A method for distribution of application programs to a target on-demand server on a network comprising the following executed on a centralized network management server coupled to the network: providing an application program to be distributed to the network management server; specifying a source directory and a target directory for distribution of the application program; preparing a file packet associated with the application program and including a segment configured to initiate registration operations for the application program at the target on-demand server; and distributing the file packet to the target on-demand server to make the application program available for use by a user at a client. view more

An application program distribution system for distributing application programs to a target on-demand server on a network executing on a centralized network management server coupled to the network, the system comprising: means for providing to the network management server an application program to be distributed to remote servers; means for specifying a source directory and a target directory for distribution of the application program; means for preparing a file packet associated with the application program, the file packet including a segment configured to initiate registration operations for the application program at the target on-demand server; and means for distributing the file packet to the target on-demand server to make the application program available for use by a user at a client. view more

A computer program product for distributing application programs to a target on-demand server on a network executing on a centralized network management server coupled to the network, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that provides to the network management server an application program to be distributed to remote servers; computer readable program code that specifies a source directory and a target directory for distribution of the application program; computer readable program code means that prepares a file packet associated with the application program, the file packet including a segment configured to initiate registration operations for the application program at the target on-demand server; and computer readable program code means that distributes the file packet to the target on-demand server to make the application program available for use by a user at a client. view more

A method for management of license use for a network comprising the steps of:</claim-text> maintaining license management policy information for a plurality of application programs at a license management server, the license management policy mation including at least one of a user identity based policy, an administrator policy override definition or a user policy override definition; receiving at the license management server a request for a license availability of a selected one of the plurality of application programs from a user at a client; determining the license availability for the selected one of the plurality of application programs for the user based on the maintained license management policy information; and providing an unavailability indication to the client responsive to the selection if the license availability indicates that a license is not available for the user or an availability indication if the licensed availability indicates that a license is available for the user. view more

A method according to claim 1 wherein the license management server is an on demand server associated with the client which provides an instance of the selected one of the application programs to the client for execution.

A license use management system for a network comprising:</claim-text> means for maintaining license management policy information for a plurality of application programs at a license management server, the license management policy information ding at least one of a user identity based policy, an administrator policy override definition or a user policy override definition; means for receiving at the license management server a request for a license availability of a selected one of the plurality of application programs from a user at a client; means for determining the license availability for the selected one of the plurality of application programs for the user based on the maintained license management policy information; and means for providing an unavailability indication to the client responsive to the selection if the license availability indicates that a license is not available for the user or an availability indication if the licensed availability indicates that a license is available for the user. view more

A system according to claim 7 wherein the license management server is an on demand server associated with the client which provides an instance of the selected one of the application programs to the client for execution.

A computer program product for license use management for a network, the computer program product comprising:</claim-text> a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable am code means comprising: computer readable program code means for maintaining license management policy information for a plurality of application programs at a license management server, the license management policy information including at least one of a user identity based policy, an administrator policy override definition or a user policy override definition; computer readable program code means for receiving at the license management server a request for a license availability of a selected one of the plurality of application programs from a user at a client; computer readable program code means for determining the license availability for the selected one of the plurality of application programs for the user based on the maintained license management policy information; and computer readable program code means for providing an unavailability indication to the client responsive to the selection if the license availability indicates that a license is not available for the user or an availability indication if the licensed availability indicates that a license is available for the user. view more

A system according to claim 13 wherein the license management server is an on demand server associated with the client which provides an instance of the selected one of the application programs to the client for execution.

A method for management of application programs on a network including a server and a client comprising the steps of:</claim-text> installing a plurality of application programs at the server; receiving at the server a login request from a user at lient; establishing a user desktop interface at the client associated with the user responsive to the login request from the user, the desktop interface including a plurality of display regions associated with a set of the plurality of application programs installed at the server for which the user is authorized; receiving at the server a selection of one of the plurality of application programs from the user desktop interface; and providing an instance of the selected one of the plurality of application programs to the client for execution responsive to the selection. view more

A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:</claim-text> maintaining application management information for the plurality of applications at the server; and wherein the establishing step includes the step of including a plurality splay regions associated with a set of the plurality of application programs for which the user is authorized responsive to the application management information. view more

A method according to claim 1 wherein the establishing a user desktop step includes the steps of:</claim-text> configuring the user desktop interface responsive to an identifier of the user associated with the login request so as to provide iated information for the user desktop interface; and providing the user desktop interface and the associated information for the user desktop interface to the client for display. view more

