Patents by Inventor James Antill

James Antill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10824521
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating predictive diagnostics via a package update manager. A processing device can identify a set of package updates available to update a set of installed software packages on a client machine. Using a diagnostic database and an event log, the processing device identifies a potential fault condition related to the set of package updates. The event log can include a state of the client machine. The processing device can generate a repair action in view of the potential fault condition and generate a modified set of package updates in view of the repair action. The processing device can send the modified set of package updates to the client machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 10534624
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating and storing translation information as package metadata. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and language resources available for the installed set. The package manager can host or access a set of package attributes which include language specifications which indicates a language that should be used for search, display, and/or other activities. The language specifications be used to link to remote a remote repository storing various language metadata, including translations of source text. The resulting translated descriptions of source text from applications or other objects can be received and locally stored as translation information on the client machine. Translations can be periodically generated and/or updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Antill, Seth Kelby Vidal
  • Patent number: 9772834
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating exportable encoded identifications of networked machines based on installed package profiles. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and updates available for the installed set. The package manager can be configured to capture an inventory of the installed packages, and generate an encoded identification of the entire package complement and/or selected subsets of those packages. In aspects, the encoded identification can be based on a set of attributes of the installed packages and/or their constituent files, such as file names, version numbers, size, and/or other attributes. The encoded identification for the client machine can be transmitted to one or more remote management platforms, such as package servers, network management servers, or others for remote operations on the client machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9727352
    Abstract: An administrator system can utilize a history generated by a tagging tool to determine the current configuration of computing systems. The administrator system can utilize the current configuration to verify that the computing systems have been configured properly and verify, over time, that the computing systems maintain the desired configuration. The administrator system can compare the current configuration with the desired configuration for the computing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, Adrian Karstan Likins, Michael Paul Dehaan, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9417865
    Abstract: Updating package manager software on a client. An update tool can interface with a package manager running a first version of the package manager software to inspect an available update to a package installed on the client. The update tool can determine that a second version of the package manager software is required to install the update to the package. The update tool can access the second version of the package manager software, remove the first version of the package manager software from the package manager, and unpack and install the second version of the package manager software on the package manager. Further, the update tool can install the update to the package installed on the client, and can update other resources associated with the client as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9367302
    Abstract: A compatibility tool can certify compliance between software packages managers, used by or known to a user, and software packages to be updated or installed on a computing system. Additionally, the compatibility tool can identify a software package manager that is compatible with the software packages to be updated or installed, if the user does not have or know of a compatible software package manager. To certify software package managers or identify compatible software package managers, the compatibility tool can maintain a database of software package managers associated with software packages that are compatible with the software package managers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Publication number: 20160026547
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating predictive diagnostics via a package update manager. A processing device can identify a set of package updates available to update a set of installed software packages on a client machine. Using a diagnostic database and an event log, the processing device identifies a potential fault condition related to the set of package updates. The event log can include a state of the client machine. The processing device can generate a repair action in view of the potential fault condition and generate a modified set of package updates in view of the repair action. The processing device can send the modified set of package updates to the client machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9189357
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a machine state verification using a number of installed package objects. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager installed on the client machine can track the installed package complement, and updates available for those packages. To verify that a target of a package update is prepared and in the correct state to receive the update, the package manager inventory the set of package objects installed on the client machine. The resulting sum can be reported to a remote management platform, such as a package server. The counted package objects can be the packages themselves, and/or their set of component files. Machines having a package sum that does not match an expected target number can have a package re-installation performed, and/or other diagnostics carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9152484
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating predictive diagnostics via a package update manager. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and updates available for the installed set. A notification tool, in conjunction with the package manager, can monitor the user's selection of package update options, and compare those updates to a diagnostic database, a current state of the client machine, and/or other resources. Based on those determinations, the notification tool can generate notifications to the user advising them of potential conflicts, faults, or other conditions that may arise due to, or may surround, the prospective package update. The notification can permit the user to continue or terminate selected updates, before those updates are attempted and cause potential conflicts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9116802
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for diagnostic notification via a package update manager. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and updates available for the installed set. A notification tool, in conjunction with the package manager, can monitor the user's selection of package update options, and compare those updates to a diagnostic database and/or current state of the client machine. Based on those determinations, the notification tool can generate notifications to the user advising them of potential conflicts, faults, or other conditions that may arise due to, or may surround, the prospective package update. The notification can permit the user to continue or terminate selected updates, and the notification tool can re-analyze any potential faults after an update is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9009696
