Patents by Inventor Robert M. Fries

Robert M. Fries 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: 10725769
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: William L. Scheidel, Robert M. Fries, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Alan C. Shi, James P. Finnigan
  • Patent number: 10540159
    Abstract: Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Anders B. Vinberg, Robert M. Fries, Kevin Grealish, Galen C. Hunt, Aamer Hydrie, Edwin R. Lassettre, Rob Mensching, Geoffrey Outhred, John M. Parchem, Bassam Tabbara, Rene Antonio Vega, Robert V. Welland, Eric J. Winner, Jeffrey A. Woolsey
  • Publication number: 20190205118
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: William L. SCHEIDEL, Robert M. FRIES, Srivatsan PARTHASARATHY, Alan C. SHI, James P. FINNIGAN
  • Patent number: 10261776
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: William L. Scheidel, Robert M. Fries, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Alan C. Shi, James P. Finnigan
  • Patent number: 10114630
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for using known update technologies to automatically identify the updates installed on a physical machine prior to facsimile creation, to locate the update packages from an update server, and to download them to the machine performing the facsimile creation. The use of update technologies enables precise identification of the updates that affect the defined set of files requiring replacement, and thus minimizes the number of updates that need to be downloaded. In addition, the desired set of replacement files are extracted and cached to allow for their reuse during subsequent facsimile creations using either the same or different physical or virtual machine as the source. Downloading the minimal set of updates and caching them for reuse eliminates the redundant downloads of updates and results in a shorter time for facsimile creation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatasubrahmanyan Raman, Natalya V. Varava, Sergey Royt, Robert M. Fries
  • Publication number: 20180285093
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: William L. SCHEIDEL, Robert M. FRIES, Srivatsan PARTHASARATHY, Alan C. SHI, James P. FINNIGAN
  • Patent number: 9952852
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: William L. Scheidel, Robert M. Fries, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Alan C. Shi, James P. Finnigan
  • Publication number: 20180095779
    Abstract: Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Anders B. Vinberg, Robert M. Fries, Kevin Grealish, Galen C. Hunt, Aamer Hydrie, Edwin R. Lassettre, Rob Mensching, Geoffrey Outhred, John M. Parchem, Bassam Tabbara, Rene Antonio Vega, Robert V. Welland, Eric J. Winner, Jeffrey A. Woolsey
  • Patent number: 9811368
    Abstract: Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Anders B. Vinberg, Robert M. Fries, Kevin Grealish, Galen C. Hunt, Aamer Hydrie, Edwin R. Lassettre, Rob Mensching, Geoffrey Outhred, John M. Parchem, Bassam Tabbara, Rene Antonio Vega, Robert V. Welland, Eric J. Winner, Jeffrey A. Woolsey
  • Patent number: 9501124
    Abstract: An optimized placement of virtual machines may be determined by optimizing an energy cost for a group of virtual machines in various configurations. For various hardware platforms, an energy cost per performance value may be determined. Based on the performance usage of a group of virtual machines, a total power cost may be determined and used for optimization. In some implementations, an optimized placement may include operating a group of virtual machines in a manner that does not exceed a total energy cost for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Robert M. Fries
  • Patent number: 9430947
    Abstract: Technology for determining a point-to-point separation between a first ship (e.g., guide ship) and a second ship (e.g., following ship) is disclosed. One approach can include maritime autonomous station keeping (MASK) interactive device comprising a communication module and a processor. The communication module can be configured to receive a following ship reference point (SRP) generated by at least one differential global positioning system (DGPS) receiver on a following ship relative to a guide SRP generated by at least one DGPS receiver on a guide ship. The processor can be configured to generate a plurality of fixed following reference edge points (REPs) relative to the following SRP representing a following ship hull, generate a plurality of fixed guide REPs relative to the guide SRP representing a guide ship hull, and monitor a plurality of distances between the plurality of following REPs and the plurality of guide REPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James J. Richardson, Robert M. Fries, Robert C. Saunders
  • Patent number: 9317270
    Abstract: Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Anders B. Vinberg, Robert M. Fries, Kevin Grealish, Galen C. Hunt, Aamer Hydrie, Edwin R. Lassettre, Rob Mensching, Geoffrey Outhred, John M. Parchem, Bassam Tabbara, Rene Antonio Vega, Robert V. Welland, Eric J. Winner, Jeffrey A. Woolsey
  • Publication number: 20160077862
    Abstract: Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Anders B. Vinberg, Robert M. Fries, Kevin Grealish, Galen C. Hunt, Aamer Hydrie, Edwin R. Lassettre, Rob Mensching, Geoffrey Outhred, John M. Parchem, Bassam Tabbara, Rene Antonio Vega, Robert V. Welland, Eric J. Winner, Jeffrey A. Woolsey
  • Publication number: 20160026457
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: WILLIAM L. SCHEIDEL, ROBERT M. FRIES, SRIVATSAN PARTHASARATHY, ALAN C. SHI, JAMES P. FINNIGAN
  • Patent number: 9152402
    Abstract: Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC.
    Inventors: William L. Scheidel, Robert M. Fries, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Alan C. Shi, James P. Finnigan
  • Patent number: 8990160
    Abstract: Indexing functionality can be shifted to one or more backup servers in a backup system. In one implementation, a backup server can receive one or more data backups from one or more production servers. The backup server can then build or create one or more indexes at the backup server, which correspond to the contents of the one or more data backups. In one implementation, one or more management agents can also identify any appropriate components that might be needed to read the backup data at the backup server pursuant to building the one or more indexes. In either case, the one or more indexes can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as to manage data usage quotas at the one or more production servers, as well as to retrieve data from the backup server based on specific file requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Vijay Sen, Robert M. Fries, Karandeep Singh Anand
  • Patent number: 8977867
    Abstract: A virtual machine comprises a unique identifier that is associated with one or more encryption keys. A management server encrypts the virtual machine's virtual hard disk(s) using the one or more associated encryption keys. The management server further provides the one or more encryption keys to a limited number of one or more servers in a system. Only those one or more servers that have been provided the one or more encryption keys can be used to load, access, and/or operate the virtual machine. The management server can thus differentiate which virtual machines can be operated on which servers by differentiating which servers can receive which encryption keys. In one implementation, a management server encrypts all virtual machines in the system, but encrypts virtual machines with sensitive data with a limited set of encryption keys, and further provides those encryption keys to a limited set of trusted servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dharshan Rangegowda, Robert M. Fries
  • Patent number: 8930315
    Abstract: A virtual machine may be discovered through a directory service or via an agent that is installed on the host operating system that is running the virtual machine. If the agent is installed on the virtual machine, the agent monitors changes to a set of protected volumes on the virtual machine. If the agent is installed on the host, the agent monitors changes to the protected volumes, which may contain one or more virtual servers on the host. Periodically, these changes from the host or the virtual server are sent to a data protection server. The data protection server updates its replicas of protected volumes with the sent changes. Versions of files on a data protection server corresponding to a volume of a virtual server may be restored to the virtual machine, to another machine, or may be viewed from the data protection server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nikhil Vijay Chandhok, Michael L. Michael, Robert M. Fries
  • Patent number: 8869146
    Abstract: In embodiments of virtual machine migration, a virtual machine migration system includes a storage array that maintains data. A first host computer includes at least one virtual machine with a virtual drive that is mapped to a logical unit number (LUN) of the storage array, and the LUN corresponds to a LUN mask that associates the LUN with the first host computer. A virtual manager is executable on the first host computer, and is implemented to unmask the LUN to migrate the virtual machine from the first host computer to a second host computer that is configurable as a host of the virtual machine. The virtual manager can log the first host computer out of the LUN and the second host computer can log into the LUN to access the data in the storage array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dharshan Rangegowda, Robert M. Fries
  • Publication number: 20140229948
    Abstract: An invention is disclosed for configuring a VM of a deployment to be managed by a management system. In an embodiment, a deployment manager of a deployment instructs a host to create a VM. The VM is created with a base management agent that exposes interfaces to the management system that enable the management system to install management agents on the VM. The deployment manager installs a management agent that corresponds to a management system on the VM, and registers the VM with the management system. The management system may then manage the VM by communicating with the installed management agent on the VM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Fries