Polymorphic package files to update software components
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving a computer program from a remote server computer to a client computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a predetermined request signal from the client to the server;
providing a polymorphic master object from the server to the client, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the polymorphic master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of said client;
providing one of the polymorphic descriptors from the client to the remote server in response to a selection; and
providing the computer program corresponding to the provided polymorphic descriptor from the server to the client.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A server computer (102) in a communication system (100) provides updated software programs to client computers (102) independent of the type of client (104) and the type of server (102). A polymorphic master object (300) has a predetermined structure known to all servers (102) and clients (104). Upon connection of the client (104) to the server (102), the server (102) provides the master object (300) to the client (104). The polymorphic master object (300) includes fields that indicate polymorphic package files that are available for transfer to the client (104). One such field is a distributed install file that includes, in a text format, instructions for instantiating the selected package file. Upon receipt, either the user or the client selects package file. The client (104) provides a request to the server (102) for the selected file, which the server (102) provides to the client (104). Using the distributed install file, the client (104) instantiates the selected package file.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving a computer program from a remote server computer to a client computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a predetermined request signal from the client to the server; providing a polymorphic master object from the server to the client, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the polymorphic master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of said client; providing one of the polymorphic descriptors from the client to the remote server in response to a selection; and providing the computer program corresponding to the provided polymorphic descriptor from the server to the client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A communication system comprising:
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a server memory for storing a polymorphic master object and for storing a plurality of computer programs, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of the plurality of computer programs and having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; a server coupled to the server memory for retrieving the polymorphic master object from the server memory and having an output for providing the polymorphic master object in response to a predetermined request signal and for providing the computer program corresponding to one of the polymorphic descriptors in response to a program request indicative of said one of the polymorphic descriptors; and a client coupled to the output of the server, and being coupled to the server for providing the predetermined request signal and for providing said program request indicative of one of the polymorphic descriptors in response to a selection. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing a computer program from a remote server computer to a client computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a predetermined request signal from the client; providing a polymorphic master object to the client, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the polymorphic master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; receiving a program request indicative of one of the polymorphic descriptors from the client indicative of a selected computer program; and providing the computer program corresponding to the indicated polymorphic descriptor in the program request to the client. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A host computer comprising:
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a server memory for storing a polymorphic master object and for storing a plurality of computer programs, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of the plurality of computer programs and having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; and a server computer coupled to the server memory for retrieving the polymorphic master object from the server memory and having an output for providing the polymorphic master object in response to a predetermined request signal and for providing a computer program corresponding to one of the polymorphic descriptors in response to a program request indicative of said one of the polymorphic descriptors. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for retrieving a computer program from a remote server computer by a client computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a predetermined request signal to the server; receiving a polymorphic master object from the server, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the polymorphic master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; providing a program request indicative of one of the polymorphic descriptors to the server in response to a selection; and receiving the computer program corresponding to the indicated polymorphic descriptor in the program request from the server. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for retrieving a computer program and a polymorphic master object from a remote server computer, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of the plurality of computer programs and having a predetermined structure, the apparatus comprising:
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a client computer; a client memory for storing the polymorphic master object and for storing a program executable by the client computer, the program generating a predetermined request signed in response to a selection signal, instantiating into the client memory the polymorphic master object received from the server in response to the predetermined request signal, providing a program request indicative of one of the polymorphic descriptors to the server, and executing a computer program corresponding to said indicated one of the polymorphic descriptors. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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providing a predetermined request signal from a client to a server; providing a polymorphic master object from the server to the client, the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the polymorphic master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; providing one of the polymorphic descriptors from the client to the remote server in response to a selection; and providing the computer program corresponding to the provided polymorphic descriptor from the server to the client.
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36. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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receiving a predetermined request signal from a client; providing a polymorphic master object to the client, the master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the polymorphic master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; receiving a program request indicative of one of the polymorphic descriptors from the client indicative of a selected computer program; and providing the computer program corresponding to the indicated polymorphic descriptor in the program request to the client.
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37. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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providing a predetermined request signal to a server; receiving a polymorphic master object from the server the polymorphic master object including a plurality of polymorphic descriptors of at least one computer program, the master object having a predetermined structure that is independent of the type of the client; providing a program request indicative of one of the polymorphic descriptors to the server in response to a selection; and receiving the computer program corresponding to the indicated polymorphic descriptor in the program request from the server.
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Specification