Installation system

• US 5,717,930 A
• Filed: 09/14/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Epson Avasys Corp. (Seiko Group), Epson Direct Corp. (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Mitani, Yoshifumi, Imai, Tsuneo, Komatsu, Kiyoharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richey, Michael T.
• Application Number:
  US08/528,087
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 364/280.2, 364/975.1, 364/975.2
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

The present invention provides an installation system that facilitates the operation on computer terminals in the network system and allows for automatic installation of an operating system software program on computer terminals. A PC to be shipped is connected to a network. After the PC is switched on, an installation floppy disk is inserted in the drive and started up. The installation start-up program stored in the floppy disk is copied to the internal memory of the PC. After the PC is connected to an installation server, the hard disk drive is initialized. The bar coded ID of the PC is read with a bar code reader. The installation information relevant to that ID is retrieved from the installation server by using the ID as a key. Based on the installation information retrieved, the software information stored in the storage device of installation server is read to obtain the operating system software program and the pertinent information for setting up the environment, and then the operating system software is installed. In the next step, application software programs are also installed.

Claims

1. An installation system, comprising:

an installation server;

a plurality of computer terminals; and

a network connected between said installation server and said computer terminals;

wherein said installation server comprises storage means for storing installation information that includes IDs of said computer terminals and software

information that includes operating system software, a plurality of application software programs, and information for setting up an environment;

wherein each computer terminal comprises;

a hard disk drive;

installation start-up program storage means for storing installation start-up program that is copied from a portable information recording medium when said computer terminal is switched on;

ID storage means for storing the IDs of said computer terminal;

hard disk drive initialization decision means for determining whether initialization of said hard disk drive is necessary;

installation information storage means for, if said initialization is necessary, retrieving from said installation server said installation information corresponding to said computer terminal using said ID thereof as a key, and said installation information storage means storing said installation information;

disk drive initialization means for initializing said hard disk drive after said installation information is retrieved from said installation server;

operating system software installation means for, if said initialization is not necessary, installing said operating system software based on said installation information after retrieving said operating system software from said installation server;

installation decision means for determining, in sequence, whether each of said application software programs should be installed based on said installation information; and

application software installation means for, if an application software program needs to be installed, installing said application software program based on said installation information after retrieving said application software program from said installation server.

3. The installation system of claim 1 wherein said installation information includes hardware configuration information of said computer terminals, and wherein each computer terminal further comprises hardware information storage means for storing the hardware configuration information of said computer terminal and hardware configuration decision means for determining, prior to said initialization of said hard disk drive, whether said hardware configuration information read from said hardware information storage means is consistent with said hardware configuration information of said installation information read from said installation server.

2. An installation system, comprising;

an installation server;

a plurality of computer terminals; and

a network connected between said installation server and said computer terminals;

wherein said installation server comprises;

storage means for storing an installation start-up program, installation information that includes IDs of said computer terminals, and software information that includes operating system software, a plurality of application software programs, and information for setting up an environment;

wherein each computer terminal comprises;

a hard disk drive;

communication start-up means for storing at least a communication start-up program of said operating system software and for, when said computer terminal is switched on, retrieving said installation start-up program from said installation server;

installation start-up program storage means for storing said installation start-up program that is copied from said installation server;

ID storage means for storing the IDs of said computer terminal;

hard disk drive initialization decision means for determining whether initialization of said hard disk drive is necessary;

installation information storage means for, if said initialization is necessary, retrieving from said installation server said installation information corresponding to said computer terminal using said ID thereof as a key, and said installation information storage means storing said installation information;

disk drive initialization means for initializing said hard disk drive after said installation information is retrieved from said installation server;

operating system software installation means for, if said initialization is not necessary, installing said operating system software based on said installation information after retrieving said operating system software from said installation server;

installation decision means for determining, in sequence, whether each of said application software programs should be installed based on said installation information; and

application software installation means for, if an application software program needs to be installed, installing said application software program based on said installation information after retrieving said application software program from said installation server.

4. The installation system of claim 2 wherein said installation information includes hardware configuration information of said computer terminals, and wherein each computer terminal further comprises hardware information storage means for storing the hardware configuration information of said computer terminal and hardware configuration decision means for determining, prior to said initialization of said hard disk drive, whether said hardware configuration information read from said hardware information storage means is consistent with said hardware configuration information of said installation information read from said installation server.