Method for identifying and obtaining computer software from a network computer
First Claim
1. In a computer system with a server computer in communication with a client computer over a computer network, a method of installing a selected grouping of software on the client computer, the method comprising:
- building at the server computer a software collection file comprising the selected grouping of software and an installation utility operable for executing at the client computer to install the selected grouping of software at the client computer;
creating a self-extracting executable distribution file by combining at the server computer the software collection file with an extracting application operable for extracting the installation utility and the selected grouping of software from the self-extracting executable distribution file and further operable for automatically executing the installation utility to install the grouping of software at the client computer, the extracting application arranged within the self-extracting executable distribution file to be automatically invoked when the self-extracting executable distribution file is executed, the self-extracting executable distribution file comprising a section of executable code to automatically invoke the installation utility extracted from the distribution file after the extracting application in the distribution file extracts the software collection file from the self-extracting executable distribution file, whereby the extracting application, the selected grouping of software, the installation utility, and the section of executable code co-reside in the self-extracting executable distribution file;
transmitting the self-extracting executable distribution file over the computer network to the client computer;
executing at the client the self-extracting executable distribution file;
responsive to said executing the self-extracting executable distribution file, invoking the extracting application in the self-extracting executable distribution file to extract the installation utility and the selected grouping of software from the self-extracting executable distribution file; and
further responsive to said executing the self-extracting executable distribution file, automatically executing the extracted installation utility at the client computer to install the extracted selected grouping of software at the client computer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Creators of computer software provide the most up-to-date versions of their computer software on an update service. A user who has purchased or downloaded free computer software calls an update service or a network service provider (e.g., an Internet provider) on a periodic basis. The update or network service automatically inventories the user computer to determine what computer software (e.g., a network browser) may be out-of-date, and/or need maintenance updates. If so desired by the user, the update service computer automatically downloads with a secure software transfer process and installs computer software to the user computer. By making periodic calls to an update or network service, the user always has the most up-to-date computer software immediately available. The update or network service may also alert the user to new products (i.e. including new help files, etc.), and new and enhanced versions of existing products which can be purchased electronically by a user and transferred immediately from the update or network service.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a computer system with a server computer in communication with a client computer over a computer network, a method of installing a selected grouping of software on the client computer, the method comprising:
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building at the server computer a software collection file comprising the selected grouping of software and an installation utility operable for executing at the client computer to install the selected grouping of software at the client computer; creating a self-extracting executable distribution file by combining at the server computer the software collection file with an extracting application operable for extracting the installation utility and the selected grouping of software from the self-extracting executable distribution file and further operable for automatically executing the installation utility to install the grouping of software at the client computer, the extracting application arranged within the self-extracting executable distribution file to be automatically invoked when the self-extracting executable distribution file is executed, the self-extracting executable distribution file comprising a section of executable code to automatically invoke the installation utility extracted from the distribution file after the extracting application in the distribution file extracts the software collection file from the self-extracting executable distribution file, whereby the extracting application, the selected grouping of software, the installation utility, and the section of executable code co-reside in the self-extracting executable distribution file; transmitting the self-extracting executable distribution file over the computer network to the client computer; executing at the client the self-extracting executable distribution file; responsive to said executing the self-extracting executable distribution file, invoking the extracting application in the self-extracting executable distribution file to extract the installation utility and the selected grouping of software from the self-extracting executable distribution file; and further responsive to said executing the self-extracting executable distribution file, automatically executing the extracted installation utility at the client computer to install the extracted selected grouping of software at the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a computer system with a server application on a server computer in communication with a client application on a client computer over a computer network, a method of creating a secure self-extracting executable distribution file, the method comprising:
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selecting a grouping of software; building at the server a software collection file comprising the selected grouping of software and an installation utility for installing the selected grouping of software; combining the software collection file with an extracting application to create a self-extracting executable distribution file, wherein the extracting application is operable for extracting the selected grouping of software from the self-extracting executable distribution file to an extracted grouping of software and further operable for extracting the installation utility from the self-extracting executable distribution file to an executable file for installing the extracted grouping of software, wherein the extracting application comprises a section of code for automatically executing the executable file for installing the extracted grouping of software, wherein the extracting application is arranged within the self-extracting executable distribution file to be automatically invoked when the self-extracting executable distribution file is executed; and signing the self-extracting executable file with a digital signature to create a secure self-extracting executable distribution file. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a client computer system with a client application in communication with a server computer with a server application, a method of installing at the client computer a grouping of software from the server computer, the method comprising:
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retrieving to the client a self-extracting executable distribution file from the server computer, wherein the self-extracting executable distribution file comprises an extracting application, the grouping of software extractable with the extracting application, and an installation utility extractable with the extracting application; executing the self-extracting executable distribution file at the client computer; responsive to said executing the self-extracting executable distribution file, extracting the grouping of software and the installation utility from the distribution file with the extracting application; and further responsive to said executing the self-extracting executable distribution file, automatically executing code in the self-extracting executable distribution file to invoke the extracted installation utility to install the grouping of software. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A computer-implemented method of creating an executable distribution file for installing software on a remote computer, the method comprising:
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selecting a grouping of software for installation at the remote computer; and creating a distribution file by combining the selected grouping of software, an installation utility operable for installing the selected grouping of software at the remote computer, and an extracting application operable for extracting the installation utility and the selected grouping of software from the distribution file and further operable for automatically executing the extracted installation utility on the remote computer to install the extracted grouping of software on the remote computer, wherein the extracting application is placed within the executable distribution file to automatically extract the installation utility and the selected grouping of software and invoke the installation utility to install the extracted grouping of software when the executable distribution file is executed, whereby the created distribution file is executable on the remote computer to install the grouping of software. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-executable distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:
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a grouping of software installable at the computer; an installation program co-resident in the distribution file with the grouping of software, the installation program operative to install the grouping of software when the grouping of software and the installation program are extracted from the distribution file; an extracting program co-resident in the distribution file with the grouping of software and the installation program, the extracting program arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed when the distribution file is executed and operative to extract the grouping of software and the installation program when executed to provide an extracted grouping of software and an extracted installation program; and installation program invocation code arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed after the extracted grouping of software and the extracted installation program are extracted, the installation program invocation code operative to invoke the extracted installation program to install the extracted grouping of software.
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Specification