Parameterized Installation Packages

• US 20100186009A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Allington, Clea, Mares, Carlos Anguilar, Sen, Vijay, Ladki, Saad, Tang, Nina, Alam, Bilal, Joshi, Madhur
• Granted Patent: US 9,766,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

An installation package may have metadata concerning optional parameters for a software package to be installed. The metadata may be read by an installation system, and a user interface presented to a user for input on the parameters values. The installation system may store the parameters for later replication of the installation. The installation system may perform the installation on a local device or a remote device, and may further be capable of presenting the user interface on another device. In some embodiments, the metadata may be available to the installation system without having to open the installation package.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an application package, said application package comprising changeable parameters;

identifying said changeable parameters;

arranging at least a portion of said changeable parameters within a user interface;

receiving a user input for said changeable parameters from said user interface;

determining a parameter value based on said user input;

installing said application package; and

changing a first portion of said application package to said parameter value.

2. The method of claim 1, said application package comprising a web application.

3. The method of claim 2, said web application being installed on a remote device.

4. The method of claim 2, said web application being installed on a local device and said user interface being displayed on a remote device.

5. The method of claim 1, said changeable parameters being identified by reading metadata that is separately readable from said application package.

6. The method of claim 1, said changeable parameters being identified by scanning said application package to identify said changeable parameters, said changeable parameters having a tag within said application package.

7. The method of claim 1, at least one of said changeable parameters comprising a description, said description being displayed in said user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, at least one of said changeable parameters being an optional parameter, said optional parameter being displayed when a second changeable parameter meets a first criterion.

9. The method of claim 1, said application comprising metadata, said metadata comprising permissible values for a first changeable parameter, said user interface being configured to limit said user input for said first changeable parameter to said permissible values.

10. The method of claim 9, said permissible values comprising a range of values.

11. The method of claim 9, said permissible values comprising an integer number of optional values.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing said user input for said changeable parameters in a data store.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

performing a second installation by a method comprising reading said data store to retrieve said changeable parameters and performing said installing using said changeable parameters.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

editing said data store to change at least one of said changeable parameters and create a second version of said changeable parameters;

storing said second version of said changeable parameters in said data store; and

performing a second installation by a method comprising reading said data store to retrieve said second version of said changeable parameters and performing said installing using said second version of said changeable parameters.

15. The method of claim 1, said first portion of said application comprising changing an entry in a database.

16. The method of claim 15, said application package comprising metadata, said metadata comprising a script for accessing said database, said changing an entry in said database being performed by executing said script.

17. An installation system comprising:

an installation package analyzer configured to receive an application package and identify a set of changeable parameters;

a user interface generator configured to arrange at least a portion of said set of changeable parameters within a user interface, receive user input for at least one changeable parameter to determine a parameter value based on said user input;

a parameter manager configured to store said parameter value in a data store; and

an installer configured to install said application package and change a first portion of said application package using said parameter value.

18. The installation system of claim 17, said installer further configured to perform a second installation by reading said data store to receive stored parameter value and change said first portion of said application package using said stored parameter value.

19. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions configured to perform a method comprising:

receiving an application package, said application package comprising changeable parameters;

identifying said changeable parameters;

arranging at least a portion of said changeable parameters within a user interface;

receiving a user input for said changeable parameters;

determining a parameter value based on said user input;

storing a set of said parameter values for said changeable parameters;

installing said application package on a first device to create an installed application; and

for each of said changeable parameters, changing a corresponding portion of said installed application to said parameter value.

20. The medium of claim 19 configured to operate on a second device.