Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Munisamy Prabu

Curt Andrew Steeb

Zeyong Xu

Martin Holladay

Paul C Sutton

Raymond D Pedrizetti

Michael Gallop

Ashok Chandrasekaran

Gokul P Thirumalai

Minghui Gao

Task sequences are used to manage devices. According to one aspect, a user-defined or user-selected task sequence is received. The task sequence is converted into an ordered series of steps, and the series of steps are performed, in accordance with their order, in managing a device over a network. In certain implementations, the ordered series of steps are steps for automatically deploying an operating system on the device.

Using task sequences to manage devices

According to one aspect of task sequence interfaces, a method includes exposing an interface that allows task sequences to be performed on a plurality of remote devices, and receiving requests regarding the task sequences and the plurality of remote devices via the interface. The interface comprises an object model including device objects that represent physical devices in a network, and jobs objects that represent task sequences performed on one or more of the plurality of remote devices.

Task sequence interface

In a pay-per-use computer environment, particularly when network access is limited, self-monitoring tools on a pay-per-use computer may require special support from a host/server. The host/server must be able to respond to requests quickly and efficiently and yet maintain full information required to service requests and updates. A key management table and a device management table provide critical information required to service requests. Use of SQL notifications allows local database caches to remain current but quickly accessible.

Portal and key management service database schemas

Inter-service messages conform to a protocol message schema and support predetermined types according to the destination service. Because the schema and types are well defined, input queues corresponding to the services are able to quickly identify and remove non-conforming messages. The schema supports both prepaid and subscription business models and is extensible to other types.

Messaging schema for services interaction on prepaid and subscription system

Multiple devices on which operating systems can be automatically deployed are managed. According to one aspect, an apparatus manages installation of operating systems on a plurality of computing devices. The installation is performed across the plurality of computing devices both concurrently and asynchronously.

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Munisamy Prabu