Method and software tools for intelligent service pack installation

• US 20050265247A1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bourke-Dunphy, Erin M., Zimniewicz, Jeff A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/249
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A software tool and method are provided for selectively installing service packs in a computer system according to dependency information and whether or not an upgrade to an application is scheduled. The method comprises prompting a user for desired setup information and installing the service pack associated with an existing application if the application requires the service pack and if the desired setup information indicates that an upgrade component corresponding to the application is not to be installed. In addition, the service pack is installed if the upgrade component is to be installed and if the service pack is required for upgrading the application.

Claims

1. A software setup tool for selectively installing service packs in a computer system, comprising:

a user interface component to prompt a user for desired setup information relating to a desired setup for the computer system;

a data store comprising dependency information; and

a service pack installation component to automatically selectively install at least one service pack associated with at least one application component according to the desired setup information and the dependency information, wherein the service pack installation component avoids installing unnecessary service packs according to the desired setup information and dependency information.

2. The software setup tool of claim 1, wherein the service pack installation component determines the availability of at least one additional service pack associated with one of an application upgrade component and an application residing in the computer system.

3. The software setup tool of claim 2, wherein the service pack installation component consults an Internet website to determine the availability of the at least one additional service pack.

4. The software setup tool of claim 1, wherein the user interface component prompts the user to accept or refuse installation of the at least one service pack.

5. The software setup tool of claim 1, wherein the service pack installation component determines whether the at least one application component is installed in the computer system.

6. Computer-executable instructions for implementing the software setup tool of claim 1, the computer-executable instructions embodied on computer-readable media.

7. A data packet to be transmitted between at least two processes, the data packet comprising computer-executable instructions for implementing the software setup tool of claim 1.

8. A method of installing service packs in a computer system, comprising:

providing dependency information relating to at least one service pack;

prompting a user for desired setup information relating to a desired setup for the computer system; and

automatically selectively installing the at least one service pack associated with at least one application component according to the desired setup information and the dependency information utilizing an installation component, the installation component avoiding installing unnecessary service packs according to the desired setup information and dependency information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising automatically selectively installing at least one application upgrade component in the computer system according to the desired setup information.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the availability of at least one additional service pack associated with the at least one application component.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the availability of at least one additional service pack comprises consulting an Internet website to determine the availability of the at least one additional service pack.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising prompting the user to accept or refuse installation of the at least one service pack.

13. Computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 8, the computer-executable instructions embodied on computer-readable media.

14. A data packet to be transmitted between at least two processes, the data packet comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 8.

15. A data packet adapted to be transmitted between at least two processes, comprising:

an installation component to automatically structure and install a service pack on a system, the component automatically interrogating the system to identify installed software and the structuring being based at least upon application setup parameters and application dependency parameters, the structuring comprising at least avoiding installing unnecessary service packs.

16. The data packet of claim 15, wherein the installation component determines the availability of at least one additional service pack associated with one of an application upgrade component and an application residing in the system.

17. The data packet of claim 16, wherein the installation component consults an Internet website to determine the availability of the at least one additional service pack.

18. The data packet of claim 15, wherein the dependency parameters comprise information indicative of whether an application residing in the system requires the service pack, wherein the setup parameters comprise information indicative of whether at least one application upgrade component is to be installed, and wherein the installation component automatically selectively installs the service pack if the dependency parameters indicate that the application residing in the computer system requires the service pack and the setup parameters indicate that the at least one application upgrade component is not to be installed.

19. The data packet of claim 15, wherein the dependency parameters comprise information indicative of whether an application residing in the system requires the service pack, wherein the setup parameters comprise information indicative of whether at least one application upgrade component is to be installed, and wherein the installation component automatically selectively installs the service pack if the dependency parameters indicate that the application residing in the computer system requires the service pack and the setup parameters indicate that the at least one application upgrade component is to be installed.

20. Computer-executable instructions for implementing the installation component of claim 15, the computer-executable instructions embodied on computer-readable media.