Multiple-package installation with package dependencies
First Claim
1. A method for installing a plurality of software packages in a computing system, at least one of the software packages being dependent on a dominant software package, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
- reading for each dominant package to be installed the dependency list for the dominant package, said dependency list identifying dependent packages that the dominant package is dependent upon;
if the dominant package has a dependent package not already installed, constructing a trailer script process and an action list, said action list having action entries, each action entry identifying a package, said trailer script process controlling installation of packages on the action list;
adding to the action list the dependent package not already installed; and
installing the dominant package and dependent packages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Installation of a multi-package distribution software pack is split into installation of each dominant, or primary, package and installation of the dependent, or secondary, packages dependent on that dominant package. The dependent packages are installed before or after installation of the dominant package depending upon the constraints of the target system for the installation. As the dominant package is installed or delayed for later installation, an action list of dependent packages to be installed is built, and a trailer script executable by the installation utility is created to install the dependent packages on the action list. Since a dependent package may also be a dominant package, the flow of operations in the invention are layered to add additional entries on the action list for additional dependent packages dependent from a dominant package that is dependent from another dominant package.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for installing a plurality of software packages in a computing system, at least one of the software packages being dependent on a dominant software package, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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reading for each dominant package to be installed the dependency list for the dominant package, said dependency list identifying dependent packages that the dominant package is dependent upon; if the dominant package has a dependent package not already installed, constructing a trailer script process and an action list, said action list having action entries, each action entry identifying a package, said trailer script process controlling installation of packages on the action list; adding to the action list the dependent package not already installed; and installing the dominant package and dependent packages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for installing a plurality of software packages in a computing system, the computing system having a processor, an input/output device, and a data storage device, at least one of the software packages being dependent on a dominant software package, said apparatus comprising:
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a test module testing whether or not a dominant package to be installed has dependent packages to be installed;
the dominant package being dependent on the dependent packages for successful operation;a construct module constructing an action list if said test module indicates the dominant package has a dependent package not already installed, said action list having action entries, each action entry identifying a package to be installed; a trailer script module controlling installation of packages on the action list; an action entry add module adding to the action list the dependent package not already installed; and an install module installing the dominant package and calling the trailer script module to install packages on the action list. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program storage medium readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for installing a plurality of software packages in the computing system, at least one of the software packages being dependent on a primary software package, said computer process comprising the steps of:
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reading for each primary package to be installed the dependency list for the primary package, said dependency list identifying secondary packages that the primary package is dependent upon; if the primary package has a secondary package not already installed, constructing a trailer script process and an action list, said action list having action entries, each action entry identifying a package, said trailer script process controlling installation of packages on the action list; adding to the action list the secondary package not already installed; and installing the primary package and secondary packages. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification