Installation system

• US 5,978,590 A
• Filed: 11/24/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Epson Direct Corp. (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Epson Avasys Corp. (Seiko Group), Epson Direct Corp. (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Mitani, Yoshifumi, Imai, Tsuneo, Komatsu, Kiyoharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Ted T.
• Application Number:
  US08/976,991
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 395/710, 395/712
• US Class Current: 717/177
• 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;

at least one computer terminal; and

a network connected between said installation server and said at least one computer terminal;

wherein said installation server comprises storage for storing installation information that includes an ID of said at least one computer terminal and at least one application software program;

wherein said at least one computer terminal comprises;

a memory device;

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

ID storage for storing said ID of said computer terminal;

memory device initialization decider for determining whether initialization of said memory device is necessary;

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

memory device initializer for initializing said memory device after said installation information is retrieved from said installation server;

installation decider for determining whether said at least one application software program should be installed based on said installation information; and

application software installer for, if said application software program should be installed, installing said application software program based on said installation information after retrieving said application software program from said installation server.

2. An installation system, comprising:

an installation server;

at least one computer terminal; and

a network connected between said installation server and said at least one computer terminal;

wherein said installation server comprises;

storage for storing an installation start-up program, installation information that includes an ID of said at least one computer terminal and at least one application software program;

wherein each computer terminal comprises;

a memory device;

start-up communicator for storing at least a communication start-up program and for, when said computer terminal is switched on, copying said installation start-up program from said installation server;

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

ID storage for storing said ID of said computer terminal;

memory device initialization decider for determining whether initialization of said memory device is necessary;

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

memory device initializer for initializing said memory device after said installation information is retrieved from said installation server;

installation decider for determining whether said at least one application software program should be installed based on said installation information; and

application software installer for, if said application software program should be installed, installing said application software program based on said installation information after retrieving said application software program from said installation server.

3. An installation method for a system comprising an installation server, at least one computer terminal, and a network connected between said installation server and said at least one computer terminal, said method comprising:

storing in said installation server installation information that includes an ID of said at least one computer terminal and at least one application software program;

copying an installation start-up program from a portable information recording medium into an installation start-up program storage of said at least one computer terminal when said at least one computer terminal is switched on;

storing said ID of said at least one computer terminal in an ID storage of said at least one computer terminal;

determining whether initialization of a memory device of said at least one computer terminal is necessary;

if initialization of said memory device is necessary, retrieving from said installation server said installation information corresponding to said at least one computer terminal using said computer terminal ID as a key, and storing said installation information in an installation information storage of said at least one computer terminal;

initializing said memory device after said installation information is retrieved from said installation server;

determining whether said at least one application software program should be installed based on said installation information; and

if said at least one application software program should be installed, retrieving said application software program from said installation server and installing said application software program based on said installation information.

4. An installation method for a system comprising an installation server, at least one computer terminal, and a network connected between said installation server and said at least one computer terminal, said method comprising:

storing in said installation server an installation start-up program, installation information that includes an ID of said at least one computer terminal and at least one application software program;

storing at least a communication start-up program in a start-up communicator of said at least one computer terminal and copying said installation start-up program from said installation server;

storing said installation start-up program that is copied from said installation server in an installation start-up program storage of said at least one computer terminal;

storing said ID of said at least one computer terminal in an ID storage of said at least one computer terminal;

determining whether initialization of a memory device of said at least one computer terminal is necessary;

if initialization of said memory device is necessary, retrieving from said installation server said installation information corresponding to said at least one computer terminal using said computer terminal ID as a key, and storing said installation information in an installation information storage of said at least one computer terminal;

initializing said memory device after said installation information is retrieved from said installation server;

determining whether said at least one application software program should be installed based on said installation information; and

if said at least one application software program should be installed, retrieving said application software program from said installation server and installing said application software program based on said installation information.