Method and system for managing and organizing software package installations

• US 20070074205A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexera Software LLC
• Original Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Tammana, Rajesh, Saxton, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A method and system for managing and organizing software package installations are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a software package from a computer source. One or more properties of the received software package are identified. The identified one or more properties of the received software package are stored in a first storage module. And the received software package is stored in a second storage module.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a software package from a computer source;

identifying one or more properties of the received software package;

storing the identified one or more properties in a first storage module; and

storing the received software package in a second storage module.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a relationship between the received software package and another software package stored in the second storage module.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

specifying the received software package as a new version of the other software package.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

replacing the other software package in the second storage module with the received software package.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein identifying the relationship comprises:

determining if the received software package is substantially similar to the other software package as a function of a property of the received software package.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the location of the software package within the second storage module is not accessible to a user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a user to define a relationship between the received software package and an existing software package stored in the second storage module in response to receiving the software package from the computer source.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein allowing the user to define the relationship comprises:

allowing the user to specify that the received software package is a new version of the existing software package, that the received software package overwrites the existing software package, or that the received software package is a new package distinct from the existing software package.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a user to specify if the received software package is substantially similar to an existing software package stored in the second storage module as a function of one or more properties of the received software package.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

receiving a software package from a computer source;

identifying one or more properties of the received software package;

storing the identified one or more properties in a first storage module; and

storing the received software package in a second storage module.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:

identifying a relationship between the received software package and another software package stored in the second storage module.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:

specifying the received software package as a new version of the other software package.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:

replacing the other software package in the second storage module with the received software package.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to identify the relationship between the received software package and the other software package by:

determining if the received software package is substantially similar to the other software package as a function of a property of the received software package.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the location of the software package within the second storage module is not accessible to a user.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:

allowing a user to define a relationship between the received software package and an existing software package stored in the second storage module in response to receiving the software package from the computer source.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to allow the user to define the relationship by:

allowing the user to specify that the received software package is a new version of the existing software package, that the received software package overwrites the existing software package, or that the received software package is a new package distinct from the existing software package.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:

allowing a user to specify if the received software package is substantially similar to an existing software package stored in the second storage module as a function of one or more properties of the received software package.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions;

wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to, receive a software package from a computer source;

identify one or more properties of the received software package;

store the identified one or more properties in a first storage module; and

store the received software package in a second storage module.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

identify a relationship between the received software package and another software package stored in the second storage module.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

specify the received software package as a new version of the other software package.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

replace the other software package in the second storage module with the received software package.

23. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the instructions cause the processor to identify the relationship between the received software package and the other software package by:

determining if the received software package is substantially similar to the other software package as a function of a property of the received software package.

24. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the location of the software package within the second storage module is not accessible to a user.

25. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

allow a user to define a relationship between the received software package and an existing software package stored in the second storage module in response to receiving the software package from the computer source.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the instructions cause the processor to allow the user to define the relationship by:

allowing the user to specify that the received software package is a new version of the existing software package, that the received software package overwrites the existing software package, or that the received software package is a new package distinct from the existing software package.

27. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

allow a user to specify if the received software package is substantially similar to an existing software package stored in the second storage module as a function of one or more properties of the received software package.