Software implementation installer mechanism
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a method of installing a software implementation, comprising:
- receiving information initiated via the computer system corresponding to a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation, the information comprising at least one of the set of;
application extension information associated with the software implementation, application category information, an application feature identifier, and an application component identifier;
in response to receiving the information, determining that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system; and
automatically installing the software implementation on the computer system to enable the requested operation to be performed based on the determination that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and mechanism for automatically installing software implementations such as applications and COM classes as they are needed from an external source. When a software implementation is needed, the mechanism first looks to the local system (e.g., registry) for that software implementation, and if found, returns the information such as a local path needed to use the software implementation. If the implementation is not found, the mechanism looks to another source, such as a CD-ROM or a centralized class store of a network, to locate the needed implementation. When located, the implementation is downloaded and locally installed from the source, and a local path is returned in a manner that is essentially transparent to the user. Software implementations such as application products may be divided into features and components to improve on-demand installation thereof.
490 Citations
37 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method of installing a software implementation, comprising:
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receiving information initiated via the computer system corresponding to a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation, the information comprising at least one of the set of;
application extension information associated with the software implementation, application category information, an application feature identifier, and an application component identifier;
in response to receiving the information, determining that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system; and
automatically installing the software implementation on the computer system to enable the requested operation to be performed based on the determination that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29)
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15. In a computer system, a mechanism configured to provide a software implementation to a user, comprising,
an interface configured to receive information initiated via the computer system corresponding to requests to use software implementations including a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation but is not installed on the computer system, the interface receiving the information initiated via the computer system independent of a connection to a network; -
a database describing an installed state of software implementations on the computer system; and
an installer configured to query the database in response to each requested software implementation, to identify the installed state of the requested software implementation, and to automatically install the requested software implementation if the database indicates that the requested software implementation is not installed on the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, comprising:
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receiving information initiated at a computer system corresponding to a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation but not currently installed at the computer system;
in response to receiving the information, determining that the software implementation is available to the computer system; and
automatically installing the software implementation on the computer system to enable the requested operation to be performed. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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30. In a computer system, a method of installing a software implementation, comprising:
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receiving information initiated via the computer system corresponding to a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation;
in response to receiving the information, determining that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system;
returning path information of the software implementation; and
automatically installing the software implementation on the computer system to enable the requested operation to be performed based on the determination that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. In a computer system in a network of computers, a mechanism configured to provide a software implementation to a user, comprising,
an interface configured to receive information initiated via the computer system corresponding to requests to use software implementations including a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation but is not installed on the computer system; -
a database describing an installed state of software implementations on the computer system;
a logon process configured to provide information corresponding to the installed state of the software implementation to the interface; and
an installer configured to query the database in response to each requested software implementation, to identify the installed state of the requested software implementation, and to automatically install the requested software implementation if the database indicates that the requested software implementation is not installed on the computer system.
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34. In a computer system, a method of installing a software implementation, comprising:
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receiving, independent of a connection to a network, information initiated via the computer system corresponding to a software implementation that is needed to perform a requested operation;
in response to receiving the information, determining that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system; and
automatically installing the software implementation on the computer system to enable the requested operation to be performed based on the determination that the software implementation is not installed on the computer system.
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35. In a computer system, a mechanism configured to provide a software implementation, comprising,
an interface configured to receive information initiated via the computer system corresponding to requests to use software implementations including a software implementation corresponding to an application feature that is needed to perform a requested operation but is not installed on the computer system; -
a database describing an installed state of software implementations on the computer system; and
an installer configured to query the database in response to each requested software implementation, to identify the installed state of the requested software implementation, and to automatically install the requested software implementation if the database indicates that the requested software implementation is not installed on the computer system.
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36. In a computer system, a mechanism configured to provide a software implementation, comprising,
an interface configured to receive information initiated via the computer system corresponding to requests to use software implementations including a software implementation corresponding to an application component that is needed to perform a requested operation but is not installed on the computer system; -
a database describing an installed state of software implementations on the computer system; and
an installer configured to query the database in response to each requested software implementation, to identify the installed state of the requested software implementation, and to automatically install the requested software implementation if the database indicates that the requested software implementation is not installed on the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification