Process for deploying software from a central computer system to remotely located devices

• US 20030056207A1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Sapmarkets Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmidt-Karaca, Markus, Muller, Franz, Fischer, Claudius, Stephan, Thorsten, Hertweck, Jochen
• Application Number:
  US10/164,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20030056207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A process for deploying and installing software, including a platform-independent framework and offline applications, on devices, such as a personal digital assistant, Internet-enabled phone, handheld computer, laptop computer or desktop computer, remotely located from a central computer system. The framework and applications permitting the devices to run applications offline and synchronize data with the central computer system.

Claims

1. A deployment process for a device facilitating deployment and installation of a framework from a computer system to said device, comprising the steps of:

opening a browser;

connecting said device to said computer system;

sending an indication to said computer system that said framework is to be installed on said device;

receiving said framework from said computer system;

installing said framework;

sending a registry to said computer system, said registry comprising information indicative of a lack of offline applications being installed on said device;

receiving offline applications from said computer system;

installing said offline applications.

2. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said installation steps occur automatically.

3. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a personal digital assistant.

4. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a handheld computer.

5. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a laptop computer.

6. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a desktop computer.

7. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises an Internet-enabled phone.

8. A deployment process as in claim 1, wherein said computer system comprises an applications server.

9. A deployment process for a device for deploying offline applications from a computer system to said device, comprising the steps of:

opening a browser;

connecting said device to said computer system;

sending a registry to said computer system, said registry comprising an indication of each offline application installed on said device;

if an offline application is to be deleted from said device, receiving a message from said computer system to deinstall said offline application to be deleted;

if a new offline application is to be installed on said receiving said new offline application from said computer system and installing said new offline application.

10. A deployment process as in claim 9, further comprising a step of updating said registry upon an installation or deinstallation.

11. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said deinstallation takes place automatically.

12. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said installation takes place automatically.

13. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said device comprises a personal digital assistant.

14. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said device comprises a handheld computer.

15. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said device comprises a laptop computer.

16. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said device comprises a desktop computer.

17. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said device comprises an Internet-enabled phone.

18. A deployment process as in claim 9, wherein said computer system comprises an applications server.

19. A deployment process for a computer system for facilitating deployment of a framework from said computer system to a device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a notification that said framework is to be installed on said device;

downloading said framework to said device;

receiving a registry from said device, said registry comprising information indicative of a lack of offline applications being installed on said device;

reading said registry;

determining which offline applications should be installed on said device;

downloading said offline applications that should be installed on said device to said device for installation.

20. A deployment process as in claim 19, wherein said device comprises a personal digital assistant.

21. A deployment process as in claim 19, wherein said device comprises a handheld computer.

22. A deployment process as in claim 19, wherein said device comprises a laptop computer.

23. A deployment process as in claim 19, wherein said device comprises a desktop computer.

24. A deployment process as in claim 19, wherein said device comprises an Internet-enabled phone.

25. A deployment process as in claim 19, wherein said computer system comprises an applications server.

26. A deployment process for a computer system for deploying offline applications from said computer system to a device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a registry from said device, said registry comprising an indication of each offline application installed on said device;

determining which of a plurality of offline applications are intended to be installed on said device;

comparing said registry to said determination to devise if a discrepancy exists;

if said discrepancy exits and an offline application on said device is not intended to be installed, sending a deinstall message to said device, said message comprising an instruction to deinstall said offline application not intended to be installed;

if said discrepancy exists and an offline application intended to be installed on said device is not installed on said device, downloading said offline application intended to be installed to said device for installation.

27. A deployment process as in claim 26, wherein said device comprises a personal digital assistant.

28. A deployment process as in claim 26, wherein said device comprises a handheld computer.

29. A deployment process as in claim 26, wherein said device comprises a laptop computer.

30. A deployment process as in claim 26, wherein said device comprises a desktop computer.

31. A deployment process as in claim 26, wherein said device comprises an Internet-enabled phone.

32. A deployment process as in claim 26, wherein said computer system comprises an applications server.