Ross W Doxey

US Patent:

59095440, Jun 1, 1999

Filed:

Aug 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/518160

Inventors:

Micheil M. Anderson - Orem UT
Howard K. Bangerter - Highland UT
Marlon T. Borup - Orem UT
James E. Byer - American Fork UT
Darin L. Cable - Spanish Fork UT
Ross W. Doxey - Orem UT
Richard S. Graham - Springville UT
Todd D. Hale - American Fork UT
Britt J. Hawley - Orem UT
Richard W. Lamplugh - Orem UT
Rick L. Pray - Woodland Hills UT

Assignee:

Novell Inc. - Provo UT

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

39520038

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for temporarily slaving and configuring a plurality of hardware resources such as computers, microprocessor-based devices, and the like, over a network, and then emancipating the resources to operate independently. Resources or targets may be enslaved at an operating system level. A controller may configure a plurality of hardware resources such as computers, microprocessor-based devices, and the like, to operate autonomously over a network. Resources or targets may be enslaved at an operating system level, configured with commands from a controller, and emancipated to operate independently. Emancipated resources may download applications, read and write files, communicate with other devices, and otherwise operate as independent computers. Data corresponding to test instructions may be downloaded from, and data corresponding to results may be recorded and saved on, a network server by a resource operating independently. Upon completion of a test or a series of tests, a resource may again report back to a controller, be enslaved and reconfigured, and be emancipated to operate other test software.