Mechanism to dynamically update a windows system with user specific application enablement support from a heterogeneous server environment

• US 20020107945A1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Howe, Brain Keith, George, Randy, Paul, Chakkalamattam Jos
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, apparatus and program for updating client computers with user specific application enablement are provided. The invention involves creating a component control file on a network server, which defines the actions to be performed to install an enablement component needed to run an application on a client and creating an installation control file which contains a list of the enablement components needed to run the set of applications that have been assigned to a user. The enablement components are changes to the operating system'"'"'s configuration. When a user logs onto a client computer, a mechanism in the client reads the user'"'"'s installation control file from the server and then installs the necessary enablement components on the client operating system, if those components are not already installed. In one embodiment, the user receives a prompt before the components are installed, in case the user does not want to use the entire set of assigned applications.

Claims

1. A method for updating client computers with user specific application enablement, comprising:

creating a component control file which defines the enablement components needed to run applications on a client and the actions to be performed to install those components; and

creating an installation control file which lists the applications that have been assigned to a user and the components from the component control file which must be installed in order to execute those applications.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applications are executed from a shared file server by a client.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component control file is stored in a server.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control file is stored in a server.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the installation control file is stored in a user-specific profile area in the server.

6. A method for updating client computers with user specific application enablement, comprising:

reading a user'"'"'s installation control file which contains a list of the enablement components needed to run the set of applications that have been assigned to the user; and

installing the enablement components on a client operating system, if those components are not already installed.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a client executes the applications from a shared file server.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the installation control file is stored in a server.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the installation control file is stored in a user-specific profile in the server.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising prompting the user before installing the enablement components.

11. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for updating client computers with user specific application enablement, comprising:

instructions for creating a component control file which defines the enablement components needed to run applications on a client and the actions to be performed to install those components; and

instructions for creating an installation control file which lists the applications that have been assigned to a user and the components from the component control file which must be installed in order to execute those applications.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the applications are executed from a shared file server by a client.

13. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the component control file is stored on a server.

14. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the installation control file is stored on a server.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the installation control file is stored in a user-specific profile area in the server.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein a client executes the applications from a shared file server.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the installation control file is stored on a server.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the installation control file is stored in a user-specific profile area in the server.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising instructions for prompting the user before installing the enablement components.

16. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for updating client computers with user specific application enablement, comprising:

instructions for reading a user'"'"'s installation control file which contains a list of the enablement components needed to run the set of applications that have been assigned to the user; and

instructions for installing the enablement components on a client operating system, if those components are not already installed.

21. A system having means for updating client computers with user specific application enablement, comprising:

means for creating a component control file which defines the enablement components needed to run applications on a client and the actions to be performed to install those components; and

means for creating an installation control file which lists the applications that have been assigned to a user and the components from the component control file which must be installed in order to execute those applications.

22. A system having means for updating client computers with user specific application enablement, comprising:

means for reading a user'"'"'s installation control file which contains a list of the enablement components needed to run the set of applications that have been assigned to the user; and

means for installing the enablement components on a client operating system, if those components are not already installed.