Computer software management

• US 20030204842A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: OʼConnor, Bruce L., Kline, Paul A., Nugent, Dan A., Sivo, Michael J., Gratto, Steven E., Chenelle, Michael A., Henry, Peter J., Gaughan, Timothy A., Gowland, Russell H., Kavlick, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Management of computer software in an enterprise includes receiving program requests from client computers associated with different enterprises. The program requests are validated and at one least requested program is sent from a database to at least one client computer.

Claims

6. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive program requests from client computers associated with different enterprises,

determine the validity of the program requests, and

send at least one requested program from a database to at least one client computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to determine the validity of the program requests includes checking whether the client computers are authorized to access the programs indicated in the program requests.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, the processor is further configured to send the client computers a list of programs that it is authorized to receive.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, the processor is further configured to determine the availability of the requested programs by comparing programs that the client computers have received with the programs that the client computers are authorized to receive.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, the processor is further configured to update the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the database is located in an enterprise different from the enterprise associated with the client computers.

12. An article comprising a computer-readable medium that stores executable instructions for causing a computer system to:

receive program requests from client computers associated with different enterprises;

determine the validity of the program requests; and

send at least one requested program from a database to at least one client computer.

13. The article of claim 12, comprising instructions for causing the computer to determine the validity of the program requests includes checking whether the client computers are authorized to access the programs indicated in the program requests.

14. The article of claim 12, comprising instructions for further causing the computer to send the client computers a list of programs that it is authorized to receive.

15. The article of claim 12, comprising instructions for further causing the computer to determine the availability of the requested programs by comparing programs that the client computers have received with the programs that the client computers are authorized to receive.

16. The article of claim 12, comprising instructions for further causing the computer to update the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

17. A method comprising:

accessing a system that is configured to;

receive program requests from client computers associated with different enterprises;

determine the validity of the program requests; and

send at least one requested program from a database to at least one client computer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the system is configured to check whether the client computers are authorized to access the programs indicated in the program requests.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the system is configured to send the client computers a list of programs that it is authorized to receive.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the system is configured to compare programs that the client computers have received with the programs that the client computers are authorized to receive.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the system is configured to update the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising updating the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

22. A method comprising:

targeting a group of client computers in at least one enterprise to receive at least one program;

sending a notification to the client computers in the group that is to receive at least one program; and

sending at least one program to the client computers in the group who have accepted receipt of the program, wherein the program is sent from a database located in one enterprise to the group of client computers located in another enterprise.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

target a group of client computers in at least one enterprise to receive at least one program,

send a notification to the client computers in the group that is to receive at least one program, and

send at least one program to the client computers in the group who have accepted receipt of the program,

wherein the program is sent from a database located in one enterprise to the group of client computers located in another enterprise.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the notification includes information indicating a time limit within which the program is to be sent to the client computers.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the database is located in an enterprise different from the enterprise associated with the client computers.

27. An article comprising a computer-readable medium that stores executable instructions for causing a computer system to:

target a group of client computers in at least one enterprise to receive at least one program;

send a notification to the client computers in the group that is to receive at least one program; and

send at least one p rogr am to the client computers in the group who have accepted receipt of the program, wherein the program is sent from a database located in one enterprise to the group of client computers located in another enterprise.

28. The article of claim 27, comprising instructions for further causing the computer to update the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

29. A method comprising:

accessing a system that is configured to;

target a group of client computers in at least one enterprise to receive at least one program,

send a notification to the client computers in the group that is to receive at least one program, and

send at least one program to the client computers in the group who have accepted receipt of the program,

wherein the program is sent from a database located in one enterprise to the group of client computers located in another enterprise.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the system is configured to update the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

31. A method comprising:

receiving a request for a computing platform from a client computer over a network, wherein the request includes configuration information of the client computer;

providing the computing platform; and

sending to the client computer the computing platform which includes the received configuration information and a hardware independent software image of a computing platform.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising modifying the hardware independent software image based on client computer requirements.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a request for a computing platform from a client computer over a network, wherein the request includes configuration information of the client computer,

provide the computing platform, and

send to the client computer the computing platform which includes the received configuration information and a hardware independent software image of a computing platform.

1. A method comprising:

receiving program requests from client computers associated with different enterprises;

determining the validity of the program requests; and

sending at least one requested program from a database to at least one client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the validity of the program requests includes checking whether the client computers are authorized to access the programs indicated in the program requests.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the client computers a list of programs that it is authorized to receive.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the availability of the requested programs by comparing programs that the client computers have received with the programs that the client computers are authorized to receive.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the database to indicate the client computer that has received a program.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the hardware independent software image includes a hardware independent portion and a hardware dependent portion, the independent portion includes a software image of the test computer and the hardware dependent portion includes hardware dependent programs.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the computing platform includes a program to determine the hardware configuration of the client computers.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the hardware independent software image of the new computing platform is created by installing an operating system and application programs onto a test computer.

37. An article comprising a computer-readable medium that stores executable instructions for causing a computer system to:

receive a request for a computing platform from a client computer over a network, wherein the request includes configuration information of the client computer;

provide the computing platform; and

send to the client computer the computing platform which includes the received configuration information and a hardware independent software image of a computing platform.

37-1. The article of claim 36, comprising instructions for further causing the computer to modify the hardware independent software image based on client computer requirements.

38. A method comprising:

accessing a system that is configured to;

receive a request for a computing platform from a client computer over a network, wherein the request includes configuration information of the client computer;

provide the computing platform; and

send to the client computer the computing platform which includes the received configuration information and a hardware independent software image of a computing platform.

39. The method of claim 38, the system further configured to modify the hardware independent software image based on client computer requirements.