Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for throttling and management of notifications. A rules manager stores definitions of multiple classes of notifications for sending to recipients. Each of the classes has a respective set of throttling parameters that enables notifications in each class to be selectively throttled. A notification monitor monitors the number of notifications in each class transmitted to a plurality of recipients over time. In response to determining that a threshold number of notifications of a class have been transmitted to a recipient during an interval of time, the recipient is placed in a throttled mode for the class that reduces a subsequent number of notifications transmitted to the recipient. The threshold number may be dependent upon a transmission channel of the notification. The recipient is informed of being placed in the throttled mode and provided an indication of where subsequent notifications can be accessed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for throttling and management of notifications. A rules manager stores definitions of multiple classes of notifications for sending to recipients. Each of the classes has a respective set of throttling parameters that enables notifications in each class to be selectively throttled. A notification monitor monitors the number of notifications in each class transmitted to a plurality of recipients over time. In response to determining that a threshold number of notifications of a class have been transmitted to a recipient during an interval of time, the recipient is placed in a throttled mode for the class that reduces a subsequent number of notifications transmitted to the recipient. The threshold number may be dependent upon a transmission channel of the notification. The recipient is informed of being placed in the throttled mode and provided an indication of where subsequent notifications can be accessed.

Abstract: A policy processor is described that may be used to implement a system for managing the configuration of assets in a distributed computing network, such as an enterprise network. The policy processor resides on a managed node in the distributed computing network and operates to receive, evaluate and enact policies issued by one or more policy authorities in the distributed computing network. The policy processor utilizes a conflict resolution model to determine which policy rules included within the policies should be put into effect and which should not.

Abstract: A policy processor is described that may be used to implement a system for managing the configuration of assets in a distributed computing network, such as an enterprise network. The policy processor resides on a managed node in the distributed computing network and operates to receive, evaluate and enact policies issued by one or more policy authorities in the distributed computing network. The policy processor utilizes a conflict resolution model to determine which policy rules included within the policies should be put into effect and which should not.

Abstract: A policy processor is described that may be used to implement a system for managing the configuration of assets in a distributed computing network, such as an enterprise network. The policy processor resides on a managed node in the distributed computing network and operates to receive, evaluate and enact policies issued by one or more policy authorities in the distributed computing network. The policy processor utilizes a conflict resolution model to determine which policy rules included within the policies should be put into effect and which should not.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has a data structure stored thereon for constructing expressions representing software configurations to be applied to software. The data structure includes a first data field including data identifying a name of software setting for the application. A second data field includes data representing an assertion portion of an policy rule for configuring the configurations identified in the first data field to be applied to the software. The data structure also includes a third data field storing data representing an action portion of the policy rule. The second data field and the third data field form the policy rule. A fourth data field stores metadata describing the policy rule represented by the first data field, the second data field, and the third data field.

Abstract: A policy processor is described that may be used to implement a system for managing the configuration of assets in a distributed computing network, such as an enterprise network. The policy processor resides on a managed node in the distributed computing network and operates to receive, evaluate and enact policies issued by one or more policy authorities in the distributed computing network. The policy processor utilizes a conflict resolution model to determine which policy rules included within the policies should be put into effect and which should not.

Abstract: Applying policy rules to software installed on a device. A group of devices to receive policy rules for the software is identified. The devices belonging to the specified group is identified. A set of policy rules assigned to the devices in the specified group are identified. The policy rules assigned to the devices are aggregated into one or more policy documents. The one or more policy documents are received. The received policy documents are stored in a data store associated with the device. The set of policy rules specified by the received policy documents are applied to the software. A feedback is provided to the policy authority in response to the applying, and the feedback is indicative of whether the set of policy rules is applied to the software.

Abstract: Managing software states using policy rules in a policy document in a distributed network. A policy document is generated and the policy document includes a set of policy rules defining one or more desired configurations of one or more pieces of software on the target devices. Target information is associated with the policy document, and the target information corresponds to a selected set of the target devices and includes information relating to characteristics of the software of the selected set of target devices. The set of policy rules included in the policy document is compared with other policy rules for the software. The policy document is modified as a function of the comparison and conflict resolution preferences. The modified policy document is provided for deployment to the selected set of the target devices.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium has a data structure stored thereon for constructing expressions representing software configurations to be applied to software. The data structure includes a first data field including data identifying a name of software setting for the application. A second data field includes data representing an assertion portion of an policy rule for configuring the configurations identified in the first data field to be applied to the software. The data structure also includes a third data field storing data representing an action portion of the policy rule. The second data field and the third data field form the policy rule. A fourth data field stores metadata describing the policy rule represented by the first data field, the second data field, and the third data field.

Abstract: Performing software installation activities. A method may be practiced for example in a network computing environment including one or more targetable entities organized into target groups. The method includes beginning a rollout including installation activities to a first set of one or more target groups. At least a portion of the installation activities are evaluated in the first set of one or more target groups. A rollout, including installation activities, to a second set of one or more target groups is begun if the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups meet predetermined criteria.

Abstract: The description of an update package for updating a software application in an offline synchronization operation is presented. The update package includes update information for a plurality of updates. The update information includes a reference to the update payload and the relationships of the present update to other updates in the update package. A system for updating a software application on a client computer is also presented. An update agent includes a communication module and a media module. The communication module is configured to communicate with both an update source over a communication network, or the media module. The media module obtains update information from computer-readable media. The communication module communicates with the update source or the media module in the same manner.

Abstract: A tag-based structure for communicating software update metadata information to client computers and to update service nodes is presented. An update metadata file includes: an identifier tag including a software update identifier that uniquely identifies the software update; zero or more general properties tags that carry general property information relating the software update; zero or more localized properties tags that carry localized property information organized according to language; zero or more relationship tags that identify dependency relationships the current software update, as described in the update metadata, has with other software updates; zero or more applicability rules tags that carry information for determining the applicability of the software update to a client computer; zero or more files tags that carry information relating to the software update's payload files; and handler specific data tags that carry information directed to the software handler for installing the software update.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the installation of files on a computing device are provided. A client computing device obtains installation information identifying a version of a baseline installation component stored on the client computing device. The installation information also includes an installation component delta patch that is merged with the baseline installation component to generate an updated installation component. The updated installation component is utilized to install one or more files on the client computing device. Upon completion of the installation, the updated installation component can be deleted.

Abstract: A system and method for updating one or more files on a computing device are provided. A client computing device obtains update information including an index identifying particular delta patches with specific versions of installed files. Upon selecting which of the applicable updates will be implemented, an update agent on the client computing device performs an inventory to identify which version a file to be updated is installed on the machine. The update agent selects a corresponding delta patch and transmits the request to an update service.