Apparatus and method for selective engagement in software distribution

• US 20080263136A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Locker, Howard J., Cheston, Richard W., Cromer, Daryl C., Gamble, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• 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

Apparatus, methods and program products by which the user of a computer system may initiate an interval during which the user leaves the system idle to permit the system to become engaged in peer to peer software distribution.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a computer system having a network interface connection and an away button;

said away button being responsive to selective activation by a user to signal through said network interface the initiation and termination of an interval of non-use of said system by the user; and

said network interface connection remaining active during a signaled interval of non-use of said system by the user to receive network communications engaging said system in peer to peer distribution of software.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said away button is a hardware component.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said system further has a display and said away button is an element displayed visibly to a user on said display.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said computer system is a selected one of a class consisting of a notebook computer system;

a desktop computer system;

a handheld computer system; and

a telephone device.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said away button is responsive to selective activation by a user to signal through said network interface and register said computer system with a master distribution server from which software distribution may be requested by other client computer systems.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said computer system further has a data storage device operatively coupled to said network interface connection and further wherein said network interface connection remains active during a signaled interval of non-use of said system by the user to receive from the master distribution server software to be distributed further to other client systems which request distribution from the master distribution server, said network interface connection and said data storage device cooperating to store the software to be distributed further.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said software received from the master distribution server is stored in partition hidden from and inaccessible to the computer system user.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said computer system further has a data storage device operatively coupled to said network interface connection and further wherein said network interface connection remains active during a signaled interval of non-use of said system by the user to respond to direction from the master distribution server to furnish software stored in said storage device to be distributed further to other client systems which request distribution from the master distribution server, said network interface connection and said data storage device cooperating to supply the software to be distributed further.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said software to be furnished to other client systems is stored in partition hidden from and inaccessible to the computer system user.

10. Apparatus comprising:

a computer system having a network interface connection through which said computer system may be linked to a client system; and

computer readable media accessible to said computer system and storing program code executable on said system;

said computer system when executing program code stored on said media receiving a signal initiated by a user of the client system and indicative of the initiation and termination of an interval of non-use of the client system by the user; and

said computer system when executing program code stored on said media originating a network communication through said network interface to engage the client system in a peer to peer software distribution.

11. Method comprising:

selectively signaling from a computer system the initiation and termination of an interval of non-use of the system by a user; and

during the interval of non-use, receiving at the computer system a selectively sent network communication engaging the computer system in peer to peer software distribution.

12. Method according to claim 11 wherein said signaling of an interval of non-use is generated by user manipulation of a hardware button.

13. Method according to claim 12 wherein said signaling of an interval of non-use is generated by user selection of a displayed software button.

14. Method according to claim 11 wherein, during the interval of non-use, the computer system registers with a master distribution server from which software distribution may be requested by other client computer systems.

15. Method according to claim 11 wherein, during the interval of non-use, the computer system receives from a master distribution server software to be distributed further to other client systems which request distribution from the master distribution server and stores the software in a data storage device.

16. Method according to claim 11 wherein, during the interval of non-use, the computer system responds to direction from the master distribution server to furnish software stored in said storage device to be distributed further to other client systems which request distribution from the master distribution server.

17. Method comprising:

producing computer executable program code;

storing the produced program code on a computer readable medium; and

providing the program code to be deployed to and executed on a computer system;

the program code comprising instructions which, when executing on the computer system;

selectively signals from the computer system the initiation and termination of an interval of non-use of the system by a user; and

during the interval of non-use, receives at the computer system a selectively sent network communication engaging the computer system in peer to peer software distribution.

18. Method according to claim 17 wherein said signaling of an interval of non-use is generated by user manipulation of a hardware button.

19. Method according to claim 17 wherein said signaling of an interval of non-use is generated by user selection of a displayed software button.