Simplified setting up of a network of server computers preloaded with all computer programs required by a group of client computers

• US 6,199,108 B1
• Filed: 07/17/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Casey, Walter William, Dean, Jeffrey Randell, Rodriguez, Ingrid Milagros
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/118,211
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/220, 709/224, 709/102, 709/201, 370/2
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system is provided for setting up what is in effect a “plug and play” local area network for small businesses comprising a server computer and a plurality of client computers. The server computer is preloaded with a network operating system, an operating system for each of the client computers and substantially all application programs to be used by the client computers. There is a programmed interactive display interface in the server computer for interactively prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries relative to the computing needs of the client computers and the users of the client computers. The server computer is then physically interconnected with the client computers. Then means in the server computer allocate the client operating systems and the application programs as needed by the user of the client computers based upon the set up resulting from the prompted data entries.

Claims

1. A system for setting up and configuring a network of at least one server computer and a plurality of client computers comprising:

a server computer loaded with a network operating system, an operating system for each of said client computers and substantially all application programs to be used by said client computers,

display interface means in said server computer for interactively prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries relative to the business environment within which said client computers and the users of said client computers will operate,

means for interconnecting said server computer with said client computers, and

means in said server computer for allocating said client operating systems and said application programs based upon said data entries.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for allocating are responsive to user interactive entries on said interconnected client computers.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said client computers are interactive display computers accessible to users, and said system further includes means for storing a user profile of application programs allocated for each user based upon said data entries.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said means for storing said user profiles are controlled by said server computer.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for allocating application programs provide a client computer with a program for accessing the Internet.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for allocating application programs provide a client computer with an electronic mail program.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said display interface means in said server computer further includes means for adding an additional client computer to said network by prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries relative to the computing needs of said additional client computer and the users of said client computer.

8. A method for setting up and configuring a network of at least one server computer and a plurality of client computers comprising:

loading into said server computer a network operating system, an operating system for each of said client computers and substantially all application programs to be used by said client computers,

interactively prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries into said server computer relative to the business environment within which said client computers and the users of said client computers will operate,

interconnecting said server computer with said client computers, and

allocating, through said server computer, said client operating systems and said application programs based upon said data entries.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said allocating step is responsive to user interactive entries on said interconnected client computers.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said client computers are interactive display computers accessible to users, and further includes the step of storing a user profile of application programs allocated for each user based upon said data entries.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step of storing said user profiles is controlled by said server computer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of said client computers is allocated with an application program for accessing the Internet.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of said client computers is allocated with an electronic mail application program.

14. The method of claim 8 further including the step of adding an additional client computer to said network by prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries relative to the computing needs of said additional client computer and the users of said client computer.

15. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium for the configuration of a computer network comprising a plurality of client computers and a server computer loaded with a network operating system, an operating system for each of said client computers and substantially all application programs to be used by said client computers, said computer program comprising:

display interface means in said server computer for interactively prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries relative to the business environment within which said client computers and the users of said client computers will operate, and

means in said server computer for allocating said client operating systems and said application programs to connected client computers based upon said data entries.

16. The computer program of claim 15 wherein said means for allocating are responsive to user interactive entries on said connected client computers.

17. The computer program of claim 15 wherein said client computers are interactive display computers accessible to users, and said system further includes means for storing a user profile of application programs allocated for each user based upon said data entries.

18. The computer program of claim 17 wherein said means for storing said user profiles are controlled by said server computer.

19. The computer program of claim 16 wherein said means for allocating application programs provide a client computer with a program for accessing the Internet.

20. The computer program of claim 16 wherein said means for allocating application programs provide a client computer with an electronic mail program.

21. The computer program of claim 15 wherein said display interface means in said server computer further includes means for adding an additional client computer to said network by prompting a user to make a sequence of data entries relative to the computing needs of said additional client computer and the users of said client computer.