System for software distribution in a digital computer network

• US 5,845,090 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PLATINUM Technology IP, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kratsch, Charles Henry, Larson, Joseph Paul, Collins, Theodore Joseph III, Anderson, Scott Roy, McDowall, Steven James
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/723,051
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.5, 395/200.51, 395/200.52, 395/200.32, 395/200.56, 395/712, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653
• US Class Current: 709/221
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A process of distributing software and data in a digital computer network by combining the software and data, together with programs and data known as methods, into single entities referred to as Packages, and then by using specific techniques to transmit Packages from one computer to another. The methods are operable on a Target digital computer to unpack and perform useful functions such as installing and backing out software on the Target digital computer, collecting data from the Target digital computer and forwarding it to another digital computer, or completing a system administration function on the Target digital computer. The techniques used in transmitting Packages between digital computers includes use of Agent software to transfer and activate Packages at appropriate times. The techniques also include forwarding multiple copies of Packages received on a slow network connection to one or more digital computers connected on faster network connections. The techniques also include temporarily storing one or more Packages for later transmission to computers which connect occasionally to the network. Further, the techniques include limiting simultaneous transfers to Target digital computers based on network capacity and topology. The techniques also including limiting the type of software and data which each Package may affect on a Target digital computer, to more easily manage which Packages must be backed out in what order from the Target digital computers. Finally, the techniques also include constructing Packages which contain some software and data which depends on the configuration of the Target digital computer, and transferring only that part of the Package which is appropriate for each Target digital computer'"'"'s configuration.

Claims

1. A method of transferring digital computer programs and data from one or more source digital computers to one or more electronically connected target digital computers, each called a Target, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a Remote Package Manager within each Target;

b. defining an installation method and a backout method, wherein the installation method includes the step of collecting information from the Target digital computer'"'"'s memory or permanent storage, and transmitting said information to a third digital computer called a Collection Receiver;

c. building a Package, wherein the step of building includes the step of combining the installation method and the backout method with digital computer programs and data into an object such that the Package includes embedded methods for installing and removing the digital computer programs and data;

d. transferring the Package by electrically transmitting the Package in digital form to each Target; and

e. unpacking the Package on each Target, wherein the step of unpacking includes the steps of;

transmitting a message from the Remote Package Manager to the Package; and

executing, as a function of the message transmitted from the Remote Package Manager, one or more of the embedded methods;

whereby the Package becomes a self-executing entity that acts autonomously in response to the message to execute one or more of the embedded methods.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the installation method includes the step of

copying the digital computer programs and data to the Target digital computer'"'"'s memory or permanent storage.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each Target may belong to exactly one set of Targets which all receive identical Packages in the identical order, called a Profile, in which an order is enforced for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the Targets is a Staging Server used to store one or more Packages for an off-line digital computer which is not electrically connected to the network, but which occasionally is electrically connected, and wherein the step of transferring includes the steps of determining when the off-line digital computer is electrically connected to the network and retransmitting the Package from local storage facilities of the Target to the off-line digital computer during such times.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each Target may belong to exactly one set of Targets which all receive identical Packages in the identical order, called a Profile, in which an order is enforced for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out, and

wherein each Package is assigned to exactly one set of Packages, called a Distribution Stream, based on the effects it has upon a Target, such that Packages can be backed out of the Target in other than the order installed by removing only those previously installed Packages from the same Distribution Stream.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each Target may belong to exactly one set of Targets which all receive identical Packages in the identical order, called a Profile, in which an order is enforced for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out,

wherein each Package is assigned to exactly one set of Packages, called a Distribution Stream, based on the effects it has upon a Target, such that Packages can be backed out of the Target in other than the order installed by removing only those previously installed Packages from the same Distribution Stream,

wherein one of the Targets is a Staging Server used to store one or more Packages for an off-line digital computer which is not electrically connected to the network, but which occasionally is electrically connected, and wherein the step of transferring includes the steps of determining when the off-line digital computer is electrically connected to the network and retransmitting the Package from local storage facilities of the Target to the off-line digital computer during such times,

wherein each Package may contain one or more data items which depend on pre-specified configuration values of the Target, called Criteria, and from which one or more criteria-dependent data items are selected during the transfer, and

wherein the step of transferring the Package further includes the step of transmitting the Package to a pre-defined maximum number of Targets simultaneously, wherein the step of transmitting includes the steps of determining when the pre-defined maximum number of simultaneous transfers is reached, waiting for other transfers to complete and then making additional simultaneous transfers as the other transfers complete.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of building a Package includes the step of assigning a Package Type to the Package and wherein the step of unpacking the Package further includes the steps of determining the Package Type assigned to the Package and selecting the message to be transmitted from the Remote Package Manager as a function of the Package Type.

15. The method according to claim 4, wherein one of the Targets is a Staging Server used to store one or more Packages for an off-line digital computer which is not electrically connected to the network, but which occasionally is electrically connected, and wherein the step of transferring includes the steps of determining when the off-line digital computer is electrically connected to the network and retransmitting the Package from local storage facilities of the Target to the off-line digital computer during such times.

8. A method of transferring digital computer programs and data from one or more source digital computers to one or more electronically connected target digital computers, each called a Target, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a Remote Package Manager within each Target;

b. defining an installation method and a backout method;

c. building a Package, wherein the step of building includes the step of combining the installation method and the backout method with digital computer programs and data into an object such that the Package includes embedded methods for installing and removing the digital computer programs and data;

d. transferring the Package by electrically transmitting the Package in digital form to each Target, wherein the step of transferring includes the step of re-transmitting the Package from one of the Targets to one or more digital computers specified by the Package; and

e. unpacking the Package on each Target, wherein the step of unpacking includes the steps of;

transmitting a message from the Remote Package Manager to the Package; and

executing, as a function of the message transmitted from the Remote Package Manager, one or more of the embedded methods;

whereby the Package becomes a self-executing entity that acts autonomously in response to the message to execute one or more of the embedded methods.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of retransmitting includes the step of retransmitting the Package from one of the Targets to itself.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein each Target may belong to exactly one set of Targets which all receive identical Packages in the identical order, called a Profile, in which an order is enforced for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein one of the Targets is a Staging Server used to store one or more Packages for an off-line digital computer which is not electrically connected to the network, but which occasionally is electrically connected, and wherein the step of transferring includes the steps of determining when the off-line digital computer is electrically connected to the network and retransmitting the Package from local storage facilities of the Target to the off-line digital computer during such times.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein each Target may belong to exactly one set of Targets which all receive identical Packages in the identical order, called a Profile, in which an order is enforced for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out,

wherein each Package is assigned to exactly one set of Packages, called a Distribution Stream, based on the effects it has upon a Target, such that Packages can be backed out of the Target in other than the order installed by removing only those previously installed Packages from the same Distribution Stream,

wherein one of the Targets is a Staging Server used to store one or more Packages for an off-line digital computer which is not electrically connected to the network, but which occasionally is electrically connected, and wherein the step of transferring includes the steps of determining when the off-line digital computer is electrically connected to the network and retransmitting the Package from local storage facilities of the Target to the off-line digital computer during such times,

wherein each Package may contain one or more data items which depend on pre-specified configuration values of the Target, called Criteria, and from which one or more criteria-dependent data items are selected during the transfer, and

wherein the step of transferring the Package further includes the step of transmitting the Package to a pre-defined maximum number of Targets simultaneously, wherein the step of transmitting includes the steps of determining when the pre-defined maximum number of simultaneous transfers is reached, waiting for other transfers to complete and then making additional simultaneous transfers as the other transfers complete.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of building a Package includes the step of assigning a Package Type to the Package and wherein the step of unpacking the Package further includes the steps of determining the Package Type assigned to the Package and selecting the message to be transmitted from the Remote Package Manager as a function of the Package Type.

14. A method of transferring digital computer programs and data from one or more source digital computers to one or more electronically connected target digital computers, each called a Target, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a Remote Package Manager within each Target;

b. defining an installation method and a backout method;

c. building a Package, wherein the step of building includes the step of combining the installation method and the backout method with digital computer programs and data into an object such that the Package includes embedded methods for installing and removing the digital computer programs and data;

d. transferring the Package by electrically transmitting the Package in digital form to each Target; and

e. unpacking the Package on each Target, wherein the step of unpacking includes the steps of;

transmitting a message from the Remote Package Manager to the Package; and

executing one or more of the embedded methods;

wherein each Target may belong to exactly one set of Targets which all receive identical Packages in the identical order, called a Profile, in which an order is enforced for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out;

whereby, upon receiving the message transmitted from the Remote Package Manager, the Package becomes a self-executing entity that acts autonomously in response to the message to execute one or more of the embedded methods.

16. A process embodied in claim 14, wherein each Package may contain one or more data items which depend on pre-specified configuration values of the Target, called Criteria, and from which one or more criteria-dependent data items are selected during the transfer.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of transferring includes the step of scheduling the Package for distribution within the network.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of building a Package includes the step of assigning a Package Type to the Package and wherein the step of unpacking the Package further includes the steps of determining the Package Type assigned to the Package and selecting the message to be transmitted from the Remote Package Manager as a function of the Package Type.