A method according to claim 7 wherein the configuring the user desktop step includes the step of configuring the user desktop interface not to include display regions associated with any of the plurality of application programs installed at the server for which the user is not authorized. view more

An application program management system for managing application programs on a network including a server and a client comprising:</claim-text> means for installing a plurality of application programs at the server; means for receiving at the server in request from a user at the client; means for establishing a user desktop interface at the client associated with the user responsive to the login request from the user, the desktop interface including a plurality of display regions associated with a set of the plurality of application programs installed at the server for which the user is authorized; means for receiving at the server a selection of one of the plurality of application programs from the user desktop interface; and means for providing an instance of the selected one of the plurality of application programs to the client for execution responsive to the selection. view more

A system according to claim 15 further comprising:</claim-text> means for maintaining application management information for the plurality of applications at the server; and wherein the means for establishing a user desktop includes means for ding a plurality of display regions associated with a set of the plurality of application programs for which the user is authorized responsive to the application management information. view more

A system according to claim 15 wherein the means for establishing a user desktop includes;</claim-text> means for configuring the user desktop interface responsive to an identifier of the user associated with the login request so as to provide iated information for the user desktop interface; and means for providing the user desktop interface and the associated information for the user desktop interface to the client for display. view more

A system according to claim 22 wherein the means for configuring the user desktop includes means for configuring the user desktop interface not to include display regions associated with any of the plurality of application programs installed at the server for which the user is not authorized. view more

A method for management of configurable application programs on a network comprising the steps of:</claim-text> installing an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences and a plurality of authorized users on a server coupled e network; distributing an application launcher program associated with the application program to a client coupled to the network; obtaining a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences associated with one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program; obtaining an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences from an administrator; and executing the application program using the obtained user set and the obtained administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> wherein the step of executing is preceded by the step of storing the obtained user set and the obtained administrator set on a storage device coupled to the server and wherein the initiating the step of retrieving the stored user set and the stored administrator set from the storage device. view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> wherein the executing step includes the step of determining if a user requesting execution of the application program is one of the plurality of authorized users.

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> wherein the initiating execution step includes the step of obtaining default preference values for any of the plurality of configurable preferences which are not specified by the user set or the view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> wherein one of the plurality of authorized users is an administrator and is authorized to define the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences.

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> further comprising the following steps:</claim-text> obtaining a second user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from a second one of the plurality of authorized users executing the and executing the application program using the obtained second user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the second one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>11</BOLD></HIL> wherein the step of installing an application program is followed by the step of distributing the application launcher program associated with the application program to a second client coupled ein the step of obtaining a second user set comprises the step of obtaining a second user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from a second one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program on the second client. view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> wherein the step of installing an application program is followed by the step of distributing the application launcher program associated with the application program to a second client coupled to the obtaining a user set step comprises the step of obtaining the user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program on the second client. view more

A method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL> further comprising the steps of:</claim-text> installing a second application program having a second plurality of configurable preferences and a second plurality of authorized users on the application launcher program associated with the second application program to the client coupled to the network; obtaining a second user set of the second plurality of configurable preferences from one of the second plurality of authorized users executing the second application launcher program; obtaining a second administrator set of the second plurality of configurable preferences from the administrator; and executing the second application program using the obtained second user set and the second administrator set of the second plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the one of the second plurality of authorized users. view more

A method for management of configurable application programs on a network comprising the steps of:</claim-text> receiving an application launcher program associated with an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences from a r; providing a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program to the server; and requesting that the server provide an instance of the application program and a stored user set and an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences for use in executing the application program responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

An application management system for a network including a server and a client,</claim-text> the server comprising: means for installing an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences and a plurality of authorized users on the r; means for distributing an application launcher program associated with the application program to the client; means for obtaining a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program; means for obtaining an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences from an administrator; and means for providing an instance of the application program and a stored user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences for use in executing the application program responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users; and the client comprising: means for receiving an application launcher program associated with the application program from the server; means for providing to the server a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program; and means for requesting that the server initiate execution of the application program using the obtained user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

An application management system for a network comprising:</claim-text> means for installing an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences and a plurality of authorized users on a server coupled to the network; means for ibuting an application launcher program associated with the application program to a client coupled to the network; means for obtaining a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program; means for obtaining an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences from an administrator; and means for providing an instance of the application program and a stored user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences for use in executing the application program responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> further comprising means for storing the obtained user set and the obtained administer set on a storage device coupled to the server and wherein the means for initiating execution includes e stored user set and the stored administrator set from the storage device. view more

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> wherein the means for executing includes means for determining if a user requesting execution of the application program is one of the plurality of authorized users.

