Managing a configuration of a docking station and computing peripherals

A computing environment, including:

• an information handling system comprising a processor having access to memory media storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations;
• an external computing device in communication with a docking station and the information handling system, the external computing device comprising a processor having access to memory media storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations;
• a plurality of peripheral devices;
• the docking station connected to the plurality of peripheral devices and the information handling system, the docking station comprising a processor having access to memory media storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations, comprising:
• identifying, at a first time, contextual data associated with the docking station and the computing peripherals coupled to the docking station, the docking station physically coupled with an information handling system, the computing peripherals including one or more of a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse, the contextual data associated with the computing peripherals including identifying information associated with the monitor, the keyboard, and the mouse;
• providing, to the external computing device, the contextual data, the docking station communicatively coupled with the external computing device over a network via a network interface at the docking station;
• wherein the external computing device is configured to perform operations:
• training, based on the contextual data, the configuration management model, including generating a configuration policy including configuration rules, the configuration rules for performing computer-implemented actions to automatically configure the docking station and the computing peripherals,
• wherein the docking station is further configured to perform operations:
• monitoring, at a second time after the first time, the contextual data of the docking station and the computing peripherals;
• and
• providing, to the external computing device, the contextual data;
• wherein the external computing device is configured to perform operations:
• accessing the configuration management model including the configuration policy,
• identifying one or more of the configuration rules based on the monitored contextual data,
• providing, to the docking station, the one or more configuration rules, and
• wherein the docking station is further configured to perform operations:
• applying the one or more configuration rules to perform one or more of the computer-implemented actions to configure the docking station and the computing peripherals, including selectively providing power to a first subset of the computing peripherals coupled to the docking station based on the monitored contextual data, and automatically deactivating interfaces of the docking station that are respectively connected to a second subset of the computing peripherals that are in an off-power state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

• performing, at a first time, a calibration and configuration of a configuration management model, including:
• identifying, by a docking station, contextual data associated with the docking station and the computing peripherals coupled to the docking station, the docking station physically coupled with an information handling system, the computing peripherals including one or more of a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse, the contextual data associated with the computing peripherals including identifying information associated with the monitor, the keyboard, and the mouse;
• providing, by the docking station and to an external computing device in communication with the docking station, the contextual data, the docking station communicatively coupled with the external computing device over a network via a network interface at the docking station;
• training, by the external computing device and based on the contextual data, the configuration management model, including generating a configuration policy including configuration rules, the configuration rules for performing computer-implemented actions to automatically configure the docking station and the computing peripherals;
• performing, at a second time, a steady-state management of the docking station and the computing peripherals, including:
• monitoring, by the docking station, the contextual data of the docking station and the computing peripherals;
• and
• providing, by the docking station and to the external computing device, the contextual data;
• in response to receiving the contextual data,
• i) accessing, by the external computing device, the configuration management model including the configuration policy,
• ii) identifying, by the external computing device, one or more of the configuration rules based on the monitored contextual data,
• iii) providing, by the external computing device and to the docking station, the one or more configuration rules, and
• iv) applying, by the docking station, the one or more configuration rules to perform one or more of the computer-implemented actions to configure the docking station and the computing peripherals, including selectively providing power to a first subset of the computing peripherals coupled to the docking station based on the monitored contextual data, and automatically deactivating interfaces of the docking station that are respectively connected to a second subset of the computing peripherals that are in an off-power state.