MULTIVENDOR PACKAGE MANAGEMENT

• US 20040139430A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Compas, Jeffrey C., Eatough, David A., Stockwell, Travis M.
• Application Number:
  US09/741,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20040139430A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

A software management system is disclosed. The system includes a vendor package template, a package importer, and a package agent. The vendor package template provides a script to install, upgrade, and remove at least one software package. The package importer receives the software package, and creates a package document (X-package) based on the vendor package template. The package agent receives, deploys and executes the X-package at a target computer.

Claims

1. A software management system, comprising:

a vendor package template that provides a script to install, upgrade, and remove at least one software package;

a package importer to receive said at least one software package, where said package importer creates an X-package document based on said vendor package template; and

a package agent to receive, deploy and execute said X-package at a target computer.

2. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said package importer receives a user identity for recording.

3. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said X-package includes a substantially uniform set of attributes that allows said at least one software packages to be managed in a single user interface.

4. The software management system of claim 3, wherein said X-package includes a substantially uniform set of attributes that allows said at least one software packages to be managed in a single user interface.

5. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said package importer tags said X-package with a signature.

6. The software management system of claim 5, further comprising:

an authentication element to provide verification of the X-package by validating the signature in the X-package with a list of certificates trusted by the target computer.

7. The software management system of claim 6, further comprising:

a script extractor to extract an X-package script.

8. The software management system of claim 7, wherein said X-package script includes logic for interacting with a vendor-specific package agent.

9. The software management system of claim 7, wherein said X-package script includes logic for interacting with multiple operating systems.

10. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said X-package further includes a name of a user who imported said at least one software package.

11. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said X-package further includes hash of package files included in said at least one software package.

12. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said package agent checks relevant operating system of said at least one software package.

13. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said package agent downloads any needed files.

14. The software management system of claim 1, wherein said package agent reports status.

15. A software management system, comprising:

a distribution management server including;

a vendor package template that provides a script to install, upgrade, and remove at least one software package; and

a package importer to receive said at least one software package, said package importer creates an X-package document based on said vendor package template, where said package importer tags said X-package with a signature;

a plurality of target computers, each target computer including;

an authentication element to provide verification of the X-package by validating the signature in the X- package with a list of certificates trusted by the target computer;

a script extractor to extract an X-package script; and

a package agent to receive, deploy and execute said X-package at the target computer.

16. The software management system of claim 15, wherein said at least one software package includes packages from different vendors.

17. The software management system of claim 16, wherein said X-package includes a substantially uniform set of attributes that allows said at least one software packages to be managed in a single user interface.

18. A method for distributing vendor-specific software to target computers, comprising:

importing the vendor-specific software using a vendor package template to create an X-package having a script;

transferring said X-package to target computers; and

processing said X-package script.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

authenticating the X-package by validating a signature on said X-package.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

extracting the script from said X-package for processing.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing said X-package script includes checking a relevant operating system of the vendor-specific software.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing said X-package script includes downloading all relevant files.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said processing said X-package script includes reporting status.

24. An apparatus comprising a machine-readable storage medium having executable instructions that enable the machine to:

import the vendor-specific software using a vendor package template to create an X-package having a script;

transfer said X-package to target computers; and

process said X-package script.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

authenticate the X-package by validating a signature on said X-package.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

extract the script from said X-package for processing.