Method and system for automatically updating operating systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for updating an operating system in a computer including a disk drive that stores an operating system to be updated, comprising:
- creating a backup image of a first partition of the disk drive;
deleting the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
updating the stored operating system under control of the maintenance operating system.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for updating operating systems are disclosed. A computer includes a disk drive that stores an operating system to be updated. The computer creates a backup image of a first partition of the disk drive, then deletes the first partition to create free space on the disk drive. The computer also places an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update. Thereafter, the computer updates the stored operating system under control of the maintenance operating system.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for updating an operating system in a computer including a disk drive that stores an operating system to be updated, comprising:
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creating a backup image of a first partition of the disk drive;
deleting the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
updating the stored operating system under control of the maintenance operating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for updating an operating system of a client, comprising:
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resizing a partition of a disk drive of the client to create enough first free space on the disk drive to store a backup image of the resized partition, wherein the resized partition includes an operating system to be updated;
creating a new partition on the disk drive using the first free space;
placing an image of the resized partition into the new partition, wherein the image of the resized partition functions as the backup image;
deleting the resized partition to create second free space on the disk drive;
placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the second free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update;
imaging, under control of the maintenance operating system, a new operating system into the second free space; and
removing the maintenance operating system from the second free space.
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16. An apparatus for updating an operating system in a client including a disk drive that stores an operating system to be updated, comprising:
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means for creating a backup image of a first partition of the disk drive;
means for deleting the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
means for placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
means for updating the stored operating system under control of the maintenance operating system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for updating an operating system, comprising:
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means for resizing a partition of a disk drive to create enough first free space on the disk drive to store a backup image of the resized partition, wherein the resized partition includes an operating system to be updated;
means for creating a new partition on the disk drive using the first free space;
means for placing an image of the resized partition into the new partition, wherein the image of the resized partition functions as the backup image;
means for deleting the resized partition to create second free space on the disk drive;
means for placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the second free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update;
means for imaging, under control of the maintenance operating system, a new operating system into the second free space; and
means for removing the maintenance operating system from the second free space.
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30. An apparatus for updating an operating system in a computer including a disk drive that stores an operating system to be updated, comprising:
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a memory storing a program that creates a backup image of a first partition of the disk drive;
deletes the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
places an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
updates the stored operating system under control of the maintenance operating system; and
a processor that runs the program.
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31. An apparatus for updating an operating system, comprising:
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a memory storing a program that resizes a partition of a disk drive to create enough first free space on the disk drive to store a backup image of the resized partition, wherein the resized partition includes an operating system to be updated;
creates a new partition on the disk drive using the first free space;
places an image of the resized partition into the new partition, wherein the image of the resized partition functions as the backup image;
deletes the resized partition to create second free space on the disk drive;
places an image of a maintenance operating system into the second free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update;
images, under control of the maintenance operating system, a new operating system into the second free space; and
removes the maintenance operating system from the second free space; and
a processor that runs the program.
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32. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for updating an operating system in a computer including a disk drive that stores an operating system to be updated, the method comprising:
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creating a backup image of a first partition of the disk drive;
deleting the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
updating the stored operating system under control of the maintenance operating system.
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33. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for updating an operating system of a computer, the method comprising:
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resizing a partition of a disk drive of the computer to create enough first free space on the disk drive to store a backup image of the resized partition, wherein the resized partition includes an operating system to be updated;
creating a new partition on the disk drive using the first free space;
placing an image of the resized partition into the new partition, wherein the image of the resized partition functions as the backup image;
deleting the resized partition to create second free space on the disk drive;
placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the second free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update;
imaging, under control of the maintenance operating system, a new operating system into the second free space; and
removing the maintenance operating system from the second free space.
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34. A method for updating an operating system of a client, comprising:
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resizing a partition of a disk drive of the client to create enough first free space on the disk drive to store a backup image of the resized partition, wherein the resized partition includes an operating system to be updated;
creating a new partition on the disk drive using the first free space;
placing an image of the resized partition into the new partition, wherein the image of the resized partition functions as the backup image;
deleting the resized partition to create second free space on the disk drive; and
imaging, under control of a maintenance operating system, a new operating system into the second free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update.
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35. A method for updating an operating system of at least one client, comprising:
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identifying at least one client for an operating system update; and
sending each of the identified clients a command to commence an operating system update, wherein each of the identified clients is operable to;
create a backup image of a first partition of a disk drive on the identified client;
delete the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
place an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
update an operating system stored on the disk drive under control of the maintenance operating system. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An apparatus for updating an operating system of at least one client, comprising:
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means for identifying at least one client for an operating system update; and
means for sending each of the identified clients a command to commence an operating system update, wherein each of the identified clients comprises;
means for creating a backup image of a first partition of a disk drive on the identified client;
means for deleting the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
means for placing an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
means for updating an operating system stored on the disk drive under control of the maintenance operating system. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. An apparatus for updating an operating system of at least one client, comprising:
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a memory storing a program that identifies at least one client for an operating system update, and sends each of the identified clients a command to commence an operating system update, wherein each of the identified clients is operable to;
create a backup image of a first partition of a disk drive on the identified client;
delete the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
place an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
update an operating system stored on the disk drive under control of the maintenance operating system; and
a processor that runs the program.
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40. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for updating an operating system of at least one client, the method comprising:
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identifying at least one client for an operating system update; and
sending each of the identified clients a command to commence an operating system update, wherein each of the identified clients is operable to;
create a backup image of a first partition of a disk drive on the identified client;
delete the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
place an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
update an operating system stored on the disk drive under control of the maintenance operating system.
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41. A system for updating an operating system of at least one client, comprising:
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a network;
a plurality of clients; and
a server connected to the plurality of clients through the network, the server operable to identify at least one client for an operating system update, and send each of the identified clients a command to commence an operating system update, wherein each of the identified clients is operable to;
create a backup image of a first partition of a disk drive on the identified client;
delete the first partition to create free space on the disk drive;
place an image of a maintenance operating system into the free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update; and
update an operating system stored on the disk drive under control of the maintenance operating system.
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42. A method for updating an operating system of at least one client, comprising:
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identifying at least one client for an operating system update; and
sending each of the identified clients a command to commence an operating system update, wherein each of the identified clients is operable to;
resize a partition of a disk drive of the identified client to create enough first free space on the disk drive to store a backup image of the resized partition, wherein the resized partition includes an operating system to be updated;
create a new partition on the disk drive using the first free space;
place an image of the resized partition into the new partition, wherein the image of the resized partition functions as the backup image;
delete the resized partition to create second free space on the disk drive;
place an image of a maintenance operating system into the second free space, wherein the maintenance operating system is operable to manage an operating system update;
image, under control of the maintenance operating system, a new operating system into the second free space; and
remove the maintenance operating system from the second free space.
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Specification