Installation of application software through a network from a source computer system on to a target computer system
First Claim
1. A method for installation of an application software package on one or more target workstations from a source workstation, said one or more target workstations and said source workstation all coupled to a network executing a network operating system, said method comprising the steps of:
- creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said source workstation;
installing said application software package on said source workstation;
creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said source workstation;
comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot;
generating an application installation package based on said step of comparing, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations;
storing said application installation package at a storage location accessible by said one or more target workstations and said source workstations;
on each of said one or more target workstations;
saving a predetermined set of system files that will be changed by said application installation package; and
installing said application software package on said corresponding target workstation based on said application installation package.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for the remote installation of application software from a source computer system to one or more target computer systems (workstation) coupled to a Local Area Network (LAN). The present invention allows a LAN Administrator to install application software on a user'"'"'s workstation automatically at any time without user'"'"'s intervention. The state of (i.e. a snapshot of) the LAN Administrator'"'"'s system before and after the installation of the application software is captured and an installation package is built. Installation on the user workstations is then scheduled. For installation, the installation package is transmitted to the user workstation where an install program carries out commands in the installation package for installing the application software.
331 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for installation of an application software package on one or more target workstations from a source workstation, said one or more target workstations and said source workstation all coupled to a network executing a network operating system, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said source workstation; installing said application software package on said source workstation; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said source workstation; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot; generating an application installation package based on said step of comparing, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations; storing said application installation package at a storage location accessible by said one or more target workstations and said source workstations; on each of said one or more target workstations; saving a predetermined set of system files that will be changed by said application installation package; and installing said application software package on said corresponding target workstation based on said application installation package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for installation of an application software package on a target workstation from a source workstation across a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a personality file for said target workstation, said personality file describing installation parameters for said application software package and said target workstation; storing said personality file on said target workstation; generating an application installation package for said application software package on said source workstation, said step of generating an application installation package further including the steps of; creating a pre-installation snapshot of said source workstation, installing said application software package on said source workstation, creating a post-installation snapshot of said source workstation, comparing said pre-installation snapshot with said post-installation snapshot; and generating said application installation package based on differences between said pre-installation snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; transmitting said application installation package across said network to said target workstation; and said target workstation receiving said application installation package and installing said application software package based on said application installation package and said personality file. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A network for coupling at least a source workstation with a target workstation, said network comprising:
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a media for connecting said source workstation with said target workstation; said source workstation comprising; a source workstation adapter for coupling said source workstation to said media; means for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of the software on said source workstation; means for installing said application software package on said source workstation; means for creating a post-installation system snapshot of the software on said source workstation; means for comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot; means for generating an application installation package based on said differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said target workstation; means for transmitting said application installation package to said target workstation; said target workstation comprising; a target workstation adapter for coupling said target workstation to said media; means for receiving said application installation package; and means for installing said application software package based on said application installation package. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations from a source workstation, said one or more target workstations and said source workstation all coupled to a network executing a network operating system, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said source workstation; installing said application software package on said source workstation; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said source workstation; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot; generating an application installation package based on said step of comparing said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-implemented method for installation of an application software package on a target workstation from a source workstation across a network, said computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:
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generating a personality file for said target workstation, said personality file describing installation parameters for said application software package and said target workstation; generating an application installation package for said application software package on said source workstation, said step of generating said application installation package further including the steps of; creating a pre-installation snapshot of said source workstation, installing said application software package on said source workstation, creating a post-installation snapshot of said source workstation, comparing said pre-installation snapshot with said post-installation snapshot, and generating said application installation package based on differences between said pre-installation snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and said target workstation receiving said application installation package and installing said application software package based on said application installation package and said personality file. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer system for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations, said computer system comprising:
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means for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system; means for installing said application software package on said computer system; means for creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system; means for comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; means for generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer system for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations, said computer system comprising:
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a program for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system prior to installation of said application software package; said program also creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system after installation of said application software package; said program comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and said program generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A machine readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause said computer system to perform the steps of:
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creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system prior to installation of an application software package; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system after installation of said application software package; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on one or more target workstations. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification