Transferring configuration data from a public cloud server and applying onto a mobile client
View Patent ↗Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining a configuration file over a public network and applying a persistent configuration change to a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter running on a mobile client and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the mobile client that facilitates locating a remote repository server containing the configuration file. The retrieval module facilitate obtaining the configuration file over the public network from the remote repository server while the write-filter is enabled, while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the mobile client that, each time the mobile client boots up, applies a configuration change to the windows-based embedded image while the write-filter is enabled, based on the configuration file or another configuration file.
1. An apparatus for obtaining a configuration file over a public network and applying a configuration change to a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter running on a mobile client and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client, the apparatus comprising:
a memory comprising a windows-based embedded image including a write-filter configured to prevent a change to the windows-based embedded image from persisting across a reboot of the mobile client;
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to boot the windows-based embedded image;
a retrieval module of the mobile client configured to facilitate locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file, the retrieval module configured to facilitate obtaining the configuration file over the public network from the remote repository server while the write-filter is enabled, while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client;
a reset check module of the mobile client configured to check a reset tag in the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module and determine, based on the reset tag in the obtained configuration file, whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image; and
an apply settings module of the mobile client configured to automatically apply a temporary configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module in response to the processor booting the windows-based embedded image to allow the temporary configuration change to appear, to a user of the mobile client, to be persistent across the reboot of the mobile client;
wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications for the mobile client;
wherein upon a determination by the reset check module that the previous state is to be reset, the apply settings module is configured to apply a default configuration based on a default configuration file to the windows-based embedded image and to subsequently apply the temporary configuration change based on the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module to the windows-based embedded image; and
wherein upon a determination by the reset check module that the previous state is not to be reset, the apply settings module is configured to apply the temporary configuration change based on the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retrieval module of the mobile client is configured to facilitate obtaining a configuration file over the public network from the remote repository server each time the mobile client boots up, and wherein the apply settings module is configured to apply the temporary configuration change to the windows-based embedded image while the write-filter is enabled.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the remote repository server is a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, and the retrieval module is configured to facilitate obtaining the configuration file securely using hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS).
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after each reboot of the mobile client is initiated, the retrieval module is configured to automatically facilitate locating a repository server containing a configuration file and facilitate obtaining a configuration file.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apply settings module is configured to, while the write-filter is enabled, facilitate saving the configuration file into a storage area that is to be retained on the mobile client across a reboot of the mobile client.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after a reboot of the mobile client is initiated, the apply settings module is configured to automatically apply, without a user's intervention, the temporary configuration change based on the configuration file saved in a storage area that is retained on the mobile client across a reboot of the mobile client, to allow the temporary configuration change to appear, to the user of the mobile client, to be persistent across a reboot of the mobile client.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration file comprises an XML configuration file.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retrieval module is configured to obtain address information of the repository server from a local registry of the mobile client.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the another configuration file is a default configuration file saved in a storage area that is retained on the mobile client across a reboot of the mobile client.
10. A method for obtaining a configuration file over a public network and applying a configuration change to a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter running on a mobile client and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client, the method comprising:
facilitating locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file;
facilitating obtaining, at the mobile client, the configuration file over the public network from the remote repository server while a write-filter is enabled, while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client;
checking a reset tag in the obtained configuration file and determining, based on the reset tag in the obtained configuration file, whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image;
determining that the previous state is to be reset and applying a default configuration based on a default configuration file to the windows-based embedded image and subsequently applying the temporary configuration change, based on the configuration file obtained by a retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image; and
determining that the previous state is not to be reset and applying the temporary configuration change based on the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image;
wherein the windows-based embedded image comprises the write-filter configured to prevent one or more changes applied to the windows-based embedded image with the write-filter enabled, from persisting across a reboot of the mobile client;
wherein the temporary configuration change is automatically applied to the windows-based embedded image in response to a processor booting the windows-based embedded image in order to allow the temporary configuration change to appear, to a user of the mobile client, to be persistent across the reboot of the mobile client; and
wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications for the mobile client.
11. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processing system to perform a method for obtaining a configuration file over a public network and applying a configuration change to a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter running on a mobile client and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client, the instructions comprising code for:
facilitating locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file;
facilitating obtaining, at the mobile client, the configuration file over the public network from the remote repository server while a write-filter is enabled, while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client;
checking a reset tag in the obtained configuration file and determining, based on the reset tag in the obtained configuration file, whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image;
determining that the previous state is to be reset and applying a default configuration based on a default configuration file to the windows-based embedded image and subsequently applying the temporary configuration change, based on the configuration file obtained by a retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image; and
determining that the previous state is not to be reset and applying the temporary configuration change based on the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image;
wherein the windows-based embedded image comprises the write-filter configured to prevent one or more changes applied to the windows-based embedded image with the write-filter enabled, from persisting across a reboot of the mobile client;
wherein the temporary configuration change is automatically applied to the windows-based embedded image in response to a processor booting the windows-based embedded image in order to allow the temporary configuration change to appear, to a user of the mobile client, to be persistent across the reboot of the mobile client; and
wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications for the mobile client.
12. An apparatus for obtaining a configuration file over a public network and applying a configuration change to a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter running on a mobile client and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client, the apparatus comprising:
means for facilitating locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file;
means for facilitating obtaining, at the mobile client, the configuration file over the public network from the remote repository server while the write-filter is enabled, while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the mobile client;
means for checking a reset tag in the obtained configuration file and means for determining, based on the reset tag in the obtained configuration file, whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image;
means for determining that the previous state is to be reset and applying a default configuration based on a default configuration file to the windows-based embedded image and subsequently applying the temporary configuration change, based on the configuration file obtained by a retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image; and
means for determining that the previous state is not to be reset and applying the temporary configuration change based on the configuration file obtained by the retrieval module, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image;
wherein the windows-based embedded image comprises the write-filter configured to prevent one or more changes applied to the windows-based embedded image with the write-filter enabled, from persisting across a reboot of the mobile client;
wherein the temporary configuration change is automatically applied to the windows-based embedded image in response to a processor booting the windows-based embedded image in order to allow the temporary configuration change to appear, to a user of the mobile client, to be persistent across the reboot of the mobile client; and
wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications for the mobile client.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration change comprises one or more of the following: a configuration change to a remote desktop connection, a configuration change to a device of the mobile client, or a configuration change to the operating system of the mobile client.