IP Library Granted Patent US 12,386,715
Granted Patent B2
US 12,386,715 · App. 18/384,335 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Selective failover between a plurality of devices concurrently running an application

Inventors: Zachary A. Silverstein (Georgetown, TX); Melanie Dauber (Oceanside, NY); Jacob Ryan Jepperson (St. Paul, MN); Vinicius Maidana Alves (São José do Rio Preto, BR); Jeremy R. Fox (Georgetown, TX)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06F11/2023G06F11/0766G06F11/2041G06F11/2048
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,386,715
App. No.
18/384,335
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes identifying a plurality of user devices determined to run a predetermined software version and a predetermined application. A first of the identified user devices is assigned to be a primary user device, and a second of the identified user devices is assigned to be a first backup user device. In response to a determination that the first identified user device launches the predetermined application, the second identified user device is caused to launch the predetermined application. In response to a determination that the first identified user device experiences a predetermined interruption event while using the predetermined application, the second identified user device is assigned to be the primary user device and the first identified user device is assigned to be the first backup user device.

Claims (59)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of user devices determined to run a predetermined software version and a predetermined application;

assigning a first of the identified user devices to be a primary user device;

assigning a second of the identified user devices to be a first backup user device;

in response to a determination that the first identified user device launches the predetermined application, causing the second identified user device to launch the predetermined application;

in response to a determination that the first identified user device experiences a predetermined interruption event while using the predetermined application:

assigning the second identified user device to be the primary user device, and

assigning the first identified user device to be the first backup user device; and

in response to a determination that the first identified user device recovers from the predetermined interruption event: assigning the first identified user device to be the primary user device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

in response to a determination that the second identified user device is not available for a scheduled use of the predetermined application by the first identified user device, causing a notification to be sent to the first identified user device,

wherein the notification indicates that the second identified user device is not available.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , comprising: in response to the determination that the second identified user device is not available for the scheduled use of the predetermined application by the first identified user device, causing the notification to be sent to a third of the identified user devices.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

assigning a third of the identified user devices to be a second backup user device; and

in response to the determination that the first identified user device launches the predetermined application, causing the third identified user device to launch the predetermined application.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , comprising:

in response to a determination that the second identified user device experiences a second predetermined interruption event while using the predetermined application and while the first identified user device is assigned as the first backup user device:

assigning the third identified user device to be the primary user device, and

assigning the second identified user device to be the second backup user device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the assignments are performed automatically, wherein the identified user devices are associated with the same user profile, wherein the identified user devices are determined to be available in response to a determination that the identified user devices are within a predetermined proximity of one another.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined interruption event is selected from the group consisting of: a loss of network connection, a power outage, a restart, an audio failure, a software failure, and an update.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising: in response to the determination that the first identified user device recovers from the predetermined interruption event: assigning the second identified user device to be the first backup user device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising: in response to the first identified user device being assigned to be the primary user device, outputting data associated with the first identified user device's use of the predetermined application to an off-site user device, wherein data associated with the second identified user device's use of the predetermined application is not output to the off-site user device while the first identified user device is assigned to be the primary user device and the second identified user device is assigned to be the first backup user device; and outputting, to the off-site user device, a notification of a delay in response to the determination that the first identified user device experiences the predetermined interruption event.

10. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to:

identify a plurality of user devices determined to run a predetermined software version and a predetermined application;

assign a first of the identified user devices to be a primary user device;

assign a second of the identified user devices to be a first backup user device;

in response to a determination that the first identified user device launches the predetermined application, cause the second identified user device to launch the predetermined application;

in response to a determination that the first identified user device experiences a predetermined interruption event while using the predetermined application:

assign the second identified user device to be the primary user device, and assign the first identified user device to be the first backup user device; and

in response to a determination that the first identified user device recovers from the predetermined interruption event: assign the first identified user device to be the primary user device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , the program instructions readable and/or executable by the controller to cause the controller to:

in response to a determination that the second identified user device is not available for a scheduled use of the predetermined application by the first identified user device, cause a notification to be sent to the first identified user device,

wherein the notification indicates that the second identified user device is not available.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , the program instructions readable and/or executable by the controller to cause the controller to: in response to the determination that the second identified user device is not available for the scheduled use of the predetermined application by the first identified user device, cause the notification to be sent to a third of the identified user devices.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 , the program instructions readable and/or executable by the controller to cause the controller to:

assign a third of the identified user devices to be a second backup user device; and

in response to the determination that the first identified user device launches the predetermined application, cause the third identified user device to launch the predetermined application.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , the program instructions readable and/or executable by the controller to cause the controller to:

in response to a determination that the second identified user device experiences a second predetermined interruption event while using the predetermined application and while the first identified user device is assigned as the first backup user device:

assign the third identified user device to be the primary user device, and assign the second identified user device to be the second backup user device.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the assignments are performed automatically, wherein the identified user devices are associated with the same user profile, wherein the identified user devices are determined to be available in response to a determination that the identified user devices are within a predetermined proximity of one another.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined interruption event is selected from the group consisting of: a loss of network connection, a power outage, a restart, an audio failure, a software failure, and an update.

17. The computer program product of claim 10 , the program instructions readable and/or executable by the controller to cause the controller to: in response to the determination that the first identified user device recovers from the predetermined interruption event: assign the second identified user device to be the first backup user device.

18. The computer program product of claim 10 , the program instructions readable and/or executable by the controller to cause the controller to: in response to the first identified user device being assigned to be the primary user device, output data associated with the first identified user device's use of the predetermined application to an off-site user device, wherein data associated with the second identified user device's use of the predetermined application is not output to the off-site user device while the first identified user device is assigned to be the primary user device and the second identified user device is assigned to be the first backup user device; and output, to the off-site user device, a notification of a delay in response to the determination that the first identified user device experiences the predetermined interruption event.

19. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:

identify a plurality of user devices determined to run a predetermined software version and a predetermined application;

assign a first of the identified user devices to be a primary user device;

assign a second of the identified user devices to be a first backup user device;

in response to a determination that the first identified user device launches the predetermined application, cause the second identified user device to launch the predetermined application;

in response to a determination that the first identified user device experiences a predetermined interruption event while using the predetermined application:

assign the second identified user device to be the primary user device, and assign the first identified user device to be the first backup user device; and

in response to a determination that the first identified user device recovers from the predetermined interruption event: assign the first identified user device to be the primary user device.

20. The system of claim 19 , the logic being configured to:

in response to a determination that the second identified user device is not available for a scheduled use of the predetermined application by the first identified user device, cause a notification to be sent to the first identified user device,

wherein the notification indicates that the second identified user device is not available.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2023
From: SILVERSTEIN, ZACHARY A.; DAUBER, MELANIE; JEPPERSON, JACOB RYAN; ALVES, VINICIUS MAIDANA; FOX, JEREMY R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065403/0983 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250138964A1 · May 1, 2025
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