UT-LabMan Computer Program
Background The management of microcomputer labs can be labor-intensive and costly for the facility provider, and time-consuming for the user who must wait at the facility for a workstation to become free.Invention Description In an effort to better manage and control campus microcomputer facilities and to provide students with a convenient method for accessing those facilities, we have developed a client-server-based software tool designed to manage the day-to-day tasks associated with a microcomputer laboratory. UT-LabMan requires a central server running Microsoft Windows NT. Remote administration can be handled from any Windows-based machine. UT-LabMan supports both Apple Macintosh and Windows-based workstations.
Benefits
UT-LabMan generates logs for workstation usage, login and logout actions, and station down time and user help requests. It supports the capability for web-based features such as facilities usage maps, which give users the ability to better plan visits to those facilities by avoiding peak usage times or choosing another facility with free workstations. In addition, statistics derived from logs generated by UT-LabMan provide management with robust information needed to make better business decisions relating to microcomputer facilities, and cost savings can be realized by making use of the tool's many facility management features to reduce the number of staff needed to manage one or multiple facilities.
Features
The UT-LabMan Server is the central controller of the computer lab system. It communicates with software running on the lab computers to monitor their status and perform any actions necessary. Its many tasks include coordinating the queuing and assignment of users on the waiting list to available workstations in the lab, tracking user help requests, and generating system log files. The UT-LabMan Console provides the user interface for the UT-LabMan Server and can be run on the UT-LabMan Server computer or on a remote computer. It is used to monitor and control the status of the lab and each workstation in it, and in administration of the waiting list and other special lab user lists. UT-LabMan WaitList is an optional application that allows users to sign up on a waiting list for a specific computer type, or to remove his or her name from the list. It also displays a map of the lab and can highlight the stations by group, so users can easily locate a desired computer type. UT-LabMan TV is an optional application that displays assignments and waiting list information. Although no TV is required, its information screens are designed to be easily readable at TV monitor resolutions and from a distance. The UT-LabMan Win95/NT Client software runs on Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 Workstation computers. When the workstation is not in use, the client software blocks access to the computer with a login screen that displays the status of the station. UT-LabMan Mac Client is the client application for Apple Macintosh workstations. It has all the functions of the Win 95/NT Client except the lock-down function.
Market Potential/Applications UT-LabMan has applications in any environment where computer laboratories must be monitored, such as educational institutions, libraries, and large industrial facilities.
Development Stage Commercial product
IP Status One U.S. copyrights registered
UT Researcher G. Morgan Watkins, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin J. Chris Cooley, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin Voonkong A. Chen, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin Chris W. Johnson, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin Larry G. Liberty, BSCS, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin Vince Bergbauer, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin J. Mike Morrison, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin Glenn K. Smith, Information Technology Services, The University of Texas at Austin
Type of Offer: Licensing
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