Target application grouping function considering software updates on application execution control system

In recent years, most large-scale educational institutions like universities have had a large number of PCs for education (educational PCs). Since they are usually identically configured using a centralized management system with image distribution, it is difficult to flexibly provide different environments according to various conditions. To solve this problem, we have previously developed a system (traditional system) to provide individual application software environment virtually on the same educational PC. It controls the execution of application software based on user ID and/or user's location. The traditional system, however, cannot handle updates of target application software. This is because the traditional system identifies target application software using the hash of its execution file. It also cannot support grouping of target application software. This paper proposes a new function which detects updates of application software and reconstructs execution rules. With the newly proposed grouping function considering software updates, different versions or types of application software can be managed efficiently with the proposed system.