Executing software in a network environment
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for invoking an executable with customization data, the method comprising:
- providing a software component over a network;
providing the executable over the network; and
providing the customization data over the network;
wherein the software component is operable to invoke the executable with the customization data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An executable is executed on a computer via a software component with customization data. The software component can be embedded in a document such as a web page. The software component may be, for example, an ActiveX control or a Java applet. The executable can be a remote deployment utility for installing software. To perform a remote deployment operation, such as an installation, uninstall, or update, on client computers on a network, instructions are sent from an administrator computer to plural client computers on the network. The plural client computers can be located in different domains. The remote deployment operation is then performed on the client computers. A remote deployment operation may be performed using a downloaded remote deployment utility.
122 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for invoking an executable with customization data, the method comprising:
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providing a software component over a network;
providing the executable over the network; and
providing the customization data over the network;
wherein the software component is operable to invoke the executable with the customization data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following to invoke an executable with customization data:
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providing a software component over a network;
providing the executable over the network; and
providing the customization data over the network;
wherein the software component is operable to invoke the executable with the customization data.
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16. A system for providing execution of an executable, the system comprising:
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a data center operable to deliver a document having a software component embedded therein; and
a distribution unit comprising the executable;
wherein the software component embedded in the document is operable to invoke the executable with customization data residing in the document. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for providing execution of an executable, the system comprising:
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means for delivering a document having a software component embedded therein; and
a distribution means comprising the executable;
wherein the software component embedded in the document is operable to invoke the executable of the distribution means with customization means residing in the document.
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20. A computer-implemented method for executing an executable on a computer via a document provided over a network, the method comprising:
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responsive to presentation of the document, downloading a software component embedded in the document and the executable to a computer; and
initiating execution of the executable with the software component, wherein customization data from within the document is passed to the executable. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following to execute an executable on a computer via a document provided over a network:
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responsive to presentation of the document, downloading a software component embedded in the document and the executable to a computer; and
initiating execution of the executable with the software component, wherein customization data from the document is passed to the executable.
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33. A computer-implemented method for executing a remote deployment utility at a computer, the method comprising:
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receiving installation information from a computer via an HTML form;
responsive to receiving the installation information, providing a web page to the computer, wherein the web page comprises the installation information and a reference to a distribution unit; and
upon receiving a request for the distribution unit, providing the distribution unit, wherein the distribution unit comprises an ActiveX control operable to invoke the remote deployment utility with the installation information upon delivery to the computer.
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34. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following to execute a remote deployment utility at a computer:
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receiving installation information from a computer via an HTML form;
responsive to receiving the installation information, providing a web page to the computer, wherein the web page comprises the installation information and a reference to a distribution unit; and
upon receiving a request for the distribution unit, providing the distribution unit, wherein the distribution unit comprises an ActiveX control operable to invoke the remote deployment utility with the installation information upon delivery to the computer.
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35. A computer-implemented method for executing a remote deployment utility at a computer to install an agent for implementing configuration directives received via an application service provider scenario, the method comprising:
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receiving information indicating an installation token from a computer via an HTML form, wherein the installation token refers to the agent for implementing configuration directives received via an application service provider scenario;
responsive to receiving the installation information, providing a web page to the computer, wherein the web page comprises a script comprising the installation token and a reference to a distribution unit;
encountering the reference to the distribution unit in the web page;
upon encountering the reference to the distribution unit in the web page, downloading it to the computer, wherein the distribution unit comprises the remote deployment utility, a control operable to invoke the remote deployment utility, and a generic object;
with the script, storing the installation token in the generic object;
invoking the control to execute the remote deployment utility with the installation token in the generic object;
with the remote deployment utility, installing the agent indicated by the installation token to one or more client computers.
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36. A method of performing one or more remote deployment operations on plural client computers in plural network domains, the method comprising:
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acquiring a selection out of the plural client computers in the plural network domains; and
performing the remote deployment operations on the selected plural client computers in the plural network domains. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of performing a remote deployment operation on plural client computers, the method comprising:
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downloading a remote deployment utility and a software component from a first computer to an administrator computer via an Internet connection;
executing the remote deployment utility on the administrator computer, wherein the remote deployment utility is executed by the software component; and
performing a remote deployment on the plural client computers. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of performing a remote deployment operation on plural client computers, the method comprising:
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sending instructions from a sending computer to the plural client computers, wherein at least one of the plural client computers is located on a first network domain, and wherein at least one other of the plural client computers is located on a second network domain; and
performing the remote deployment operation on the plural client computers.
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49. A method of executing an executable on a computer, the method comprising:
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sending customization data to a first computer from a second computer;
downloading a software component and the executable file from the first computer to the second computer;
executing the executable file on the second computer, wherein the executing is initiated by the software component, and wherein the executing is based on the customization data.
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50. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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displaying a list of client computers in different domains on a network;
accepting a selection from the list of client computers in more than one domain on which to perform one or more remote deployment operations;
accepting activation of a user interface element to begin the remote deployment operations; and
after activation of the user interface element, displaying a request for domain credential information for at least one of the client computers before the remote deployment operations are completed. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following:
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displaying a list of client computers in different domains on a network;
accepting a selection from the list of client computers in more than one domain on which to perform one or more remote deployment operations;
accepting activation of a user interface element to begin the remote deployment operations; and
after activation of the user interface element, displaying a request for domain credential information for at least one of the client computers before the remote deployment operations are completed.
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Specification