Patent ID: 8495613

Claim:
A method in a computer system with a processor and a memory for guaranteeing execution of content images, the method comprising: for each of a plurality of content images, downloading the content image and a content image policy for the content image, the content image policy specifying attributes specific to the content image including approximate execution time for that content image and indicating whether to obey the or not obey a service window policy, the approximate execution time being an estimate of the amount of time required for the content image to execute, each content image having its own content image policy; defining a service window having a start time and an end time, the service window defining a time period during which content images are allowed to execute as a service window policy; after the service window is defined, under the control of an update client executing on the computer system, receiving an indication of whether the service window is enabled or disabled; determining whether the service window is enabled or disabled; when the service window is enabled, for each of a plurality of content images, obtaining the content image and the content image policy of the content image for execution on the computer system in accordance with the content image policy; determining whether the content image policy indicates to obey the service window policy; when the content image policy indicates to obey the service window policy, determining by the computer system whether the service window is available for executing the content image, the service window being available when a present time is later than the start time of the service window and time from the present time to the end time of the service window is sufficient for the content image to execute based on the approximate execution time; and upon determining that the service window is available, starting execution of the content image by the computer system so that execution of the content image starts and completes within the service window; determining whether the content image is still executing after the end time of the service window; and upon determining that the content image is still executing after the end time of the service window, terminating execution of the content image; and when the content image policy indicates to not obey the service window policy, starting execution of the content image; and when the service window is disabled, suppressing the considering of the service window for execution of the content image.