19. A method of transferring system configuration information from one or more digital computers to one or more electronically connected Target digital computers, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a Remote Package Manager within each Target;

b. defining an installation method and a backout method;

c. building a Package having a Package type, wherein the step of building includes the step of combining the installation method and the backout method with the system configuration information into an object such that the Package includes embedded methods for modifying the system configuration of the Target digital computer according to said system configuration information;

d. assigning a plurality of Target digital computers to a Profile, wherein the Profile defines an order to be followed for both installing and backing out the Package so that the most recently installed package must be backed out before the second most recently installed package may be backed out;

e. transferring the Package at or after a pre-designated time by electrically transmitting the Package in digital form to one or more Target digital computers; and

f. unpacking the Package on each Target digital computer by invoking the embedded installation method, wherein the step of unpacking includes the steps of;

determining, at the Remote Package Manager, the Package type; and

transmitting a message from the Remote Package Manager to the Package as a function of the Package type;

whereby the Package becomes a self-executing entity that acts autonomously in response to the message received from the Remote Package Manager to execute one or more of the embedded methods.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the installation method includes the step of performing a pre-configured system administration function on the Target digital computer to alter the Target digital computer'"'"'s software configuration.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein one of the Target digital computers is a Staging Server used to store one or more Packages for a off-line digital computer which is not electrically connected to the network, but which occasionally is electrically connected, and wherein the step of transmitting includes the steps of:

determining when the off-line digital computer is electrically connected to the network; and

retransmitting the Package from local storage facilities of the Staging Server to the off-line digital computer during such times.

22. A software distribution system, comprising:

an internetwork;

a network management server connected to the internetwork, wherein the network management server includes;

a central package archive, wherein the central package archive stores packages, wherein each package stored in the central package archive includes a package type, digital computer programs and data and embedded methods for installing and removing the digital computer programs and data;

an outbound package queue;

a central package manager connected to the central package archive and the outbound package queue, wherein the central package manager transfers one of said packages between the central package archive and the outbound package queue; and

a package transfer agent connected to the outbound package queue, wherein the package transfer agent transfers packages from the outbound package queue to the internetwork; and

a target system, wherein the target system includes;

an inbound package queue;

a package transfer agent connected to the inbound package queue, wherein the package transfer agent transfers packages from the internetwork to the inbound package queue; and

a remote package manager connected to the inbound package queue, wherein the remote package manager reads the package type of packages stored in the inbound package queue and messages the package as a function of the package type;

whereby the package becomes a self-executing entity that acts autonomously in response to the message received from the remote package manager to execute one or more of the embedded methods.

23. The software distribution system according to claim 22, wherein the target system further comprises an outbound package queue, connected to the remote package manager and the package transfer agent, wherein the outbound package queue receives packages assembled by the remote package manager.

24. The software distribution system according to claim 23, wherein the target system further comprises a target file system, connected to the remote package manager, wherein the remote package manager includes means for assembling a package as a function of data stored in the target file system and wherein the package transfer agent includes means for transferring the assembled package to a collection receiver.

25. A software distribution system, comprising:

a network management server, wherein the network management server includes;

a central package archive, wherein the central package archive stores packages, wherein each package stored in the central package archive includes a package type, digital computer programs and data and embedded methods for installing and removing the digital computer programs and data;

an outbound package queue;

a central package manager connected to the central package archive and the outbound package queue, wherein the central package manager transfers one of said packages between the central package archive and the outbound package queue; and

a package transfer agent connected to the outbound package queue, wherein the package transfer agent transfers packages from the outbound package queue to the internetwork;

a distribution server connected to the network management server, wherein the distribution server includes;

an outbound package queue;

a first package transfer agent connected to the outbound package queue, wherein the first package transfer agent receives packages from the package transfer agent of the network management server and stored the packages to the outbound package queue; and

a second package transfer agent connected to the outbound package queue, wherein the second package transfer agent transfers packages from the outbound package queue; and

a target system connected to the distribution server, wherein the target system includes;

an inbound package queue;

a package transfer agent connected to the inbound package queue and to the second package transfer agent of the distribution server, wherein the package transfer agent transfers packages from the outbound package queue of the distribution server to the inbound package queue; and

a remote package manager connected to the inbound package queue, wherein the remote package manager reads the package type of packages stored in the inbound package queue and messages the package as a function of the package type;

whereby the package becomes a self-executing entity that acts autonomously in response to the message received from the remote package manager to execute one or more of the embedded methods.

26. The software distribution system according to claim 25, wherein the software distribution system further comprises:

an off-line target; and

a staging server connected to the distribution server, wherein the staging server includes;

local data storage; and

a staging server package manager connected to the distribution server and the local data storage, wherein the remote package manager queues packages received from the distribution server in a staging image stored on the local data storage and transfers the queued packages to the off-line target when the off-line target establishes communication with the staging server.

27. The software distribution system according to claim 25, wherein the target system further comprises an outbound package queue, connected to the remote package manager and the package transfer agent, wherein the outbound package queue receives packages assembled by the remote package manager.

28. The software distribution system according to claim 27, wherein the target system further comprises a target file system, connected to the remote package manager, wherein the remote package manager includes means for assembling a package as a function of data stored in the target file system and wherein the package transfer agent includes means for transferring the assembled package to a collection receiver.