Method, apparatus and computer program product for deploying software via post-load images

• US 20050091417A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir Singh
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method for deploying software includes providing a Web site on a server coupled to a network for presenting a user with an interface. The server has an array of post-load images stored thereon for combinations of the software and hardware that the user may select. The server receives a user selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system and of hardware for the target system and responsively determines what drivers correspond to the indicated hardware. The server then selects a certain one of the post-load images having the software applications that have been selected by the user and has the drivers for the hardware that have been selected by the user.

Claims

1. A method for deploying software, comprising the steps of:

providing a Web site on a computer system coupled to a network for presenting a user with an interface, wherein the computer system has an array of pre-built, post-load images stored thereon for combinations of hardware and the software that the user may select;

receiving from the user a selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system;

receiving from the user a selection of hardware for the target system and responsively determining what drivers correspond to the indicated hardware; and

selecting a certain one of the post-load images, wherein the selected image has the software applications selected by the user and the drivers for the hardware selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first order from the user for the certain image of the selected software applications deployable to the target system hardware, including a selection by the user of a method for delivery of the selected image; and

sending the user a loading utility with the selected image, wherein such a loading utility enables transferring the post-load image to the target computer system without relying on the target computer system having an operating system shell or boot diskette.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sending of the loading utility with the selected image includes sending the loading utility on bootable media, and wherein the utility includes instructions for causing the target system to transfer the image to a hard drive of the target system responsive to the target system booting to the utility on the bootable media when the target system is turned on.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising the steps of

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier;

presenting a list of the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that was sent for the first order; and

receiving a selection indicating ones of the software programs of the first order to update for the second order or indicating software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

6. The method of claim 2 comprising the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and

presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

7. The method of claim 2, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier;

receiving user information computer system about needs of the user;

maintaining a profile of the user, wherein the profile is associated with the user identifier and the received user information; and

presenting, responsive to the user information, a list of suggested updates for the software programs of the first order or a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

5. The method of claim 42, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and

presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested updates for the software programs of the first order.

8. An apparatus for deploying software, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing program instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of;

providing a Web site on a computer system coupled to a network for presenting a user with an interface;

receiving from the user a selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system;

receiving from the user a selection of hardware for the target system and responsively determining what drivers correspond to the indicated hardware, wherein the computer system has a pre-built array of software images stored thereon for combinations of hardware and the software that the user may select; and

selecting a certain one of the pre-built images, wherein the selected image has the software applications selected by the user and the drivers for the hardware selected by the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a first order from the user for the certain image of the selected software applications deployable to the target system hardware, including a selection by the user of a method for delivery of the selected image; and

sending the user a loading utility with the selected image, wherein such a loading utility enables transferring the image to the target computer system without relying on the et computer system having an operating system shell or boot diskette.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sending of the loading utility with the selected image includes sending the loading utility on bootable media, and wherein the utility includes instructions for causing the target system to transfer the image to a hard drive of the system responsive to the target system booting to the utility on the bootable media when the target system is turned on.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to perform the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier;

presenting a list of the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that was sent for the first order; and

receiving a selection indicating ones of the software programs of the first order to update for the second order or indicating software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to perform the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and

presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested updates for the software programs of the first order.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to perform the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and

presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to perform the steps of:

maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier;

receiving user information computer system about needs of the user;

maintaining a profile of the user, wherein the profile is associated with the user identifier and the received user information; and

presenting, responsive to the user information, a list of suggested updates for the software programs of the first order or a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

15. A computer program product for deploying software, comprising:

instructions for providing a Web site on a computer system coupled to a network for presenting a user with an interface;

instructions for receiving from the user a selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system;

instructions for receiving from the user a selection of hardware for the target system and responsively determining what drivers correspond to the indicated hardware, wherein the computer system has a pre-built array of software images stored thereon for combinations of hardware and the software that the user may select; and

instructions for selecting a certain one of the pre-built images, wherein the selected image has the software applications selected by the user and the drivers for the hardware selected by the user.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, comprising:

instructions for receiving a first order from the user for the certain image of the selected software applications deployable to the target system hardware, including a selection by the user of a method for delivery of the selected image; and

instructions for sending the user a loading utility with the selected image, wherein such a loading utility enables transferring the image to the target computer system without relying on the target computer system having an operating system shell or boot diskette.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the sending of the loading utility with the selected image includes sending the loading utility on bootable media, and wherein the utility includes instructions for causing the target system to transfer the image to a hard drive of the target system responsive to the target system booting to the utility on the bootable media when the target system is turned on.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, comprising:

instructions for maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

instructions for receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

instructions for retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier;

instructions for presenting a list of the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that was sent for the first order; and

instructions for receiving a selection indicating ones of the software programs of the first order to update for the second order or indicating software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, comprising:

instructions for maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

instructions for receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

instructions for retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and

instructions for presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested updates for the software programs of the first order.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, comprising:

instructions for maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

instructions for receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

instructions for retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and

instructions for presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.

21. The computer program product of claim 16, comprising:

instructions for maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;

instructions for receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;

instructions for retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier;

instructions for receiving user information computer system about needs of the user;

instructions for maintaining a profile of the user, wherein the profile is associated with the user identifier and the received user information; and

instructions for presenting, responsive to the user information, a list of suggested updates for the software programs of the first order or a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.