Method and system for describing and extracting application information

• US 20020010808A1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altiris Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Rai, Vivek Kumar, Ahuja, Sanjay, Surve, Santosh D., Moorjani, Rajesh, Wiggins, Greg, Bhagwat, Vivek Umesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting

Abstract

A method and system for describing, extracting and migrating application information from a first personal computer to one or more other computers. This method and system provides a means for selecting and translating the information useful in transferring application programs, settings and files while maintaining the preferred preferences and directories of the users. Using a standard INI file format, this method makes use of Application Information Files (AIFs) containing tags. The tags provide identification of multiple versions of the application and conversion information for settings, registry information and files.

Claims

1. A system for describing and extracting application information, comprising:

(A)a first computer system, said first computer system further comprising;

(1)an input device;

(2)a display device; and

(3)a processing unit, said processing unit further comprising;

(a)a processor;

(b)memory; and

(c)a long-term storage device;

(B)a second computer system, said second computer system further comprising;

(1)an input device;

(2)a display device; and

(3)a processing unit, said processing unit further comprising;

(a)a processor;

(b)memory; and

(c)a long-term storage device;

(C)an application program resident on said long term storage device of said processing unit of said first computer system; and

(D)a means for migrating said application program from said first computer to said second computer, wherein said means for migrating further comprises;

(1)an application interface file, in an INI format, wherein said application interface file further comprises a tag that identifies a feature of said application program; and

(2)a communication channel between said first computer system and said second computer system.

2. A method for describing and extracting application information, comprising:

(A)deploying a target computer;

(B)defining a set of defaults;

(C)running scan and build on a source computer;

(D)editing a STAMP file if necessary;

(E)setting options if necessary;

(F)running STAMP on said target computer;

(G)viewing STAMP contents and excluding any files or settings from said target computer if necessary; and

(H)installing files and settings on said target computer.

3. A method for extracting and migrating application information, comprising:

(A)loading a Personality Package;

(B)executing said Personality Package;

(C)getting a file;

(D)copying said file;

(E)getting a registry;

(F)copying said registry;

(G)getting application version specifics; and

(H)updating links.