment with client stati011s coupled to ancl supported
`by a server station.
`In
`the modern distributed proccssiug computer
`environmeni, control over soiiware, such as :ipplication
`programs, is more difficult than where a mainframe operated
`by an administrator is used, particularly for large organiza(cid:173)
`tions with numerous client stations and servers distributed
`widely geographically and utilized by a large number of 50
`users. Furthermore, individual users may move from loca(cid:173)
`tion to location and need to access the n<:twork from
`different client stations at different times. The networked
`environment increases the challenges for a network admin(cid:173)
`istrator in maintaining proper licenses for existing softwan:
`and deploying new or updated applications programs across
`the network.
`One approach to reducing software distribution and con(cid:173)
`trol problems is to use an application server in which the
`application programs are installed and maintained on a
`centralized server which supporls a plurality of client sta(cid:173)
`tions. In addition, the Systems Management Server (SMS)
`program from Microsoft Corporation provides an ahility to
`transmit an application program from a server to a number
`of clients. The SMS system typically allows installation of
`programs and associated icons at client stations for SMS(cid:173)
`cnablcd applications. A customized install generally must. be
`
`UNILOC_IBM_2016_0008
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 159-2 Filed 06/01/17 Page 10 of 19 PageID #: 2100
`
`US 6,324,578 Bl
`
`3
`typically
`across applications for a user. Furthermore, it
`associates personalized screen information with an Internet
`address which is client device rather than nser associated,
`therefore limiting its ability to support roaming by users.
`Each of these "mobility" systems typically do not address
`the full range of complications which may arise in a het(cid:173)
`erogeneous network utilizing differing devices and connec(cid:173)
`!ions. The systems typically will not present application
`choices associated with the user and for which the user is
`authorized hut instead present information associated with JO
`the particular client workstation. Users would typically have
`to manually define session characteristics at each differing
`workstation they used in the network or maintain local
`characteristic definitions wbich may be inappropriate for
`particular applications a user is executing and may substan(cid:173)
`tially reduced the administrative convenience or a centrally
`controlled network. Tims, these various approaches fail to
`provide a seamless integration of application access and
`session characteristics across heterogeneous networks. Such
`solutions may, at most, reduce network administration only
`after initial installation on each workstation. In addition,
`control over access to applications by users is difficult to
`accomplish in a mobile environment.
`An additional user based application management capa(cid:173)
`bility not fully supported by these various approaches is
`license use management. Licensl.J use management typically
`involves controlling how many users can use an application.
`A distributed network cnvironm.;nt with a plurality of client
`stations and a plurality of different users accessing the
`applications from different clients increases the challenge
`associated with managing license use to insurn compliance
`with limitations established hy software designers. These
`environments also typically require various steps in the
`installation process to occur at different locations rather than
`allowing the entire process to be controlled from a single
`point for an entire managed network environment.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`4
`on the screen of the dient station through which a user may
`iniiiatc execution of 1hc application program. The
`on-demand application launcher may also obtain a license
`for the requesting user before initiating execution thereby
`providing centralized license management support.
`The application launcher program first determines the
`user identity (ID) and provides the user information to the
`server along with tbc request to initiate execution of the
`application program. The application program is then
`executed using stored values for the user and administrator
`set preferences or, if no preferences have yet been obtained
`for the particular user (or new preferences are desired), user
`preferences arc obtained bdore initiating execution of !he
`application program itself. A profile manager program on the
`15 on-demand server provides a user interface and maintains
`profile information for each clic.nt (hardware related) and
`user (preferences) for all managed configurable application
`programs available on the on-demand server. The prolik
`manager program may also control access to various appli-
`20 cations based on user authorization information.
`In one embodiment of the present invention methods,
`systems and computer progrnrn products are provided for
`manag1.Jment of configurable application programs on a
`network. An application program having a plurality of
`25 configurable prcfurCnccs and a plurality of authorized users
`is installed on a se1ver coupled to the network. An applica(cid:173)
`tion launcher program associat1.Jd with the application pro(cid:173)
`gram is distributed to a client coupled to the network. A user
`set of the plurality of configurable prefere11ces associated
`.JO with one of the plurality of amborized users executing the
`application launcher program is obtained and an adminis(cid:173)
`trator set of the plurality of configurable preferences is
`obtained from an administrator. The application program is
`then executed using the obtained user set and the obtained
`35 administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences
`responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of
`authorized users. The request may be received from the one
`of the plurality of authorized users through the application
`launcher program.
