Patents by Inventor Ahmad Bilal

Ahmad Bilal 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: 11669337
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for bare metal management of computing devices. Firmware of the computing device can be configured to contact a network location as part of an HTTP boot and download a boot agent. The boot agent can be prioritized to execute before a primary OS boot loader. The boot agent can download an OS configuration including a package that is inserted into the primary OS. The primary OS, as configured, can then boot. The boot agent can also attest to OS health and device compliance on subsequent boots. For example, the boot agent can cause the firmware to track how many boots have occurred since compliance verification. If a threshold number of boots occur without verification, the boot agent can initiate restoration. Alternatively, if a decommission flag is set, the boot agent can cause the computing device to boot into its original configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Alexey Polyakov, Tomas Vetrovsky
  • Publication number: 20230119675
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for remotely deploying provisioned packages. An installer for an application is stored in a cache location of the client device. A hash of the installer is then written to a registry of the client device. The installer is then executed to install the application on the client device. Then, the client device is registered with a management service. Subsequently, a registration confirmation is received from the management service. The hash of the installer is then confirmed and the installed application is identified to the management service as a managed application installed on the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Mohamed Elsherif, Kishore Krishnakumar, Ian Drennan, Ondrej Stastny, Brooks Peppin, Jason Roszak, Ahmad Bilal
  • Patent number: 11630660
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for enforcing firmware profiles. First, it is determined that a device record associated with a client device fails to specify a firmware profile. A firmware profile is then generated for the client device. Subsequently, a command is generated that causes a firmware of the client device to be configured based at least in part on the firmware profile. The firmware profile is then stored in the device record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Thanhy Mather, Tomas Vetrovsky, Pavel Zeman
  • Patent number: 11531532
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for remotely deploying provisioned packages. An installer for an application is stored in a cache location of the client device. A hash of the installer is then written to a registry of the client device. The installer is then executed to install the application on the client device. Then, the client device is registered with a management service. Subsequently, a registration confirmation is received from the management service. The hash of the installer is then confirmed and the installed application is identified to the management service as a managed application installed on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Elsherif, Kishore Krishnakumar, Ian Drennan, Ondrej Stastny, Brooks Peppin, Jason Roszak, Ahmad Bilal
  • Publication number: 20220318023
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for bare metal management of computing devices. Firmware of the computing device can be configured to contact a network location as part of an HTTP boot and download a boot agent. The boot agent can be prioritized to execute before a primary OS boot loader. The boot agent can download an OS configuration including a package that is inserted into the primary OS. The primary OS, as configured, can then boot. The boot agent can also attest to OS health and device compliance on subsequent boots. For example, the boot agent can cause the firmware to track how many boots have occurred since compliance verification. If a threshold number of boots occur without verification, the boot agent can initiate restoration. Alternatively, if a decommission flag is set, the boot agent can cause the computing device to boot into its original configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Alexey Polyakov, Tomas Vetrovsky
  • Patent number: 11269655
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for bare metal management of computing devices. Firmware of the computing device can be configured to contact a network location as part of an HTTP boot and download a boot agent. The boot agent can be prioritized to execute before a primary OS boot loader. The boot agent can download an OS configuration including a package that is inserted into the primary OS. The primary OS, as configured, can then boot. The boot agent can also attest to OS health and device compliance on subsequent boots. For example, the boot agent can cause the firmware to track how many boots have occurred since compliance verification. If a threshold number of boots occur without verification, the boot agent can initiate restoration. Alternatively, if a decommission flag is set, the boot agent can cause the computing device to boot into its original configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Alexey Polyakov, Tomas Vetrovsky
  • Publication number: 20210303694
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for dynamic application deployment in trusted code environments. In some embodiments, an application is identified for installation on a client device. The client device includes a security process that limits the client device to execute trusted code based on a trusted code policy. Characteristics of a file are identified from an installation package for a client application. A management agent is instructed to update the trusted code policy to whitelist the file by providing the characteristics of the executable file to the security process. A command to install the application is transmitted to the management agent, where the management agent is a trusted installer for the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Alexey Polyakov, Ondrej Stastny, David Field, Tomas Vetrovsky, Ahmad Bilal
  • Patent number: 11036862
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for dynamic application deployment in trusted code environments. In some embodiments, an application is identified for installation on a client device. The client device includes a security process that limits the client device to execute trusted code based on a trusted code policy. Characteristics of a file are identified from an installation package for a client application. A management agent is instructed to update the trusted code policy to whitelist the file by providing the characteristics of the executable file to the security process. A command to install the application is transmitted to the management agent, where the management agent is a trusted installer for the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexey Polyakov, Ondrej Stastny, David Field, Tomas Vetrovsky, Ahmad Bilal
  • Publication number: 20210064385
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for bare metal management of computing devices. Firmware of the computing device can be configured to contact a network location as part of an HTTP boot and download a boot agent. The boot agent can be prioritized to execute before a primary OS boot loader. The boot agent can download an OS configuration including a package that is inserted into the primary OS. The primary OS, as configured, can then boot. The boot agent can also attest to OS health and device compliance on subsequent boots. For example, the boot agent can cause the firmware to track how many boots have occurred since compliance verification. If a threshold number of boots occur without verification, the boot agent can initiate restoration. Alternatively, if a decommission flag is set, the boot agent can cause the computing device to boot into its original configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Alexey Polyakov, Tomas Vetrovsky
