Software distribution method and system
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A software distribution method (300b) and a corresponding system are proposed. In a software distribution application, packages including instructions specifying the actions to be carried out on each target computer for installing or removing selected software products are prepared in a central site; typically, the actions are conditioned to a hardware configuration of the target computer. Each package is transmitted to the target computer, and the corresponding instructions are interpreted so as to enforce the desired software products meeting the current configuration of the target computer. In the solution of the invention, the configuration of the target computer is monitored to detect (337) any hardware upgrade. In response thereto, the target computer generates (339-351) a list of actions for removing software products not meeting the new configuration any longer and a list of action for installing software products now meeting the new configuration. These lists are transmitted (357) to the central site, and they trigger (360) the building of a corresponding delta package. The delta package is then distributed to the target computer so as to ensure that the software products installed on the target computer are always consistent with its hardware configuration.
53 Citations
28 Claims
-
1-13. -13. (canceled)
-
14. A software distribution method including the steps of:
-
on a source computer providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on each one of a plurality of target computers for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, transmitting the package from the source computer to the target computer, performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and performing the correction actions.
-
-
21. A computer program application directly loadable into a working memory of a data processing system for performing a software distribution method when the application is run on the data processing system, the method including the steps of:
-
on a source computer providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on each one of a plurality of target computers for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, transmitting the package from the source computer to the target computer, performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and performing the correction actions.
-
-
22. A program application product comprising a computer readable medium on which a computer program application is stored, the computer program application being directly loadable into a working memory of a data processing system for performing a software distribution method when the application is run on the data processing system, wherein the method includes the steps of:
-
on a source computer providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on each one of a plurality of target computers for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, transmitting the package from the source computer to the target computer, performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and performing the correction actions.
-
-
23. A computer program directly loadable into a working memory of a target computer for performing a software distribution method when the program is run on the target computer, wherein the target computer is coupled with a source computer providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on the target computer for enforcing corresponding software features and wherein at least one of the actions is conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, the method including the steps of:
-
receiving the package from the source computer, performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and performing the correction actions.
-
-
24. A program product comprising a computer readable medium on which a computer program is stored, the computer program being directly loadable into a working memory of a target computer for performing a software distribution method when the program is run on the target computer, wherein the target computer is coupled with a source computer providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on the target computer for enforcing corresponding software features and wherein at least one of the actions is conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, the method including the steps of:
-
receiving the package from the source computer, performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and performing the correction actions.
-
-
25. A software distribution system including a source computer and a plurality of target computers, the source computer having means for providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on each one of the target computers for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, wherein the system further includes means for transmitting the package from the source computer to the target computer and wherein the target computer includes means for performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, means for detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, means for determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and means for performing the correction actions.
-
26. A software distribution system including a source computer and a plurality of target computers, the source computer having a software module for providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on each one of the target computers for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, wherein the system further includes network services for transmitting the package from the source computer to the target computer and wherein the target computer includes an engine for performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, and a monitor for detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer and for determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, the engine being further suitable to perform the correction actions.
-
27. A target computer for use in a software distribution system including a source computer having means for providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on the target computer for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, wherein the target computer includes means for receiving the package from the source computer, means for performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, means for detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer, means for determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, and means for performing the correction actions.
-
28. A target computer for use in a software distribution system including a source computer having a software module for providing a package including an indication of actions to be performed on the target computer for enforcing corresponding software features, at least one of the actions being conditioned to a configuration of the target computer, wherein the target computer includes a network service for receiving the package from the source computer, an engine for performing the actions meeting the configuration of the target computer, a monitor for detecting a change resulting in a new configuration of the target computer and for determining correction actions for enforcing the software features meeting the new configuration, the engine being further suitable to perform the correction actions.
Specification