`In another embodiment of the present invention, a con-
`figuration manager program associated with the application
`program is distributed to a second client coupled to the
`network and the administrator set of the plurality or config-
`45 urable preferences is obtained from an administrator execut(cid:173)
`ing the configuration manager program. The administrator
`may be one of the plurality of authorized users who is
`authorized to execute the configuration manager program. Jn
`one embodiment of the present invention, an icon associated
`with the application program is displayed on a screen of the
`client and an authorized user may execute the application
`launcher program by selecting the displayed icon.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, obtained user
`se1s and obtait1ccl administrator sets are stored 011 a storage
`device coupled to the server and retrieved from the storage
`device then initiating execution of the application program.
`Default prekrcncc values may be provided ancl used for any
`of the plurality of configurabk preforences which am not
`specified by the user set or the administrator sci.
`FurtlKrnmre, tbe default preference values may be also bl.J
`stored on the storage device coupled to the server.
`In a further aspect of the present invention, security may
`be provided by determining if a user requesting execution of
`the application program is one of the plurality of authorized
`users. This aspect may also be combined with tbe license use
`management aspects of the present invention .10 further
`control access to managed application programs.
`
`40
`
`Accordingly, it is an object or the present invention to
`provide methods, systems and computer program products
`for management or configmable application programs on a
`computer network which allow a mix of user and system
`administrator defined configurable preferences to be asso(cid:173)
`ciat<:d with specific application programs.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide
`such methods, systems ancl computer program products that
`can accommodate various types of hardware operating under
`different operating systems across client stations.
`These and other objects arc provided, according to the
`present .invention, by providing two program Jiks for each
`configurable application program which are provided to a
`network server station which operates as an on-demand
`server for software deployment and may also act as the
`application server. The on-demand server makes the first, or 55
`configuration manager, program available to an administra-
`tor classified user (either remotely at a client station or at a
`direct inte.rface io the server station) to provide. an interface
`to establish preferences for the configurable preferences of
`the application program which have been designated as 60
`administrator only settable. The on-demand sc;rva also
`provides a second, or application launcher, program to client
`stations on the network and served by the on-demand server.
`The application .launcher program not only provides for a
`user interface to execute the application program itself but 65
`also allows a usc:r to specify one or more of the configurable
`parameters of the application program. An icon is displayed
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`6
`allowing for user preferences to be track<0d independent of
`hardware location of the user. Tbis provides for reduced
`costs and increased unifom1ity in managing software in a
`network environment by delivering configured applications
`when demanded hy a user. It further provides an essentially
`hardware transparent ability for an individual user to inter(cid:173)
`face to <tn on-demand server supported client station while
`maintaining the user's personal preferences for each appli(cid:173)
`cation program.
`
`13RIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRAWJNGS
`
`FIG.1 is a schematic diagram of a computcrnctwork with
`configurable application program management according to
`an embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a Ilowchart illustrating operations foi" application
`program clistrihi1tion to clients on a computer network
`according to an embodimcni of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a llowchart illustrating operations for application
`program distribution and execution from the server perspec(cid:173)
`tive according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a llowcharl illustrating operations for application
`program distribution and execution from the client and user
`pcrspioctivc according to an embodiment of the prcs<.0nt
`invention; and
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating license use management
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`35
`
`5
`In another embodiment of the prcsen1 invention, addi(cid:173)
`tional application programs arc managed according to the
`teachings of the present invention along with user prefer(cid:173)
`ences ubt11ined from a plurality of users. Furthermore, for
`each application program, associated application launcher
`programs may be distributed to a plurality of client stations
`and obtain user preferences from a plurnlity of users.
