Apparatus and Methods for Performing Computer System Maintenance and Notification Activities in an Opportunistic Manner

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for controlling computer system activities, the operations comprising:

• receiving a selection of at least two computer system actions to be performed opportunistically as time slots for opportunistic computer system activities arise;
• saving the at least two computer system actions to a list stored in a memory of the computer system;
• receiving a command to begin opportunistic computer system activities, where the command specifies a time period available for performing opportunistic computer system activities;
• selecting from the list at least one of the at least two computer system actions to be performed during the time period available for opportunistic computer system activities;
• and
• initiating the at least one computer system action.

A computer system having an ability to perform opportunistic computer system activities, the computer system comprising:

• at least one memory to store at least one program of machine-readable instructions, where the at least one program performs operations to control opportunistic computer system activities;
• at least one input device to initiate opportunistic computer system activities;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one input device, where the at least one processor performs the following operations when the at least one program is executed:
• receiving a command entered with the at least one input device of the computer system to begin opportunistic computer system activities;
• receiving an identification of a time period available for performing opportunistic computer system activities;
• and
• initiating at least one computer system action during the time period identified as available for opportunistic computer system activities.