 match this with initially provided identifying information. In accordance with one aspect, the system can be user or identity centric rather than device centric, although it is not limited thereto. As a result, the determination can attempt to identify a particular user via one or more authentication/authorization mechanisms. To this end, a simple user name and password can be employed alone or in combination with biometrics (e.g., recognition of voice, retina, iris, fingerprint, palm print, typing patterns... ) and other identification mechanisms (e.g. smart card... ). If the user fails to authenticate, the method can simply terminate, as the user is not entitled to receive service. If authentication is successful, the method proceeds to reference 930 wherein access is provided to the network and associated resources. Access can be controlled or restricted based on user role, permissions, associated entity subscription and/or the like. In this manner, levels of access can be maintained in accordance with subscriptions. Moreover, entity resources can remain separate and private such that a first entity cannot access a second entity's resources.
FIG. 10 depicts a method 1000 of allocating resources in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. While resources such as applications or services can be executed solely remotely or locally, the resources may also be distributed across both means. At numeral 1010, computational ability of a client-computing device is determined. For example, the type and speed of the processor, cache, local software and the like are ascertained. Service resources are apportioned optimally based on a plurality of factors, at reference numeral 1020, including but not limited to the computational ability of the client, service subscription and available resources. Available resources can refer to those of the service and/or the client device. Furthermore, resources can be reapportioned or adjusted in real time to account for changes computational loads and resource availability. Further yet, inferences can be made with respect to resource availability and alterations made to computational distribution to optimize performance.
FIG. 11 illustrates a method 1100 of providing network assistance in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. Network assistance and expertise can be moved to the center, namely as a cloud service, rather than relying solely on local help. At reference numeral 1110, a desktop icon associated with help is selected by a user. A communication session is subsequently established with a remote IT service at numeral 1120. For example, a VoIP, text message or video conference session can be initiated to enable dialog between a user and an off-premise technician. Services can then be provided and received from the remote service at the local computing device. The services can be instructions to perform such actions for example to fix some problem. Additionally or alternatively, the service can take control of the local computer to perform some action such as diagnosis a problem and provide a solution. It should be appreciated that some actions can also be preformed remotely, for example upgrading an application, installing a patch or the like.
The term “entity” is intended to include one or more individuals/users. These users may be associated formally or informally, for instance as a member of a group, organization or enterprise. Alternatively, entities and/or users can be completely unrelated.
A “cloud” is intended to refer to a collection of resources (e.g., hardware and/or software) provided and maintained by an off-site party (e.g. third party), wherein the collection of resources can be accessed by an identified user over a network (e.g., Internet, WAN... ). The resources provide services including, without limitation, data storage services, word processing services, and many other services or applications that are conventionally associated with personal computers and/or local servers.
With reference to FIG. 12, an exemplary environment 1210 for implementing various aspects disclosed herein includes a computer 1212 (e.g., desktop, laptop, server, hand held, programmable consumer or industrial electronics... ). The computer 1212 includes a processing unit 1214, a system memory 1216, and a system bus 1218. The system bus 1218 couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory 1216 to the processing unit 1214. The processing unit 1214 can be any of various available microprocessors. It is to be appreciated that dual microprocessors, multi-core and other multiprocessor architectures can be employed as the processing unit 1214.
Computer 1212 also includes removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 12 illustrates, for example, mass storage 1224. Mass storage 1224 includes, but is not limited to, devices like a magnetic or optical disk drive, floppy disk drive, flash memory or memory stick. In addition, mass storage 1224 can include storage media separately or in combination with other storage media.
FIG. 12 provides software application(s) 1228 that act as an intermediary between users and/or other computers and the basic computer resources described in suitable operating environment 1210. Such software application(s) 1228 include one or both of system and application software. System software can include an operating system, which can be stored on mass storage 1224, that acts to control and allocate resources of the computer system 1212. Application software takes advantage of the management of resources by system software through program modules and data stored on either or both of system memory 1216 and mass storage 1224.
The computer 1212 also includes one or more interface components 1226 that are communicatively coupled to the bus 1218 and facilitate interaction with the computer 1212. By way of example, the interface component 1226 can be a port (e.g., serial, parallel, PCMCIA, USB, FireWire... ) or an interface card (e.g., sound, video, network... ) or the like. The interface component 1226 can receive input and provide output (wired or wirelessly). For instance, input can be received from devices including but not limited to, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, camera, other computer and the like. Output can also be supplied by the computer 1212 to output device(s) via interface component 1226. Output devices can include displays (e.g. CRT, LCD, plasma... ), speakers, printers and other computers, among other things.
FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computing environment 1300 with which the subject innovation can interact. The system 1300 includes one or more client(s) 1310. The client(s) 1310 can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). The system 1300 also includes one or more server(s) 1330. Thus, system 1300 can correspond to a two-tier client server model or a multi-tier model (e.g., client, middle tier server, data server), amongst other models. The server(s) 1330 can also be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). The servers 1330 can house threads to perform transformations by employing the aspects of the subject innovation, for example. One possible communication between a client 1310 and a server 1330 may be in the form of a data packet transmitted between two or more computer processes.
The system 1300 includes a communication framework 1350 that can be employed to facilitate communications between the client(s) 1310 and the server(s) 1330. Here, the client(s) can correspond to network computing devices and the server(s) can form at least a portion of the cloud. The client(s) 1310 are operatively connected to one or more client data store(s) 1360 that can be employed to store information local to the client(s) 1310. Similarly, the server(s) 1330 are operatively connected to one or more server data store(s) 1340 that can be employed to store information local to the servers 1330. By way of example, one or more servers 1330 and associated data stores 1340 may for a cloud of services are accessible via one or more clients 1310. As per aspects of the disclosure, clients 1310 can turn to the cloud of services for provisioning of private entity IT.
an off-premise service component that manages the at least one resource to remotely provide at least one private IT network to the entity.
2. The system of claim 1, the service component controls access to resources in accordance with an entity subscription.
3. The system of claim 2, the service component throttles entity access to one or more of processing power, cache, electronic storage and communication bandwidth based on the subscription.
4. The system of claim 1, the IT network comprises a service that provides at least one of entity server functionality, application software and electronic mail.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a setup component that enables designation of one or more of entity user roles, settings, permissions and pass codes associated with the network.
an authorization component that controls network access based on the identity and entity network settings.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface component that provides a set of links to remote software applications and/or services employable by an entity user in a manner that makes the applications and/or services appear local.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an assistance component that initiates a communication session with a remote technician to receive technical assistance with respect to the entity network.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a component that facilitates purchase of a right to utilize resources of a client device by the service component.
utilizing the IT service to establish and/or maintain an entity computer network comprising hardware and/or software remotely from the third-