`In a forlhl:r embodiment of the present .invention,
`methods, systems and computer program products are pro(cid:173)
`vided for management of configurable application programs JO
`on a network. ;\n application program having a plurality of
`configurable preferences and a plurality of authorized users
`is installed on a server and an application launch..:r program
`associalcd with the application program is distributed lo a
`client. A user sci of the: plurality of configurable preferences 15
`is obtainccl from one of the pluritlity of authorized users
`executing the application launcher program and an admin(cid:173)
`istrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences is
`obtained from an administrator. The application program is
`then executed using a stored user set and the administrator 20
`set. of the plurality of configurable preferences responsive to
`a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users.
`In another cmbodim.::nt of the present invention, methods,
`systems and computer program products are provided for
`nrnnagcmcnt of configurable application programs on a 25
`network including receiving an application launcher pro(cid:173)
`gram associated with an application program having a
`plurality of configurable prcfcrem:cs from a server. A user
`set or the plurality of con1lgurable preferences from one of
`the plurality of authorized users executing the application .JO
`launcher program is provided to the setver. The server is also
`requested to provide an instance of the applicaiion program
`and a stored user set and an administraior set of the plurality
`of configurable preferences for use in executing the appli-
`cation program responsive to a request from the one of the
`plurality of authorized users.
`In a farther aspect of the present invention, melhml,,
`systems and computer program products are provided for
`management of license use for a network. License manage- 40
`ment policy i11Jormatio11 for a plurality of application pro(cid:173)
`grams is maintained at a license management server.
`Requests arc received at the license management server for
`a license availability of a selected one of the plurality of
`application programs from a user at a client. Tbe license
`management server determines the license availability for
`!he selected one of the plurality of application programs for
`the user basecl on the maintained license management policy
`information ;incl provides an un<tvailahility indication to the
`client responsive to the selection if the license availability
`indicates that a license is not available for the user or an
`availability indication if the licensed availability indicates
`lhal a license is available for the user. The request may he
`received from an application launcher program associated
`with the selected on~ of the plurality of application programs
`and the availability or unavai.lability indication m;,y be
`provided to the application launcher program. In one
`embodiment, the license management server is an on
`demand server associated with the client which provides an
`instance of the selected one of the applicaiion programs to 60
`the client for execution.
`While the invention has been described 11bove primarily
`with respect to the method aspects of the invention, both
`systems and computer program products are also provided.
`Accordingly, the present invention provides for manage(cid:173)
`ment of configurable application programs in a network
`environment from a central on-demand S<;Jver location while
`
`The present invention now will be described more fully
`hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
`which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.
`This invention may, however, be embodied in many different
`forms and should not be constrned as limited to the embodi(cid:173)
`rnc.nts set forth herein; rather, these embodiincnts are pro(cid:173)
`vided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete,
`and will fully convey the scope of the invention lo those
`skilled in the art. A5 will be appreciated by one of skill in the
`art, the present invention may be embodied as methods,
`systems or computer program products. Accordingly, the
`present invention may take the form of a hardware
`embodiment, a software embodiment or an embodiment
`combining software and hardware aspects.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a computer network
`including configurable application program management
`capabilities according to an embodiment of the present
`invention. Computer network system 10 includes a network
`management server such as a Tivolirn server 20 and
`on-demand servers 22, 22'. A<i used herein, "on-clcmand"
`refers to a server delivering applications as needed respon(cid:173)
`sive to user re·que.sls as requests arc received. System 10
`further includes client stations 24, 24', 26, 26'. ;\s illustrated,
`on-demand servers 22, 22' arc connected to TivoJiTM server
`20 over a first network segment JO'. Client stations 24, 24'
`arc served bv on-demand snvcr 22 and communicate over
`network 10"~ Similarly, clients 26, 26' are served by server
`22' and communicate over network 10"'. A.s schematically
`illustrated in FIG. 1, clicnl stations 24, 24', 26, 26' may be
`hardware from a variety of designers operating a variety of
`different operating systems.
`System 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is a centrnlly managed
`computer network with Tivoli"' server 20, acting as the
`65 central administration station executing network manage(cid:173)
`ment software such as TME l()TM from Tivoli Systems, Inc.
`Servers 22, 22' act as nn-tlemand servers for their respective
`
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`7
`associated client stations 24, 24', 26, 26' and provide for
`clicnt/sc1vcr application support. It is further to be under(ci