{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853978","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853978","title":"Domain join and managed directory support for virtual computing environments","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2017-02-03T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","H04L"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"A virtual computing environment service may receive a request from a customer to provision a virtual computing environment and join the virtual computing environment to a managed directory. The virtual computing environment service may provision the virtual computing environment and uses a set of administrator credentials from the customer and a set of credentials corresponding to the environment to access the managed directory and request joining of the environment to the managed directory. In response, the managed directory may create a computer account corresponding to the environment and which enables the environment to be used to access the managed directory. The virtual computing environment service may then enable the customer to specify one or more users that may utilize the virtual computing environment to access the managed directory."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent addresses the challenge of manually configuring virtual machines to join a domain, a process that is both time-consuming and prone to errors. The core innovation is an automated system that simplifies the integration of virtual computing environments with managed directory services. This system involves a virtual computing environment service that receives a request to provision a virtual environment and join it to a managed directory. The service then uses administrator credentials and environment-specific credentials to access the managed directory and request the environment's inclusion. In response, the managed directory creates a computer account, enabling the environment to access its resources. The customer can then specify users authorized to utilize the virtual environment for managed directory access.\n\nThe problem being solved is the manual and inefficient process of joining virtual machines to a domain. This process often requires significant IT resources and can lead to inconsistencies and security vulnerabilities. The technology automates this process, reducing administrative overhead and improving security. The key technical approach involves using APIs and protocols to interact with the managed directory, creating computer accounts, and configuring network settings.\n\nThe business value lies in the reduced operational costs and improved security posture. By automating the domain join process, organizations can save time and money, while also reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. The technology is applicable to a wide range of industries that rely on virtual computing environments, including healthcare, finance, and education. The market opportunity is significant, as more enterprises move their workloads to the cloud and rely on managed services to handle their IT infrastructure. The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent enables enterprises to realize the full potential of virtualization by simplifying the integration process and enhancing security.","layman_explanation":"The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent addresses a common challenge in modern IT infrastructure: efficiently managing virtual computing environments within a corporate network. Virtual computing environments, such as virtual machines, offer flexibility and scalability, but integrating them into an existing network and ensuring they adhere to corporate security policies can be complex and time-consuming.\n\n**1. What Problem Does This Solve?**\n\nImagine a company with hundreds or thousands of virtual computers. Each of these virtual computers needs to be connected to the company's network and managed according to its security policies. Traditionally, this process involves manually configuring each virtual computer, which is error-prone and requires significant IT resources. Existing solutions often fall short because they lack automation and centralized management, leading to inconsistencies and security vulnerabilities.\n\n**2. How Does It Work?**\n\nThis patent automates the process of joining virtual computers to a corporate network (domain) and managing them through a central directory. Think of it like this: the virtual computers are new employees who need to be added to the company's employee directory and given the proper access rights. Instead of manually adding each employee to the directory, this system automatically adds them and assigns them the correct permissions.\n\nThe system works by using a virtual computing environment service that communicates with a managed directory. When a new virtual computer is created, the service automatically requests that it be added to the managed directory. The managed directory then creates a computer account for the virtual computer, which allows it to access network resources and adhere to corporate security policies. The system also allows administrators to easily manage user access and permissions for the virtual computers.\n\n**3. Why Does This Matter?**\n\nThe market impact of this technology is significant. By automating the domain join process, companies can save time and money, reduce the risk of security breaches, and improve compliance with regulatory requirements. The competitive advantages include reduced administrative overhead, improved security posture, and simplified compliance management. The potential ROI is substantial, as companies can realize significant cost savings by automating the management of their virtual environments.\n\n**4. What's Next?**\n\nFuture applications of this technology include integration with cloud-based directory services and enhanced security features, such as multi-factor authentication. The market adoption timeline is likely to be driven by the increasing adoption of virtualization and cloud computing. Investment implications include opportunities for venture capital firms to invest in companies that are developing and commercializing this technology.","technical_analysis":"The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent presents a system designed to streamline the integration of virtual machines into managed directory environments. The architecture hinges on a virtual computing environment service acting as an intermediary between the customer's request and the managed directory. Upon receiving a request, the service leverages a set of administrator credentials provided by the customer, combined with environment-specific credentials, to authenticate with the managed directory. This authentication step is crucial for establishing a secure connection and gaining the necessary privileges to modify the directory.\n\nOnce authenticated, the service requests the addition of the virtual environment to the managed directory. This request triggers the creation of a computer account within the directory, which serves as a representation of the virtual machine within the managed environment. This computer account is essential for enabling the virtual machine to access resources and services managed by the directory. The implementation relies heavily on established directory service protocols such as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) or Active Directory Services Interface (ADSI) for communication and management of the directory.\n\nThe algorithm driving this process involves several key steps: credential validation, secure connection establishment, computer account creation, and network configuration. Each step must be executed with precision to ensure the successful integration of the virtual machine. The system also incorporates error handling mechanisms to gracefully manage potential failures during the process, such as invalid credentials or network connectivity issues. Integration with existing IT infrastructure is also a critical consideration. The system must be able to seamlessly integrate with existing directory services, network configurations, and security policies.\n\nPerformance characteristics are also important. The system should be designed to minimize the overhead associated with the domain join process, ensuring that it does not negatively impact the performance of the virtual machine or the managed directory. This can be achieved through efficient coding practices, optimized network communication, and caching of frequently accessed data. The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent aims to simplify the management of virtual computing environments, enhance security, and reduce costs. The code-level implications involve implementing secure authentication mechanisms, efficient directory service communication, and robust error handling. The technology is a significant step forward in the automation of virtual environment management, paving the way for more efficient and secure cloud infrastructure.","business_analysis":"The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent addresses a significant pain point for organizations managing virtualized environments: the complexity and inefficiency of manually integrating virtual machines with directory services. The market opportunity for this technology is substantial, driven by the increasing adoption of virtualization and cloud computing across various industries. Organizations are seeking solutions to streamline their IT operations, reduce costs, and enhance security, all of which are addressed by this patent.\n\nThe competitive advantage of this technology lies in its ability to automate the domain join process, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing the risk of human error. This automation translates into significant cost savings for organizations, as it reduces the time and resources required to manage virtual environments. The revenue potential is also substantial, as the technology can be offered as a value-added service by cloud providers, managed service providers, and software vendors. The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent can be integrated into existing virtualization platforms, cloud management tools, and security solutions, creating new revenue streams for these vendors.\n\nThe business model for this technology could involve a subscription-based service, where organizations pay a recurring fee to access the automated domain join functionality. Alternatively, the technology could be licensed to virtualization vendors or cloud providers, who can then incorporate it into their offerings. The strategic positioning of this technology is also crucial. By partnering with leading virtualization vendors and cloud providers, the patent holder can gain access to a large customer base and accelerate market adoption.\n\nThe ROI projections for this technology are compelling. By reducing the time and resources required to manage virtual environments, organizations can achieve significant cost savings. The improved security posture also reduces the risk of costly data breaches and compliance violations. The Domain Join and Managed Directory Support for Virtual Computing Environments patent enables organizations to realize the full potential of virtualization by simplifying the integration process and enhancing security. The market opportunity, competitive advantages, revenue potential, business models, strategic positioning, and ROI projections all point to a bright future for this technology.","faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Domain Join & Managed Directory Support - Patent US-9853978","description":"Automate virtual environment management with domain join & managed directory support. Explore the patent's claims, technical analysis, and business implications.","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853978","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853978","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Domain join and managed directory support for virtual computing environments\" (US-9853978). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853978","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853978","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853978","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T18:34:30.951Z"}