Brokers for managing computer-implemented installations

• US 20060015865A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schneider, Manfred, Bozak, Erol
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for delivering resources for installation on a machine involves receiving a first request from one or more installer components requesting one or more requested installation resources. A second request is sent, in response to the first request, for the one or more requested installation resources to multiple service providers. One or more installation resources are obtained from the service providers. The obtained installation resources correspond to the requested installation resources and are obtained as a result of the second request. The obtained installation resources are delivered to the installer components.

Claims

1. A method for delivering resources for installation on a machine, the method comprising:

receiving a first request from one or more installer components for one or more requested installation resources;

sending a second request, in response to the first request, for the one or more requested installation resources to a plurality of service providers;

obtaining one or more installation resources from at least one of the plurality of service providers, wherein the one or more installation resources correspond to the one or more requested installation resources and are obtained as a result of the second request; and

delivering the one or more installation resources to the one or more installer components.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first request identifies parameters for defining the one or more installation resources and the one or more installation resources comply with the parameters.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising negotiating with at least one of the plurality of service providers to provide installation resources that comply with the parameters.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending a message to a device that includes the one or more installer components to solicit an approval through a user interface of negotiated terms for providing the installation resources.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the one or more installation resources comprises:

receiving a plurality of service offers, with each service offer relating to at least one of the one or more installation resources; and

accepting at least one of the service offers for each of the one or more installation resources.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more installer components comprise separate installers that generate separate requests for installation resources, with the separate requests collectively comprising the first request, the method further comprising bundling installation resources corresponding to each of the separate requests for delivery to the one or more installer components.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the one or more requested installation resources comprise a plurality of separable resources;

obtaining the one or more installation resources comprises obtaining a first subset of the one or more installation resources from a first service provider and obtaining a second subset of the one or more installation resources from a second service provider; and

delivering the one or more installation resources comprises delivering the first subset and the second subset bundled together.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein obtaining the one or more installation resources is performed only after determining that all of the requested installation resources can be obtained.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing at least one of the one or more installation resources in a cache;

receiving, from an installer component, a third request for installation resources;

determining that the third request can be at least partially fulfilled using at least one of the stored installation resources; and

retrieving the at least one of the stored installation resources for delivery to the installer component in response to the third request.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein obtaining one or more installation resources comprises obtaining authorization to distribute multiple copies of at least one of the stored installation resources.

11. A system for delivering resources for installation on a machine, the system comprising:

means for receiving, from an installer component, a first request for one or more requested installation resources;

means for sending a second request, in response to the first request, for the one or more requested installation resources to one or more remote service providers;

means for obtaining one or more installation resources from multiple sources, with each source selected from the group consisting of at least one of the remote service providers and a local storage, wherein the one or more installation resources correspond to the one or more requested installation resources and are obtained as a result of the second request; and

means for delivering the one or more installation resources to the installer component.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for negotiating with the one or more remote service providers by:

sending parameters relating to requested installation resources to a remote service provider;

receiving an offer defining at least one an available installation resource; and

sending a request to modify the offer.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one of:

means for discovering remote service providers;

means for posting information identifying requested installation resources, with the posted information discoverable by remote service providers;

or

means for posting identification information associated with the means for obtaining one or more installation resources, with the identification information discoverable by remote service providers.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a broker device that includes the means for receiving, the means for sending, the means for obtaining, and the means for delivering.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the broker device further comprises at least one of:

means for validating at least one of the installer component or the first request;

or

means for managing payment information for the one or more installation resources.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for caching installation resources for delivery to installer components in response to requests for particular installation resources.

17. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for delivering resources for installation on a machine, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing apparatus to:

receive a first request from one or more installer components for requested installation resources;

send a set of second requests, in response to the first request, for the requested installation resources, with each second request in the set of second requests sent to one of a plurality of service providers;

obtain a first subset of installation resources from a first one of the plurality of service providers in response to one of the plurality of second requests, wherein the first subset of installation resources corresponds to one or more of the requested installation resources;

obtain a second subset of installation resources from a second one of the plurality of service providers in response to another of the plurality of second requests, wherein the second subset of installation resources corresponds to one or more of the requested installation resources;

bundle the first subset of installation resources and the second subset of installation resources to generate bundled installation resources; and

deliver the bundled installation resources to the one or more installer components.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the requested installation resources are defined by mandatory parameters defining required features of the requested installation resources and optional parameters defining preferred features of the requested installation resources, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing apparatus to further:

negotiate with the plurality of service providers to obtain installation resources including the required features; and

negotiate with the plurality of service providers to attempt to obtain installation resources including at least a portion of the preferred features.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the computer program product is operable to cause data processing apparatus to further:

request an approval of proposed installation resources from a user; and

receive an approval of the proposed installation resources from the user in response to the request for approval prior to delivering the bundled installation resources.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein:

the set of second requests is sent in response to at least one other request received from additional installer components for additional installation resources; and

at least one of the first subset of installation resources and the second subset of installation resources comprise the additional installation resources.