CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from the Indian provisional patent application No. 1740/CHE/2012 filed on May. 04  2012.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to data communication systems and methods and more particularly to a system and method for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Cloud computing represents a different way to architect and remotely manage computing resources. For example  cloud computing systems may include servers  network storage devices  and other information technology (IT) services. The cloud computing system encompasses resources (hardware  software  infrastructure and services) that can be accessed through the Internet. Cloud computing systems include interfaces to access their respective computing resources. These systems provide different applications or desktop as a service.

[0004] The utility cloud computing models allow the user to access the computing resources  platform services and application hosting as and when required in the cloud based server or locally in the user end devices. So the utility computing model offers a number of benefits to both service providers and users. The utility cloud computing models are more adaptive and competitive. Even though the current models of utility and cloud computing do some amount of management of resources on the backend the user device is not getting managed completely. They can only access the resource using a cloud based application  like a browser to access a web based solution.

[0005] Various systems and methods exist as means to deliver the cloud based resources and manage the profile of users available on the server side devices. One of the systems is accessing multiple applications by multiple client devices (e.g.  client device) through the server device. The server device may include an application template to emulate a function of the application. In one or more embodiments  a provisioning module may provide application template for execution of each application of the client device. Depending on the need of the application  the provisioning module may choose one or more of the application templates to provide to the client device for execution of the application on a host operating system of the server device. The applications may however be installed on the server device when the user initially tries to install the applications in the client devices. On providing appropriate application templates  the applications may be executed on a virtual container of each of the client devices. The different virtual containers may include  for example  different components to support different operating system components (e.g.  Windows components  Linux components). On execution  the various versions of the given application executed through different virtual containers may run on different host operating systems. However  this system is based on the concept of letting users access to the application from an independent cloud based environment. The device used to access is not of interest to the solution beyond the fact that it runs certain application(s) used to access the cloud. The applications are not managed or integrated with the cloud environment. Typically  in the existing utility and cloud computing solution  the management happens on the server side (beyond the cloud from the user""s point of view) and the user is not worried about management responsibility of this environment. Moreover  the maximum that this solution provides is to have different versions of the client access application available for the devices operating on different platforms. Nonetheless  there is no tailoring of application to the characteristics of the devices.

[0006] Another system describes various embodiments that enables content such as applications  media files  user data  and other information to be synchronized between devices  where each device is able to receive at least some instances of that content in a format that is dynamically determined to be appropriate for the device  based on information such as various capabilities of that particular device. Various embodiments can also enable devices to interact even when the devices are of different types that might utilize different protocols  formats  or other options or capabilities that might otherwise not enable those devices to communicate or work together for at least some purposes. They do not integrate with the client end applications and capacities and hence cannot provide the user with a complete hassle-free experience. In general  the current solution only take care of providing a cloud based environment that can be accessed by any device but does not merge with the device itself and tailor the solution that is available to the user as per the device""s characteristics.

[0007] Yet another system describes about managing a client desktop with respect to accessing cloud services. The system includes means for dynamically determining  viewing  organizing  and linking desktop objects to associated server side cloud resources and services. Specifically  the solution provides a mechanism whereby cloud services can be automatically represented on a plurality of client systems (for example  laptops  desktops  PDAs  etc) complete with the ability for the underlying provider of those services to be dynamically mapped based on a user""s profile. The user will see standard available services regardless of the provider. However  there is no seamless flow of look and flow or tailoring of application to the device""s capabilities. For example  if the user would like to access educational content from a server  the content is available to user in a certain format and screen resolution. It does not change as per the device characteristics. So if the user is using a media box it should be provided in HD format but in a mobile phone it should be provided in a lower resolution format. The current solutions available do not take care of these customizations.

[0008] A need therefore exists for a system and method for delivering cloud based utility services to a user  overcoming the drawbacks of the systems discussed above and also several other shortcomings inherent to the existing prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The above-mentioned shortcomings  disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

[0010] In one embodiment  a system for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user is provided. The system comprises a client side component comprising a client controller configured for receiving user profile  applications  contents and type and characteristics of each of the user devices. The client side component further comprises a user interface configured for accessing the user profile  applications  contents and type and characteristics of each of the user devices and a native interface configured for interacting with at least one operating system of each of the user devices. The system further comprises a server side component comprising a server interface configured for interfacing with each of the user devices associated with the user via a cloud based network  a usage manager configured for managing server data  the usage manager further configured for detecting and recording applications executing in each of the user devices and a profile manager configured for managing the user profile of the user. The server side component is configured for delivering the cloud based utility services based on the type and characteristics of each of the user devices associated with the user.

