Patent ID: 8700888
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A specific-purpose local client for self-provisioning of configuration and for obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client, the specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter, the specific-purpose local client comprising: a configuration history memory unit configured to store a plurality of extensible markup language (XML) configuration files, wherein the plurality of XML configuration files comprise a previous XML configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the windows-based embedded image, wherein the configuration history memory unit is in a persistent storage area of the specific-purpose local client to allow the plurality of XML configuration files to be retained on the specific-purpose local client when the specific-purpose local client is shut down; a retrieval module configured, for each boot up of the specific-purpose local client, to facilitate automatically locating a remote repository server containing a new XML configuration file, to facilitate automatically obtaining the new XML configuration file from the remote repository server over a network while the write-filter is enabled, and to facilitate automatically obtaining the previous XML configuration file from the configuration history memory unit; a configuration comparison module configured to compare the new XML configuration file with the previous XML configuration file and to determine whether to save the new XML configuration file into the configuration history memory unit based at least on the comparison; and an apply settings module configured to apply, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a new configuration change and the previous configuration change based on the comparison while the write-filter is enabled, wherein the new configuration change is based on the new XML configuration file, wherein the windows-based embedded image comprises the write-filter to have one or more changes applied to the windows-based embedded image with the write-filter enabled, be discarded when the specific-purpose local client is shut down, wherein the one of the new configuration change and the previous configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image on the specific-purpose local client, wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose, and wherein each of the new configuration change and the previous 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 specific-purpose local client, and a configuration change to the operating system of the specific-purpose local client.