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> wherein the means for initiating execution includes means for obtaining default preference values for any of the plurality of configurable preferences which are not specified by the user set t. view more

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> wherein one of the plurality of authorized users is an administrator and is authorized to define the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences.

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> further comprising:</claim-text> means for obtaining a second user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from a second one of the plurality of authorized users executing the and means for executing the application program using the obtained second user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the second one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>27</BOLD></HIL> further comprising means for distributing the application launcher program associated with the application program to a second client coupled to the network and wherein the means for set comprises means for obtaining a second user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from a second one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program on the second client. view more

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> further comprising means for distributing the application launcher program associated with the application program to a second client coupled to the network and wherein the means for mprises means for obtaining the user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program on the second client. view more

An apparatus according to claim <HIL><BOLD>17</BOLD></HIL> further comprising:</claim-text> means for installing a second application program having a second plurality of configurable preferences and a second plurality of authorized users on the g a second application launcher program associated with the second application program to the client coupled to the network; means for obtaining a second user set of the second plurality of configurable preferences from one of the second plurality of authorized users executing the second application launcher program; means for obtaining a second administrator set of the second plurality of configurable preferences from the administrator; and means for executing the second application program using the obtained second user set and the second administrator set of the second plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the one of the second plurality of authorized users. view more

An application management system for a network comprising:</claim-text> means for receiving an application launcher program associated with an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences from a server coupled to the network; for providing a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of a plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program to the server; and means for requesting that the server provide and instance of the application program and a stored user set and an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences for use in executing the application program responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

A computer program product for application management for a network, the computer program product comprising:</claim-text> a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable am code means comprising: computer readable program code means for installing an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences and a plurality of authorized users on a server coupled to the network; computer readable program code means for distributing an application launcher program associated with the application program to a client coupled to the network; computer readable program code means for obtaining a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program; computer readable program code means for obtaining an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences from an administrator; and computer readable program code means for providing an instance of the application program using a stored user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences for use in executing the application program responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> further comprising computer readable program code means for storing the obtained user set and the obtained administrator set on a storage device coupled to the server and adable program code means for initiating execution includes computer readable program code means for retrieving the stored user set and the stored administrator set from the storage device. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> wherein the computer readable program code means for executing includes computer readable program code means for determining if a user requesting execution of the application lurality of authorized users. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> wherein the computer readable program code means for initiating execution includes computer readable program code means for obtaining default preference values for any of the le preferences which are not specified by the user set or the administrator set. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> wherein one of the plurality of authorized users is an administrator and is authorized to define the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences.

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> further comprising:</claim-text> computer readable program code means for obtaining a second user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from a second one of the executing the application launcher program; and computer readable program code means for executing the application program using the obtained second user set and the administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the second one of the plurality of authorized users. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>42</BOLD></HIL> further comprising computer readable program code means for distributing the application launcher program associated with the application program to a second client coupled to the computer readable program code means for obtaining a second user set comprises computer readable program code means for obtaining a second user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from a second one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program on the second client. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> further comprising computer readable program code means for distributing the application launcher program associated with the application program to a second client coupled to the computer readable program code means for obtaining a user set comprises computer readable program code means for obtaining the user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program on the second client. view more

A computer program product according to claim <HIL><BOLD>32</BOLD></HIL> further comprising:</claim-text> computer readable program code means for installing a second application program having a second plurality of configurable preferences and a d users on the server; computer readable program code means for distributing a second application launcher program associated with the second application program to the client coupled to the network; computer readable program code means for obtaining a second user set of the second plurality of configurable preferences from one of the second plurality of authorized users executing the second application launcher program; computer readable program code means for obtaining a second administrator set of the second plurality of configurable preferences from the administrator; and computer readable program code means for executing the second application program using the obtained second user set and the second administrator set of the second plurality of configurable preferences responsive to a request from the one of the second plurality of authorized users. view more

A computer program product for application management for a network, the computer program product comprising:</claim-text> a computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable am code means comprising: computer readable program code means for receiving an application launcher program associated with an application program having a plurality of configurable preferences from a server coupled to the network; computer readable program code means for providing a user set of the plurality of configurable preferences from one of a plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program to the server; and computer readable program code means for requesting that the server provide an instance of the application program and a stored user set and an administrator set of the plurality of configurable preferences for use in executing the application program responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users. view more