  • Publication number: 20210042109
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for enforcing firmware profiles. First, it is determined that a device record associated with a client device fails to specify a firmware profile. A firmware profile is then generated for the client device. Subsequently, a command is generated that causes a firmware of the client device to be configured based at least in part on the firmware profile. The firmware profile is then stored in the device record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Thanhy Mather, Tomas Vetrovsky, Pavel Zeman
  • Patent number: 10838736
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for bare metal management of computing devices. Firmware of the computing device can be configured to contact a network location as part of an HTTP boot and download a boot agent. The boot agent can be prioritized to execute before a primary OS boot loader. The boot agent can download an OS configuration including a package that is inserted into the primary OS. The primary OS, as configured, can then boot. The boot agent can also attest to OS health and device compliance on subsequent boots. For example, the boot agent can cause the firmware to track how many boots have occurred since compliance verification. If a threshold number of boots occur without verification, the boot agent can initiate restoration. Alternatively, if a decommission flag is set, the boot agent can cause the computing device to boot into its original configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Alexey Polyakov, Tomas Vetrovsky
  • Patent number: 10802821
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for enforcing firmware profiles. First, it is determined that a device record associated with a client device fails to specify a firmware profile. A firmware profile is then generated for the client device. Subsequently, a command is generated that causes a firmware of the client device to be configured based at least in part on the firmware profile. The firmware profile is then stored in the device record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Thanhy Mather, Tomas Vetrovsky, Pavel Zeman
  • Publication number: 20200225929
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for remotely deploying provisioned packages. An installer for an application is stored in a cache location of the client device. A hash of the installer is then written to a registry of the client device. The installer is then executed to install the application on the client device. Then, the client device is registered with a management service. Subsequently, a registration confirmation is received from the management service. The hash of the installer is then confirmed and the installed application is identified to the management service as a managed application installed on the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Mohamed Elsherif, Kishore Krishnakumar, Ian Drennan, Ondrej Stastny, Brooks Peppin, Jason Roszak, Ahmad Bilal
  • Patent number: 10686932
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to “capture the moment” by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shamik Bandyopadhyay, Donald A. Barnett, Vikram Kapoor, Veronica Y. Law, Kathryn C. Lemson, Tirthankar Sengupta, Divya Tyamagundlu, Ahmad Bilal
  • Publication number: 20200167473
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for dynamic application deployment in trusted code environments. In some embodiments, an application is identified for installation on a client device. The client device includes a security process that limits the client device to execute trusted code based on a trusted code policy. Characteristics of a file are identified from an installation package for a client application. A management agent is instructed to update the trusted code policy to whitelist the file by providing the characteristics of the executable file to the security process. A command to install the application is transmitted to the management agent, where the management agent is a trusted installer for the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Alexey Polyakov, Ondrej Stastny, David Field, Tomas Vetrovsky, Ahmad Bilal
  • Patent number: 10599300
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a mobile device having stored thereon a plurality of applications (“apps”) that are each configured to capture an image. The method includes receiving first user input data requesting invocation of a given one of the applications. The given application is launched by the user. After launching the given application a user interface is presented which serves as an entry point through which all of the image capture applications stored on the mobile device are made available to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Sauve, Shamik Bandyopadhyay, Kathryn C. Lemson, Jannes Paul Peters, Eric Bennett, Ahmad Bilal
  • Publication number: 20200034155
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for bare metal management of computing devices. Firmware of the computing device can be configured to contact a network location as part of an HTTP boot and download a boot agent. The boot agent can be prioritized to execute before a primary OS boot loader. The boot agent can download an OS configuration including a package that is inserted into the primary OS. The primary OS, as configured, can then boot. The boot agent can also attest to OS health and device compliance on subsequent boots. For example, the boot agent can cause the firmware to track how many boots have occurred since compliance verification. If a threshold number of boots occur without verification, the boot agent can initiate restoration. Alternatively, if a decommission flag is set, the boot agent can cause the computing device to boot into its original configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Alexey Polyakov, Tomas Vetrovsky
  • Publication number: 20200034141
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for enforcing firmware profiles. First, it is determined that a device record associated with a client device fails to specify a firmware profile. A firmware profile is then generated for the client device. Subsequently, a command is generated that causes a firmware of the client device to be configured based at least in part on the firmware profile. The firmware profile is then stored in the device record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Ahmad Bilal, Thanhy Mather, Tomas Vetrovsky, Pavel Zeman
  • Publication number: 20170070606
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to “capture the moment” by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shamik Bandyopadhyay, Donald A. Barnett, Vikram Kapoor, Veronica Y. Law, Kathryn C. Lemson, Tirthankar Sengupta, Divya Tyamagundlu, Ahmad Bilal
  • Publication number: 20170017367
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a mobile device having stored thereon a plurality of applications (“apps”) that are each configured to capture an image. The method includes receiving first user input data requesting invocation of a given one of the applications. The given application is launched by the user. After launching the given application a user interface is presented which serves as an entry point through which all of the image capture applications stored on the mobile device are made available to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Sauve, Shamik Bandyopadhyay, Kathryn C. Lemson, Jannes Paul Peters, Eric Bennett, Ahmad Bilal