Automatic program installation

• US 6,289,512 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gest, Stephen Brent, Edwards, William Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/204,521
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A method and implementing system is provided by which software is formatted to include a selected program together with installation instructions for the installation of the selected program. In an exemplary embodiment, the software is an archive containing the selected program and an installer program. In a specific example, a manifest file, which is contained within a JAR file includes a manifest tag which specifies a class to be executed for the installation process. In another exemplary embodiment, a different tag indicates to automatically run an executable “setup.exe” for the installation process. Functions of the installation process may include extracting contents of multiple JAR files, executing self-extracting executables, or setting environment variables such as CLASSPATH. Uninstall instructions may also be packaged in the JAR.

Claims

1. A method for installing a selected program from an archive of files containing said selected program, said method comprising:

extracting an installer program contained in said archive; and

executing said installer program to install said selected program.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

transferring said archive to a remote terminal over a network connection, said archive comprising a JAR file.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said JAR file includes a manifest file, said installer program being included in said manifest file.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said JAR file is transferred from a network server to a network terminal.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said JAR file is transferred from a first terminal to a second terminal, said first and second terminals being connected through a telecommunication network.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

transferring uninstall information with said archive, said uninstall information including instructions for

uninstalling said one selected program after said one selected program is installed at said remote terminal.

6. A method for downloading at least one selected program from a first terminal at a remote location to a receiving terminal, said method comprising:

transferring an archive of files, said archive containing said one selected program;

receiving said archive; and

extracting an installer program from said archive, said installer program being effective for installing said one selected program at said receiving terminal.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 and further including a step of:

installing said one selected program using said installer program.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said archive is a JAR file.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said JAR file includes a manifest file, said installer program being included in said manifest file.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one selected program is transferred from a network server to a network terminal.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one selected program is transferred from a first terminal to a second terminal, said first and second terminals being connected through a telecommunication network.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said installer program is associated with an install tag in said manifest file.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said receiving terminal is selectively operable for:

determining that only one install tag is present in said manifest file.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said receiving terminal is further selectively operable for:

determining that said installer program is a Java type;

instantiating said installer program; and

invoking an install method to effect said installing.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said receiving terminal is further selectively operable for:

determining a type of said installer program prior to said installing.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said receiving terminal is further selectively operable for:

determining that said installer program is a Java type;

instantiating said installer program; and

invoking an install method to effect said installing.

18. The method as set forth in claim 6 and further including:

extracting uninstall information from said archive.

19. A storage medium including machine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device at a receiving terminal, said reading device being selectively coupled to processing circuitry, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable coded indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being selectively operable for installing a selected program from an archive of files containing said selected program, said program signals being effective for:

extracting an installer program contained in said archive; and

executing said installer program to install said selected program.

20. A communication system comprising:

a first terminal;

a second terminal; and

a coupling means for connecting said first terminal with said second terminal; and

means for enabling a transfer of a selected archive of files from said first terminal to said second terminal; and

means for extracting an installer program from said archive, said installer program being effective for installing said selected program at said receiving terminal.