Coordinating a computing activity across applications and devices having multiple operation modes in an orchestration framework for connected devices
Aspects described herein allow multiple devices to function as a coherent whole, allowing each device to take on distinct functions that are complementary to one another. Aspects described herein also allow the devices function as a coherent whole when interconnected devices and their respective applications are configured to operate in various operation modes, when management policies are employed to control the operation of the interconnected devices and their respective applications, when transferring content between the interconnected devices and storing the content at those devices, when obtaining access credentials for the interconnected devices that enable the devices to access enterprise resources, when a policy agent applies management policies to control operation of and interaction between the interconnected devices, and when the interconnected devices are used to access an enterprise application store.
1. A method comprising:
interconnecting a plurality of computing devices through an orchestration framework configured to distribute functionality of an application residing at a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices across one or more computing devices of the plurality of computing devices;
receiving, at the orchestration framework from the first computing device, a request to perform, at a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices, at least a portion of a computing activity initiated at the application residing at the first computing device;
determining, by the orchestration framework, whether the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity based, at least in part, on a comparison of a first operation mode of the first computing device to a second operation mode of the second computing device;
instructing, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to perform the portion of the computing activity responsive to a determination that the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity; and
wherein the first operation mode and the second operation mode are one of a plurality of operation modes that include a managed operation mode wherein interaction with operation system services, other applications, and remote computing resources are subject to a management policy and an unmanaged operation mode wherein interaction with operation system services, other applications, and remote computing resources are not subject to the management policy.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining, by the orchestration framework, that the first operation mode is the unmanaged operation mode and that the second operation mode is the managed operation mode; and
instructing, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to perform the portion of the computing activity initiated at the application residing at the first computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining, by the orchestration framework, that the first operation mode is the managed operation mode and that the second operation mode is the unmanaged operation mode;
instructing, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to change the second operation mode to the managed operation mode; and
instructing, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to perform the portion of the computing activity after the second operation mode is changed to the managed operation mode.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
identifying a second application residing at the second computing device that is capable of performing the portion of the computing activity;
determining that the second application is in the unmanaged operation mode;
instructing, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to change the second application to the managed operation mode; and
instructing, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to perform the portion of the computing activity using the second application after the second application is changed to the managed operation mode.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the computing activity performed at the second computing device includes presentation of content associated with the computing activity.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the computing activity performed at the second computing device includes receipt of input associated with the computing activity.
7. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors;
memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the apparatus to
interconnect a plurality of computing devices through an orchestration framework configured to distribute functionality of an application residing at a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices across one or more computing devices of the plurality of computing devices,
receive, at the orchestration framework from the first computing device, a request to perform, at a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices, at least a portion of a computing activity initiated at the application residing at the first computing device,
determine, by the orchestration framework, whether the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity based, at least in part, on a comparison of a first operation mode of the first computing device to a second operation mode of the second computing device, and
instruct, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to perform the portion of the computing activity responsive to a determination that the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity; and
wherein the first operation mode and the second operation mode are one of a plurality of operation modes that include a managed operation mode wherein interaction with operation system services, other applications, and remote computing resources are subject to a management policy and an unmanaged operation mode wherein interaction with operation system services, other applications, and remote computing resources are not subject to a management policy.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:
determine, by the orchestration framework, that the first operation mode of the first computing device is the managed operation mode;
determine, by the orchestration framework, that the second operation mode of the second computing device is the unmanaged operation mode; and
instruct, by the orchestration framework, the second computing device to change the second operation mode to the managed operation mode before performing the portion of the computing activity.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
determining whether the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity comprises applying a management policy that indicates when performance is permitted based on the plurality of operation modes.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:
the management policy is configured such that
the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity when the first operation mode of the first computing device is the same as the second operation mode of the second computing device,
the second computing device is permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity when the first operation mode of the first computing device is the unmanaged operation mode and the second operation mode of the second computing device is the managed operation mode and
the second computing device is not permitted to perform the portion of the computing activity when the first operation mode of the first computing device is the managed operation mode and the second operation mode of the second computing device is the unmanaged operation mode.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the portion of the computing activity performed at the second computing device includes at least one of a presentation of content associated with the computing activity, a receipt of input associated with the computing activity, and combinations thereof.
12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to:
connect to one or more computing devices through an orchestration framework configured to distribute functionality of an application residing at the computing device across one or more of the one or more computing devices;
initiate a computing activity at the application;
receive an indication of a selected computing device to perform at least a portion of the computing activity;
display a list of computing devices available for selection as the selected computing device wherein the list of computing devices is based on an operation mode of the computing device and the operation mode is one of a plurality of operation modes that include a managed operation mode wherein interaction with operation system services, other applications, and remote computing resources are subject to a management policy and an unmanaged operation mode wherein interaction with operation system services, other applications, and remote computing resources are not subject to a management policy; and
transmit, to the orchestration framework, a request to instruct the selected computing device to perform the portion of the computing activity.
13. The computer-readable media of claim 12 wherein:
the list of computing devices includes at least one selectable computing device having an operation mode that is the same as the operation mode of the computing device; and
the list of computing devices excludes any computing device having an operation mode that is not the same as the operation mode of the computing device.
14. The computer-readable media of claim 12 wherein:
the operation mode of the computing device is the managed operation mode; and
the list of computing devices includes at least one selectable computing device having an operation mode that is the managed operation mode.
15. The computer-readable media of claim 12 wherein:
the operation mode of the computing device is the unmanaged operation mode; and
the list of computing devices includes at least one selectable computing device having an operation mode that is the managed operation mode or the unmanaged operation mode.
16. The computer-readable media of claim 12 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing device to:
launch a second application responsive to receipt, from the orchestration framework, of an instruction that indicates a desired operation mode for the second application;
set an operation mode of the second application to the desired operation mode; and
transmit, to the orchestration framework, a notification that indicates the second application has been launched with the desired operation mode.
17. The computer-readable media of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing device to:
perform at least a portion of another computing activity initiated at another computing device of the one or more computing devices using the second application; and
wherein the portion of the other computing activity performed by the second application includes at least one of a presentation of content associated with the computing activity, a receipt of input associated with the computing activity, and combinations thereof.
18. The computer-readable media of claim 12 wherein the orchestration framework is configured to interconnect the computing device and the one or more computing devices via at least one of a client-server communication session, a peer-to-peer communication session, and combinations thereof.