Software download and distribution via image building and multicast
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for distributing software components from a server to first and second clients on a network, comprising:
- sending a first request for software components from said first client to said server;
transmitting the requested software components from said server over said network in response to the first request;
sending a second request for software components from said second client to said server;
the first and second clients monitoring the network for the first and second requested software components being transmitted on said network;
the first and second clients receiving the first and second requested software components, respectively;
the first client building a disk image from said received software components;
the server determining the software components not received by the second client;
the server transmitting the determined software components;
the second client receiving the determined software components; and
the second client building a disk image from said received software components.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for installing software on a computer. In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided that includes building a disk image from requested software components distributed over a network.
100 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for distributing software components from a server to first and second clients on a network, comprising:
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sending a first request for software components from said first client to said server;
transmitting the requested software components from said server over said network in response to the first request;
sending a second request for software components from said second client to said server;
the first and second clients monitoring the network for the first and second requested software components being transmitted on said network;
the first and second clients receiving the first and second requested software components, respectively;
the first client building a disk image from said received software components;
the server determining the software components not received by the second client;
the server transmitting the determined software components;
the second client receiving the determined software components; and
the second client building a disk image from said received software components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for controlling a server to deliver requested software components to a plurality of network clients, comprising:
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receiving a first request for a first set of software components from a first client;
receiving a second request for a second set of software components from a second client;
combining the first and second sets of software components at the server to form a consolidated set of software components; and
transmitting the consolidated set of software components over said network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
receiving a third request for a third set of software components;
combining the third set of software components with consolidated set of software components to form a newly consolidated set of software components; and
transmitting the newly consolidated set of software components over said network.
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8. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein transmitting the consolidated set of software components includes transmitting the software components in a preselected order.
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9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein transmitting the software components in a preselected order includes transmitting the software components in an order corresponding to the number of requests received for said software components.
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10. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein transmitting the software components in a preselected order includes transmitting the software components in an order corresponding to the size of said software components.
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11. An apparatus for controlling delivery of requested software components to a plurality of clients on a network, comprising:
a server adapted to receive a first request from a first client and a second request from a second client for a first and second set of software components, respectively, combine the first and second sets of software components to form a consolidated playlist of software components, and transmit the consolidated playlist of software components over said network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
Specification