System and Method for Management of End User Computing Devices

Abstract

A system and method is provided for the repair of operating system and application binary files and configuration data files at pre-operating system boot stage by comparing attributes of the files against a reference collection of such files stored on a server during each reboot or restart cycle while creating and restoring a collection of dynamic operating system binary files, configuration data files, file system structures and hardware system attributes unique to the configuration and use of the system on a server for subsequent pre-operating system repair operations.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A computer-implemented method for storing operating system files, application binary files, and configuration data files at a pre-operating system boot stage of a client device, comprising:
 comparing a reference collection of files stored on a server against the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration data files of the client device for a reboot cycle of the client device, wherein the reference collection of files comprises an entire operating system, one or more application binary files, and one or more configuration data files;   generating a second reference collection of files based on the comparison, the second reference collection of files comprising one or more of the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration files stored on the client device that do not match the reference collection of files, and the second reference collection of files being files used in a subsequent pre-operating boot stage of the client device and being capable of bringing the operating system to a usable state that corresponds to actual dynamic uses of the client device; and   storing the second reference collection of files on the server.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising transmitting a client script from the server to the client device, the client script defining a pre-boot process that is executed at the pre-operating system boot stage of the client device and performs on the client device the operation of detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device; and
 wherein the second reference collection of files are generated based on the usage pattern data.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 executing, by the client script, hardware and software configuration routines on the client device; and   detecting changes from an initial configuration based on the execution of the second reference collection of files.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 scanning, by the client script, the client device's operation system process table and memory; and   detecting changes from an initial hardware configuration based on the scanning.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 initiating, at the server, a repair process that applies reference data from the reference collection of files to the client device for rendering a storage device on the client device to a known clean state.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the repair process initiates a reapply usage pattern information process that applies usage pattern data to the storage device of the client device to render the storage device of the client device to a usable state that corresponds to the actual dynamic uses of the client device. 
   
   
       27 . A system for storing operating system files, application binary files, and configuration data files at a pre-operating system boot stage of a client device and managing restoration of the client device, comprising:
 a server computer system including instructions stored in a memory of the server computer, the instructions executable by the server computer and upon such execution cause the server computer to perform operations comprising:
 comparing a reference collection of files stored on a server against the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration data files of the client device for a reboot cycle of the client device, wherein the reference collection of files comprises an entire operating system, one or more application binary files, and one or more configuration data files; 
 generating a second reference collection of files based on the comparison, the second reference collection of files comprising one or more of the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration files stored on the client device that do not match the reference collection of files, and the second reference collection of files being files used in a subsequent pre-operating boot stage of the client device and being capable of bringing the operating system to a usable state that corresponds to actual dynamic uses of the client device; and 
 storing the second reference collection of files on the server. 
   
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, cause the server computer to perform the operation of transmitting a client script from the server computer to the client device, the client script defining a pre-boot process that is executed at the pre-operating system boot stage of the client device and performs on the client device the operation of detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device; and
 wherein the second reference collection of files are generated based on the usage pattern data.   
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 executing, by the client script, hardware and software configuration routines on the client device; and   detecting changes from an initial configuration based on the execution of the second reference collection of files.   
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 scanning, by the client script, the client device's operation system process table and memory; and   detecting changes from an initial hardware configuration based on the scanning.   
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, cause the server computer to perform the operation of:
 initiating a repair process that applies reference data from the reference collection of files to the client device for rendering a storage device on the client device to a known clean state.   
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the repair process initiates a reapply usage pattern information process that applies usage pattern data to the storage device of the client device to render the storage device of the client device to a usable state that corresponds to the actual dynamic uses of the client device. 
   
   
       33 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, at a server and from a client device, usage pattern data from a client device, the usage pattern data specifying operating system files, application binary files, and configuration data files of a client device;   comparing a reference collection of files stored on the server against the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration data files of the client device as specified by the usage pattern data, wherein the reference collection of files comprises an entire operating system, one or more application binary files, and one or more configuration data files;   generating a second reference collection of files based on the comparison, the second reference collection of files comprising one or more of the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration files stored on the client that do not match the reference collection of files;   storing the second reference collection of files on the server; and   providing the second reference collection of files during a pre-operating boot stage of the client device to bring the operating system of the client device to a usable state that corresponds to actual dynamic uses of the client device.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising transmitting a client script from the server to the client device, the client script defining a pre-boot process that is executed at the pre-operating system boot stage of the client device and performs on the client device the operation of detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 executing, by the client script, hardware and software configuration routines on the client device; and   detecting changes from an initial configuration based on the execution of the second reference collection of files.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 scanning, by the client script, the client device's operation system process table and memory; and detecting changes from an initial hardware configuration based on the scanning.   
   
   
       37 . A system, comprising:
 a server computer system including instructions stored in a memory of the server computer, the instructions executable by the server computer and upon such execution cause the server computer to perform operations comprising:   receiving from a client device usage pattern data from a client device, the usage pattern data specifying operating system files, application binary files, and configuration data files of a client device;   comparing a reference collection of files stored on the server against the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration data files of the client device as specified by the usage pattern data, wherein the reference collection of files comprises an entire operating system, one or more application binary files, and one or more configuration data files;   generating a second reference collection of files based on the comparison, the second reference collection of files comprising one or more of the operating system files, the application binary files, and the configuration files stored on the client that do not match the reference collection of files;   storing the second reference collection of files on the server; and   providing the second reference collection of files during a pre-operating boot stage of the client device to bring the operating system of the client device to a usable state that corresponds to actual dynamic uses of the client device.   
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions, upon execution, cause the server computer to perform the operation of transmitting a client script from the server computer to the client device, the client script defining a pre-boot process that is executed at the pre-operating system boot stage of the client device and performs on the client device the operation of detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 executing, by the client script, hardware and software configuration routines on the client device; and   detecting changes from an initial configuration based on the execution of the second reference collection of files.   
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein detecting usage pattern data corresponding to the actual dynamic uses of the client device comprises:
 scanning, by the client script, the client device's operation system process table and memory; and   detecting changes from an initial hardware configuration based on the scanning.