[0011] In another embodiment  a method for delivering a cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user in a cloud based managed utility computing environment is provided. The method comprises registering the user in the cloud based managed utility computing environment  acquiring type and characteristics of each of the devices associated with the user by a server side component and delivering the cloud based utility services to the user based on the type and characteristics of each of the user devices.

[0012] In yet another embodiment  a computer program product for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user in a cloud based managed utility computing environment is provided. The computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith  the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to register the user at the cloud based managed utility computing environment  computer readable program code configured to acquire type and characteristics of each of the devices associated with the user by a server side component  and computer readable program code configured to deliver the cloud based utility services to the user based on type and characteristics of each of the user devices.

[0013] Systems and methods of varying scope are described herein. In addition to the aspects and advantages described in this summary  further aspects and advantages will become apparent by reference to the drawings and with reference to the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary cloud based managed utility computing environment from which various components may be executed  as described in an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user  as described in another embodiment; and

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user  as described in another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In the following detailed description  reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof  and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments  which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments  and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical  mechanical  electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is  therefore  not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0018] The present invention generally relates to data communication systems and methods and more particularly to a system and method for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user in a cloud based managed utility computing environment.

[0019] With reference to FIG. 1  shows an exemplary cloud based managed utility computing environment from which various components may be executed  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is provided. As shown in FIG. 1  the environment 100 comprises a client controller 102  user interface 104 and native interface 106. The client controller 102 is configured for receiving user profile  applications  content and type and characteristics of each of the user devices associated with a user. The user interface 104 is configured for accessing the user profile  applications  content and type and characteristics of each of the user devices and a native interface 106 is configured for interacting with at least one operating system of each of the user devices.

[0020] The environment 100 further comprises a service interface 110 configured for interfacing with each of the devices associated with the user via a cloud based network  a usage manager 112 configured for managing server data  the usage manager 112 further configured for detecting and recording applications executing in each of the user devices and a profile manager 114 configured for managing the user profile of the user.

[0021] The environment 100 further comprises a client orchestrator 134 communicatively coupled with the server interface 110  usage manager 112 and profile manager 114  the client orchestrator 134 configured for performing a coordinated sequence of request/response transactions between the cloud based managed utility computing environment and each of the user devices.

[0022] The client orchestrator 134 comprises an initializer 136 configured for initializing at least one cloud based utility service requested by a user in a cloud based managed utility computing environment  a controller 138 configured for controlling the cloud based utility services  and an event manager 140 configured for controlling and managing events that arise in the device in the cloud based managed utility computing environment and their resultant actions.

[0023] The profile manager 114 comprises a user manager 116 configured for communicating with the user devices via a network interface and identifying and providing information on requested and requsite applications for the user  a service manager 118 configured for managing the cloud based utility services within the cloud based managed utility computing environment  a device manager 126 configured for managing each of the user devices communicated with the cloud based managed utility computing environment and an authentication engine 132 configured for authenticating the user and each of the user devices based on the user profile and the type and characteristics of the user devices.

[0024] The service manager 118 comprises a service engine 120 configured for enabling access to service resources  a configuration engine 122 configured for synchronizing configuration information and configuration programs from the cloud based managed utility computing environment to each of the user devices  and an advertisement engine 124 configured for receiving the user profile and accessing types of advertisement based on the user profile.

[0025] The device manager 126 comprises a device engine 128 configured for determining the type and characteristics of each of the user devices and an upgrade engine 130 configured for communicatively coupling with the client controller 102 and further configured for receiving upgrade information of each of the user devices via the client controller 102.

[0026] Turning now to FIG. 2  in another embodiment  the invention provides a cloud based managed utility computing environment. In this environment  the user""s computing environment is controlled and managed by a set of applications. Accordingly  the invention describes a system 200 for delivering cloud based utility services. The system 200 comprises a client side component 202. The client side component 202 comprises a client controller 204  user interface 206 and native interface 208. The client controller 204 may control the different aspects of each of the user devices  the user interface 206  applications and content. The user may access the cloud based utility services via the user interface 206. The user interface 206 may be rendered in a web browser or could be on a native desktop interface.

[0027] The client controller 204 is configured to interact with the at least one operating system on each of the user devices to identify at least one application and content that are subscribed by the user and to keep track and control over the type and characteristics of each of the user devices.

[0028] The client controller 204 is further configured to manage upgrading of at least one operating system of each of the user devices. The client controller 204 may communicatively couple with the upgrade engine 130 and receive upgrade information of each of the user devices. Thus  the cloud based managed utility computing environment may automatically updated when each of the user""s device automatically upgrades to new versions of operating system and applications.

[0029] In one embodiment  the native interface 208 may be an operating system interface that interact with the at least one operating system on each of the user device. Further  the user’s environment may be managed and controlled by the native interface 208.

[0030] In one embodiment  the cloud based utility services may comprise cloud based resources  at least one application and content. The cloud based resources may comprise at least one of a set of user applications  an operating system  processor cycles  memory allocation  input/output (I/O) bandwidth  minimum uptime  instantiation schedule  subscription cost  network latency  and service level agreement.
[0031] The system 200 further comprises a server side component 210. The server side component 210 is communicatively coupled with the client side component 202 and maintained in a cloud based managed utility computing environment as shown in FIG. 1  The server side component 210 is configured for acquiring the user profile  applications and contents and device profile from the client controller 204. The device profile may comprise type and characteristics of the user device. The client side component 202 may comprise a plurality of user devices that are managed and monitored by the server side component 210 in a cloud computing environment. In one embodiment  each of the users may differ and each user may have one or more user devices. Further  each of the users may be provided with authentication details that may be used by the user while logging in the cloud based managed utility computing environment for accessing the cloud based utility services. Each of the users may be registered within the cloud based managed utility computing environment by entering the user profile and profile of one or more devices associated with the user. The user profile enables the server side component 210 to authenticate the user and to provide applications and content of user’s interest. The authentication details may comprise a user identification data and password. Thus  the system 200 ensures the users a safe and secure environment on any user device based on these authentication data.

[0032] In one embodiment  the system 200 is configured to deliver the cloud based utility services to the user based on the type and characteristics of each of the user devices associated with the user. The type and characteristics of the user devices may comprise at least one of configuration  format  installation  screen resolution  operating systems  device identifier and usage pattern.

[0033] In one embodiment  the user profile and type and characteristics of each of the user device can be acquired by the server side component 210. The server side component 210 is automatically get updated when the user manipulates the information. Further  the server side component 210 supports various types of operating systems (OS) and user devices (from smart phones to computers).

[0034] In one embodiment  the user can move the authentication session from one user device to another user device while all the other relevant parameters are maintained. Only the applications and content specific to the user device may be changed. Thus  the server side component 210 may provide mobility across user device from smart phones to tablet to personal computer without discontinuing the session or changing the session characteristics.

[0035] In one embodiment  the user devices may comprise one of a smart phone  a cellular phone  a notebook  a tablet  a personal computer and a personal digital assistant. Each of the user devices may be configured for running different operating systems and further configured for having different characteristics. Each of the user devices are identified with a device identifier (device ID). The application and content provided are related to the type of each of the user devices. Thus  the application and content types may have an instance associated with the type of each user device. This determines the characteristics of the application and content for that particular user device  for example  encoding format  executable type  resolution of the content and the like. Further  the single instance of application and content may include multiple versions corresponding to the type and characteristics of each of the user devices.

[0036] In one embodiment  at least one application and content are accessed using different protocols including at least one of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for web based application  for web based application on mobile devices  Handheld Device Transfer Protocol (HDTP) for web based application  Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) for streaming content; File Transfer Protocol (FTP) for applications and content; Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) for streaming content; Real-Time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) for streaming content; Bluetooth Phonebook Access (PBAP); and AT command-based information retrieval.

[0037] In one embodiment  the streaming content and the web based application may be available on a remote server that is running on at least one of cloud based virtual desktop environment  private terminal server and private virtual desktop environment. Further  the at least one application and content may be available from any of the cloud based environment without configuring the user devices.

[0038] In one embodiment  the streaming content and the web based application may be available on each of the user devices either by pre-burning the user devices or by installing the installable or application provided via a cloud based network when the user subscribes for the cloud based utility services.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 for delivering a cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user in a cloud based managed utility computing environment as described in another embodiment of the present invention. The method 300 comprises steps of registering the user at the cloud based managed utility computing environment at step 302  acquiring type and characteristics of each of the user devices associated with the user at step 304 and delivering the cloud based utility services to the user based on the type and characteristics of each of the user devices at step 306.

[0040] The method 300 of registering the user comprises generating a user profile of the user  obtaining information on each of the user devices used by the registered user  and storing the user profile and the information in the cloud based managed utility computing environment. The user profile may be generated by inputting information on characteristics and interest of the user.

[0041] In one embodiment  the user subscribes to the cloud based service provider utilizing one more user devices storing at least a part of the user profile. The user profile may comprise characteristics and interests of the user. Characteristics are the details about the user that are captured from the user itself. For example  name  age  sex  area of residence  occupation  and the like. The characteristics of the user are collected during the registration of users to the cloud based managed utility computing environment. During the registration process  some of the user characteristics may be captured for example age  occupation  name  address and the like.

[0042] The interest of the users comprises the personal choice of application and content. The information on the interest of the user includes the kind of activities and the content that the user would like to do with user device. For example  creating documents/files or playing games. The user device of the present invention has the user interface 206 through which the user can receive a number of application icon  Internet based information and content on the desktop itself. Also  the user could track his/her mails or chats through widgets on the desktop. The cloud based managed utility computing environment acts as middleware to provide at least one application and content from different application  storage media  content providers hosted on the Internet and on the utility computing servers.

[0043] In one embodiment  the user profile may comprise information on the at least one application and content that the user has subscribed to. In one embodiment  the user profile may comprise information on each of the user devices that the user uses to access the cloud based utility services. This information may be captured by the cloud based service provider as soon as the user has confirmed for the cloud based utility services.

[0044] In one embodiment  the user could also change the profile by removing or adding other customizations and personalization from time to time. These data are updated to the user profile which is managed and controlled by the client controller 204.

[0045] In one embodiment  the user interests may include the details of user device usage pattern. This information is collected based on the application  website and content used by the user. Based on these interests and usage information  the server side component 210 may decide what sort of contents  applications and websites that should be available for the user.

[0046] When the user requests for the cloud based utility services  the server side component 210 may authenticate each of the user devices associated with the user during user login to the cloud based managed utility computing environment based on the user profile. Further  the user is provided with at least one application and content based on the authentication. The system 200 may be configured to automatically determine each of the user devices based on the type and characteristics of each of the user devices.

[0047] In one embodiment  the cloud based utility services may be delivered to each of the user devices via a storage media. The user devices are pre-burned with a cloud based operating system. Further  the existing operating system like Linux  Microsoft Windows and Android are modified to operate with a cloud based managed utility computing environment. This may be enabled by managing and controlling the operating systems from the elements in storage media. Thus the user may access the cloud based utility services on desired operating system. Simultaneously  a cloud based service provider may operate management and licensing issues and lock the user devices exclusively to the cloud based utility services in order to prevent the overwriting of the cloud based operating system by another user.

[0048] In one embodiment  the cloud based utility services are delivered to each of the user devices by installing the cloud based utility services in the user devices. The service may be invoked automatically when the user logs in the cloud based managed utility computing environment. Further  software for a cloud based desktop may be supplied by Telecom service providers as a part of a USB modem dongle. Thus  when the user inserts the dongle to the user device  a cloud based desktop is created in the user interface of the user device. This creation can either occur by installing the cloud desktop based software onto the user device or by directly invoking the cloud based desktop from the dongle without a post installation of the software onto the user device.

[0049] In one embodiment  the user subscribes to the cloud based service provider for the cloud based utility services and subsequently  the cloud based utility services is automatically downloaded  installed and configured on each of the user devices associated with the user. Further  when the service runs on the user device it provides most of the management features  including features like Internet Access Control and Safety.

[0050] In one embodiment  for example  the invention provides a computer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure to deliver cloud based utility services as discussed herein. To this extent  the computer-readable/useable medium includes program code that implements each of the various processes of the invention. It is understood that the terms computer-readable medium or computer-useable medium comprise one or more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code. In particular  the computer-readable/useable medium can comprise program code embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture  on one or more data storage portions of a user device  such as memory and/or storage system  and/or as a data signal (e.g.  a propagated signal) traveling over a network (e.g.  during a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).

[0051] Computer-readable storage media refer to any non-transitory storage medium and that may allow for instructions to be provided to a central processing unit (CPU) for execution. Such media can take many forms  including  but not limited to  non-volatile and volatile media such as optical or magnetic disks and dynamic memory  respectively. Common forms computer-readable media include  for example  a floppy disk  a flexible disk  a hard disk  magnetic tape  a magnetic disk  any other magnetic medium  a Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) disk  Digital Video Disk (DVD)  any other optical medium  Random Access Memory (RAM)  Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM)  Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM)  Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)  a FLASH EPROM  cache memory and any other memory chip or cartridge.

[0052] As used herein  it is understood that the terms “program code” is a code  or notation of a set of instructions intended to cause a user device having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language  code  or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent  program code can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program  component software/a library of functions  an operating system  a basic device system/driver for a particular user device  and the like.

[0053] Many of the advantages provided by the system and method for delivering cloud based utility services to a plurality of user devices associated with a user described in various embodiments are listed below.

[0054] The system allows the user to access the cloud based managed utility computing environment utilizing a completely managed user device or a secure and managed application running in a non-managed user device.

[0055] The system automatically determines and stores the type and characteristics of the user device in the cloud based managed utility computing environment and tailors the cloud based utility services to the user based on the type and characteristics of the user devices.

[0056] The system allows the user to move a session or run multiple sessions on the plurality of user devices and with tailoring the session to the user device’s type and characteristics.

[0057] This written description uses examples to describe the subject matter herein  including the best mode  and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims  and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims  or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.