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating encoded identifications of selected subsets of installed software packages on a client machine. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and updates available for the installed set. The package manager can be configured to capture an inventory of the installed packages, and generate an encoded identification of one or more selected subsets of the set of hosted or installed packages based on size, timestamp, and/or other attributes of the subsets and/or constituent files. An administrator or other user can for instance select only that subset or subsets related to a certain project, application, user group, or other selection criteria, and generate encoded identifications of those subsets for package updating, network management, and/or other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 9003400
    Abstract: A software repository can capture and record an identifier associated with a software package manager accessing the software repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Antill, Seth Kelby Vidal
  • Patent number: 9003389
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating an encoded package profile based on executing host processes. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and updates available for the installed set. The package manager and/or other logic can identify currently executing processes on the client, and determine which package(s) corresponding to that set of executing processes are hosted on the client. The package manager can generate a report to a package server and/or other remote management platform to perform management operations on the client, such as, for example, to terminate executing processes on a target client to permit package update processes to take place. Other network management actions, such as inventorying or grouping virtual machines in a cloud or other network, can likewise be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 8997083
    Abstract: An administrator system can generate a version identifier for a computing system based on the software packages installed on a computing system. The version identifier can represent the software packages installed on the computing system. The administrator system can utilize the version identifier to manage a network of computing systems. The administrator system can compare the version identifiers of the computing system to verify that the computing system have the same software packages installed. Likewise, the administrator system can compare the version identifiers of the computing system to a test version identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 8856953
    Abstract: Methods and systems for defining and generating fine-grained access policy for authorizing software package updates are provided. The methods of defining and enforcing a package update policy include providing a package update policy file that identifies a set of software packages and users authorized to perform package updates in association with the set of software packages, and storing the policy file on computers in a managed network. When a computer in the managed network receives a request from an unprivileged user to update a software package on the computer, the computer retrieves the package update policy file and determines an authorization of the user to update the software package based on an identity of the user, an identity of the software package, and the policy file. The computer then processes the request based on the determined authorization of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Antill
  • Patent number: 8806471
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for automatic upgrade and downgrade in package update operations. A physical or virtual client machine can host an installed software distribution including a set of installed software packages, such as an operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager on the client can manage the set of installed packages, and report the installed distribution including version and component packages to one or more package servers. When a distribution upgrade is initiated, the package manager and/or other distribution logic can analyze the target distribution, to determine whether each package in the target distribution represents the most-current version of each component package. Packages which represent the most-current can be installed. Packages which do not represent the most-current version, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 8799890
    Abstract: An administrator system can generate a version identifier for a computing system based on the software packages installed on a computing system. The version identifier can represent the software packages installed on the computing system. The administrator system can identify the software packages installed on a computing system and data specific to the software packages. The administrator system can apply a hash function to the specific data to generate hashed data. Then, the administrator system can concentrate the hashed data to generate the version identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 8762931
    Abstract: Generation of cached representations of an encoded package profile. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager installed on the client machine can track the installed package complement, and updates available for those packages. The package manager can be configured to capture attributes of the set of installed packages, and generate an encoded identification of the installed packages using a hash or other algorithm. The encoded identification can be transmitted to one or more package servers or other management platform. The package server(s) can receive and decode the identifier, and insert that identifier and other package-related data into a local package cache. The package server(s) or other platform can configure package update or other activity using the cached representation of package profiles for one or more client machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 8713558
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating package profiles in software package repositories using selective subsets of packages. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and reports the inventory of those packages to one or more package servers. The package server(s) can build an aggregate package population record reflecting all packages installed on all machines in the managed network. The package server(s) can then generate arbitrarily selected package subsets from the aggregate package collection, and group or configure sets of machines based on common or compatible package subsets. Machine groups dedicated to different tasks or applications as reflected in their package subsets can then have updating, security, and/or other management tasks carried out on a collective basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill
  • Patent number: 8640119
    Abstract: An administrator system can generate a version identifier for a computing system based on the software packages installed on a computing system. The administrator system can utilize the version identifier to determine if software package updates will install properly on a computing system. When the computing system request an update to a software package, the administrator system can generate a version identifier for the software package, as installed on the computing system and to be updated. The administrator system can compare the generated version identifier to a test version identifier. The test version identifier can be a version identifier generated for a version of an exemplary software package known to properly install the update. Once compared, the administrator system can notify the user of the computing system of the comparison, for example, if the version identifier and the test version identifier are different indicating potential problems in the update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Kelby Vidal, James Antill