Platform intelligent installer
First Claim
1. A method for running an automated installation program on a computer, the method comprising:
- evaluating a hardware configuration connected to the computer, the hardware configuration including at least two devices;
verifying that the hardware configuration is supported;
determining a set of installed driver versions on the computer;
comparing the set of installed driver versions with the supported hardware configuration to determine a driver to be installed;
connecting to a driver source location; and
installing the driver to be installed from the driver source location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic installation program runs on a computer. The automatic installation program includes a system evaluator and a driver evaluator. The system evaluator evaluates the hardware configuration of the computer. The driver evaluator determines the drivers installed on the computer. The installation program assembles a stack from the hardware configuration, and compares the stack with a valid package matrix. If a match is found, the installation program then compares the drivers in the matched stack with the drivers installed on the computer to determine which drivers need to be installed and which drivers need to be updated. The installation program connects to a driver source location, and installs and updates the drivers as needed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for running an automated installation program on a computer, the method comprising:
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evaluating a hardware configuration connected to the computer, the hardware configuration including at least two devices;
verifying that the hardware configuration is supported;
determining a set of installed driver versions on the computer;
comparing the set of installed driver versions with the supported hardware configuration to determine a driver to be installed;
connecting to a driver source location; and
installing the driver to be installed from the driver source location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
organizing the hardware configuration into a stack; and
comparing the stack with a set of known supported stacks.
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5. A method according to claim 4, wherein verifying that the hardware configuration is supported further includes validating the stack if the stack is found in the set of known supported stacks.
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6. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining a driver version set installed on the computer includes querying the computer to identify an installed driver.
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7. A method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the set of installed driver versions with the supported hardware configuration includes:
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determining a set of drivers required by the supported hardware configuration;
comparing the set of drivers required by the supported hardware configuration with the set of installed driver versions; and
identifying at least one driver that is required by the supported hardware configuration but not in the set of installed driver versions.
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8. A method according to claim 7, wherein installing the driver to be installed from the driver source location includes:
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obtaining the driver to be installed from the driver source location; and
adding the driver to the computer.
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9. A method according to claim 7, wherein identifying at least one driver that is required by the supported hardware configuration includes identifying an out-of-date driver in the set of installed driver versions.
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10. A method according to claim 9, wherein:
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verifying that the hardware configuration is supported includes;
organizing the hardware configuration into a stack;
comparing the stack with a set of known supported stacks; and
selecting a supported stack; and
identifying an out-of-date driver includes identifying the out-of-date driver from the selected supported stack.
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11. A method according to claim 9, wherein installing the driver to be installed from the driver source location includes:
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comparing the out-of-date driver with a current version of the out-of-date driver to determine an updated component of the current version of the out-of-date driver;
obtaining the updated component of the current version of the out-of-date driver from the driver source location; and
adding the updated component of the current version of the out-of-date driver to the computer.
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12. A method according to claim 1, wherein connecting to a driver source location includes:
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connecting the computer to a network; and
accessing the driver source location over the network.
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13. A method according to claim 1, wherein connecting to a driver source location includes accessing a computer-readable medium directly connected to the computer as the driver source location.
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14. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:
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determining whether a Basic Input/Output Software (BIOS) of the computer is current; and
updating the BIOS of the computer if the BIOS of the computer is not current.
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15. A method for updating a BIOS of a computer, the method comprising:
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determining whether the BIOS of the computer is current; and
if the BIOS of the computer is not current;
selecting a new BIOS stack for the computer from a package matrix;
retrieving the new BIOS stack from a BIOS source location;
authenticating the new BIOS stack; and
updating the BIOS according to the new BIOS stack. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
connecting the computer to a network; and
accessing the BIOS source location over the network.
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17. A method according to claim 15, wherein retrieving a new BIOS stack from a BIOS source location includes accessing a computer-readable medium directly connected to the computer as the BIOS source location.
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18. A method according to claim 15, wherein authenticating the new BIOS stack includes:
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retrieving a signature for the new BIOS stack;
retrieving a key; and
using the key to authenticate the new BIOS stack.
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19. A method according to claim 18, wherein using the key to authenticate the new BIOS stack includes:
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decrypting the signature using the key; and
verifying the BIOS source location from the decrypted signature.
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20. A method according to claim 15, wherein updating the BIOS includes:
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flashing a BIOS update based on the new BIOS stack;
replacing an out-of-date component of the BIOS of the computer with a current component from the new BIOS stack; and
rebooting the computer to invoke the new BIOS.
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21. A computer-readable medium containing a program for running an automated installation program on a computer, the program comprising:
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evaluating software to evaluate a hardware configuration connected to the computer, the hardware configuration including at least two devices;
verification software to verify that the hardware configuration is supported;
determination software to determine a set of installed driver versions on the computer;
comparison software to compare the set of installed driver versions with the supported hardware configuration to determine a driver to be installed;
connection software to connect to a driver source location; and
installation software to install the driver to be installed from the driver source location. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
the comparison software includes;
determination software to determine a set of drivers required by the supported hardware configuration;
comparison software to compare the set of drivers required by the supported hardware configuration with the set of installed driver versions;
identification software to identify at least one driver that is required by the supported hardware configuration but not in the set of installed driver versions; and
the installation software includes;
obtaining software to obtain the driver to be installed from the driver source location; and
addition software to add the driver to be installed to the computer.
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23. A computer-readable medium containing a program according to claim 22, wherein:
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the identification software further includes identification software to identify an out-of-date driver in the set of installed driver versions;
the obtaining software includes;
comparison software to compare the out-of-date driver with a current version of the out-of-date driver to determine an updated component of the current version of the out-of-date driver; and
obtaining software to obtain the updated component of the current version of the out-of-date driver from the driver source location; and
the addition software includes addition software to add the updated component of the current version of the out-of-date driver to the computer.
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24. A computer-readable medium containing a program according to claim 21, the program further comprising:
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determination software to determine whether a BIOS of the computer is current; and
updating software to update the BIOS of the computer if the BIOS of the computer is not current.
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25. A system for running an automated installation programs on a computer, the system comprising:
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a system evaluator for evaluating the computer, the computer including a hardware configuration including at least two devices;
a driver evaluator for evaluating a set of installed drivers on the computer;
a package selector for selecting a stack from a package matrix based on the hardware configuration;
a driver source containing a driver in the selected stack; and
a driver installer for obtaining the driver from the driver source and for installing the driver on the computer, the driver installer responsive to the selected stack. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A system for running an automated installation program on a computer, the system comprising:
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a modular BIOS interface for determining a hardware configuration of the computer and for updating a BIOS of the computer;
a package selector for selecting a BIOS stack from a package matrix based on the hardware configuration determined by the modular BIOS interface; and
a BIOS source containing the selected BIOS stack, which can be used to update the BIOS by the modular BIOS interface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification