Weighted selection of target systems for distributed software installation
First Claim
1. A method of improving installation of software packages, comprising steps of:
- assigning a weight to each of one or more selected values of one or more installation parameters associated with a software product installation;
determining a plurality of potential target systems on which the software product installation might be performed;
identifying a routine to analyze each of the installation parameters;
programmatically interrogating each of the potential target systems for its status of each of the installation parameters, using the identified routines; and
using the assigned weights, in combination with the selected values and the status of each of the installation parameters, to compute a suitability assessment for each of the potential target systems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and computer program products for programmatically generating a ranked list of suitable target systems for a particular product-specific software installation, using a generic approach that is easily adaptable to a wide variety of software products. Product-specific configuration parameters and corresponding weights are used in performing the suitability assessment, and routines are identified which may be invoked on potential target systems to determine values of the configuration parameters. The weights are then applied to values representing each potential target system, and the summed total represents the suitability of that potential target. A ranked list may then be created and provided to the software installer for use in selecting the actual target(s) of the installation. In preferred embodiments, structured markup language syntax is used to specify the configuration parameters and weights, as well as the identification of the routines.
119 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of improving installation of software packages, comprising steps of:
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assigning a weight to each of one or more selected values of one or more installation parameters associated with a software product installation;
determining a plurality of potential target systems on which the software product installation might be performed;
identifying a routine to analyze each of the installation parameters;
programmatically interrogating each of the potential target systems for its status of each of the installation parameters, using the identified routines; and
using the assigned weights, in combination with the selected values and the status of each of the installation parameters, to compute a suitability assessment for each of the potential target systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for improving installation of software packages, comprising:
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means for determining a plurality of potential target systems on which the software product installation might be performed;
means for programmatically interrogating each of the potential target systems for its status of each of one or more installation parameters associated with a software product installation, by invoking, at each of the potential target systems, a routine which is identified for analyzing that installation parameter; and
means for using weights which are assigned to each of one or more selected values of the one or more installation parameters, in combination with the selected values and the status of each of the installation parameters, to compute a suitability assessment for each of the potential target systems. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A computer program product for improving installation of software packages, the computer program product embodied on one or more computer-readable media and comprising:
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computer-readable program code means for determining a plurality of potential target systems on which the software product installation might be performed;
computer-readable program code means for programmatically interrogating each of the potential target systems for its status of each of one or more installation parameters associated with a software product installation, by invoking, at each of the potential target systems, a routine which is identified for analyzing that installation parameter; and
computer-readable program code means for using weights which are assigned to each of one or more selected values of the one or more installation parameters, in combination with the selected values and the status of each of the installation parameters, to compute a suitability assessment for each of the potential target systems. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of improving installation of software packages, comprising steps of:
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assigning a weight to each of one or more selected values of one or more installation parameters associated with installation of a plurality of software products;
determining a plurality of potential target systems on which the installation of the software products might be performed;
identifying a routine to analyze each of the installation parameters;
programmatically interrogating each of the potential target systems for its status of each of the installation parameters, using the identified routines; and
using the assigned weights, in combination with the selected values and the status of each of the installation parameters, to compute a suitability assessment for each of the potential target systems.
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Specification