Method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system

• US 20050044096A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Waltermann, Rod R. W., Locker, Howard J., Estroff, Jeffrey M., Hunt, James A., Mese, John C., Ruiz, Jose R., Caliendo, Neal R. Jr., Novak, Joshua N., Weksler, Arnold, Fuccella-Walcutt, Michaelle L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of deconstructing the image into at least one portion and creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image. The deconstructing step can include the steps of scanning an image and identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized. The creating step can include the steps of extracting the at least one portion of the image identified to be modularized and generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image. The modules that are created in accordance with the present invention can be formatted for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program such as with a hardware-independent imaging tool. Furthermore, the modules can be used with hardware-independent technologies and can facilitate management of image inventory and facilitate deployment of images to new computer systems with different hardware configurations. Furthermore, the method is simple, cost effective and capable of being easily adapted to existing technology.

Claims

1. A method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) deconstructing the image into at least one portion; and

(b) creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the deconstructing step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(a2) scanning the image; and

(a3) identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the identifying step (a3) comprises the steps of

(a3ii) providing a list of portions of the image to be modularized;

and

(a3iii) selecting at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents at least one software program.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one software program is hardware independent.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents a plurality of software programs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of software programs comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent software programs.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of the image comprises one or more of an operating system, a set of drivers, and application software.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating step (b) further comprises the steps of:

(b2) extracting the at least one portion of the image; and

(b3) generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the extracted portion of the image comprises uninstall scripts.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the generating step (b3) comprises the steps of:

(b3ii) scanning the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iii) generating install scripts from the uninstall scripts.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the generating step (b3iii) comprises the steps of:

(b3iiiA) reversing the order of the uninstall scripts;

(b3iiiB) determining uninstall scripts from the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iiiC) configuring a portion of the install scripts.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of (c) formatting the at least one module for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the software program is hardware-independent application software.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the hardware-independent application software is a hardware-independent imaging tool.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the module is hardware independent.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating step (b) further comprises the step of (b2) creating a plurality of modules from the at least one portion of the image.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of modules comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent modules.

19. A computer-readable medium including program instructions for providing an image of software installed on a computer system, comprising the program instructions for:

(a) deconstructing the image into at least one portion; and

(b) creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the deconstructing instruction (a) further comprises the instructions of:

(a2) scanning the image; and

(a3) identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

21. The medium of claim 20 wherein the identifying instruction (a3) comprises the instructions of

(a3ii) providing a list of portions of the image to be modularized;

and

(a3iii) selecting at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

22. The medium of claim 19 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents at least one software program.

23. The medium of claim 22 wherein the at least one software program is hardware independent.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents a plurality of software programs.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of software programs comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent software programs.

26. The medium of claim 19 wherein the at least one portion of the image comprises one or more of an operating system, a set of drivers, and application software.

27. The medium of claim 19 wherein the creating instruction (b) further comprises the instructions of:

(b2) extracting the at least one portion of the image; and

(b3) generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image.

28. The medium of claim 27 wherein the extracted portion of the image comprises uninstall scripts.

29. The medium of claim 28 wherein the generating instruction (b3) comprises the instructions of:

(b3ii) scanning the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iii) generating install scripts from the uninstall scripts.

30. The medium of claim 29 wherein the generating instruction (b3iii) comprises the instructions of:

(b3iiiA) reversing the order of the uninstall scripts;

(b3iiiB) determining install scripts from the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iiiC) configuring a portion of the install scripts.

31. The medium of claim 19 further comprises the instruction of (c) formatting the at least one module for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program.

32. The medium of claim 31 wherein the software program is hardware-independent application software.

33. The medium of claim 32 wherein the hardware-independent application software is a hardware-independent imaging tool.

34. The medium of claim 19 wherein the module is hardware independent.

35. The method of claim 19 wherein the creating instruction (b) further comprises the instruction of (b2) creating a plurality of modules from the at least one portion of the image.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the plurality of modules comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent modules.