Local installation of remote software systems and methods

• US 20070174422A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc. (Ancestry.com Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Myfamily.Com Inc.
• Inventors: Parkinson, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method of downloading software to a user computer via a network includes, at a host computer system, receiving a request to download software to the user computer, storing at the host computer system identification information relating to the user computer, sending a download executable to the user computer, receiving status information from the download executable at the host computer system, and using the identification information to send the status information from the host computer system to the user computer for display on the user computer.

Claims

1. A method of downloading software to a user computer via a network, comprising:

at a host computer system, receiving a request to download software to the user computer;

storing at the host computer system identification information relating to the user computer;

sending a download executable to the user computer;

receiving status information from the download executable at the host computer system; and

using the identification information to send the status information from the host computer system to the user computer for display on the user computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request to download software to the user computer comprises receiving the request via a selection of a hyperlink in a web page displayed in a web browser at the user computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the status information is displayed on the user computer via the web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the software comprises a selection from the group consisting of application, applet, data file, document, and driver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises an IP address of the user computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises a session identifier of a web browser session on the user computer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving status information from the download executable relating to installation of the software at the user computer; and

using the identification information to send the status information relating to installation of the software from the host computer system to the user computer for display on the user computer.

8. A method of obtaining software at a local machine from a remote machine, comprising:

at the local machine, initiating a web browser session, wherein a web page is running in a web browser, wherein the browser session has associated therewith a session identifier, and wherein the local machine has an address associated therewith;

at the local machine, receiving a user selection on the web page to thereby initiate a software download;

at the remote machine, receiving an indication of the user selection via the web page;

at the remote machine, storing identification information relating to the local machine;

sending an executable file from the remote machine to the local machine;

at the local machine, using the executable file to initiate the software download;

sending status information from the executable file at the local machine to the remote machine;

using the identification information relating to the local machine stored at the remote machine to route the status information to the local machine; and

displaying the status information on the web page.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information comprises a selection from the group consisting of:

the address associated with the local machine; and

a web browser session identifier associated with the web browser session.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving a user selection on the web page comprises a selection from the group consisting of:

a selection of a hyperlink;

a command;

a selection from a drop down menu; and

a selection of a button.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the software comprises a selection from the group consisting of application, applet, data file, document, and driver.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the status information comprises information relating to installation of the software.

13. A system for sending software from a remote machine to a local machine, comprising:

a processor at the remote machine;

communication means for communicably coupling the remote machine to the local machine; and

computer-executable code that programs the remote machine to;

receive a user-initiated request from the local machine to obtain the software;

store identification information relating to the local machine;

send an executable file from the remote machine to the local machine;

send the software to the local machine;

receive status information from the executable file; and

use the stored identification information to route the status information to the local machine for display at the local machine.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication means comprises a selection from the group consisting of:

the Internet; and

an intranet.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user-initiated request comprises a selection from the group consisting of:

a selection of a hyperlink;

a command;

a selection from a drop down menu; and

a selection of a button.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the software comprises a selection from the group consisting of application, applet, data file, document, and driver.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the status information comprises information relating to installation of the software.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the identification information comprises a selection from the group consisting of:

the address associated with the local machine; and

a web browser session identifier associated with a web browser session on the local machine.