Method and apparatus for dynamic distribution of system file and system registry changes in a distributed data processing system

• US 6,917,958 B1
• Filed: 04/26/1999
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Huynh, Khoa Dang, Smith, Stanley Alan, Howe, Brian Keith, Paul, Chakkalamattam Jos
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLYNN, KIMBERLY D
• Application Number:
  US09/299,936
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709/215, 709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 709/222, 717168-175, 714/38
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for distributing system files and system registry changes dynamically. An “application package” consisting of system files and registry changes is added to a user. When the user logs on, the detection of a “package” is made if the package is not already installed on the client machine, a batch file is used to copy the files and make the registry changes to the local machine. A “key” is then set on the machine indicating that the files/registry entries are installed.

Claims

1. A method in a server data processing system for distributing applications, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

detecting a user at a client data processing system;

identifying an application assigned to the user;

determining whether the application is setup on the client data processing system in response to identifying the application assigned to the user;

responsive to an absence of the application on the client data processing system, sending files for the application to the client data processing system; and

setting up the application on the client data processing system using the files wherein the step of setting up the application on the client data processing system includes updating a registry in the client data processing system to include information required to run the application on the client data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of setting up the application on the client data processing system further includes including an indication in the registry that the application is setup to run on the client data processing system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the registry includes system specific information that is specific to the client data processing system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is detected at the data processing system when the user logs onto to the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client data processing system is a workstation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the client data processing system is a personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of setting up the application is performed by running a batch file located on the server data processing system.

8. The method of claim of claim 1, wherein the client data processing system includes a registry and wherein the step of determining whether the application is set up on the client data processing system comprises determining whether a key is present in the registry indicating that the client data processing system is setup to run the application.

9. A method in a data processing system for distributing applications, the method comprising the data processing system implemented step of:

detecting a user at a client;

identifying a plurality of applications assigned to the user;

determining whether the plurality of applications are installed on the client in response to identifying the application assigned to the user, wherein the client includes a data structure used by the plurality of applications to run on the client; and

responsive to an absence of a determination that an application within the plurality of applications is accessible by the user on the client, sending files and updating the data structure on the client to enable the user to access the application on the client wherein the data structure is a registry of the client, and wherein updating the data structure includes adding information required to run the application on the client.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of sending files and updating the data structure is performed by running a batch file located on a server.

11. A data processing system for distributing applications, the data processing system comprising:

detecting means for detecting a user at a client data processing system;

identifying means for identifying an application assigned to the user;

determining means for determining whether the application is setup on the client data processing system in response to identifying the application assigned to the user;

sending means, responsive to an absence of the application on the client data processing system, for sending files for the application to the client data processing system; and

setting means for setting up the application on the client data processing system using the files, wherein the setting means includes means for updating a registry in the client data processing system to include information required to run the application on the client data processing system.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the setting means further includes including an indication in the registry that the application is setup to run on the client data processing system.

13. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the registry includes system specific information that is specific to the client data processing system.

14. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the user is detected at the data processing system when the user logs onto to the network.

15. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the client data processing system is a workstation.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the client data processing system is a personal digital assistant.

17. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the setting means is performed by running a batch file located on the server data processing system.

18. The data processing system of claim of claim 11, wherein the client data processing system includes a registry and wherein the determining means comprises means for determining whether a key is present in the registry indicating that the client data processing system is setup to run the application.

19. A data processing system for distributing applications, the data processing system comprising:

detecting means for detecting a user at a client;

identifying means for identifying a plurality of applications assigned to the user;

determining means for determining whether the plurality of applications are installed on the client in response to identifying the application assigned to the user, wherein the client includes a data structure used by the plurality of applications to run on the client; and

sending means, responsive to an absence of a determination that an application within the plurality of applications is accessible by the user on the client, for sending files and updating the data structure on the client to enable the user to access the application on the client wherein the data structure is a registry of the client, and wherein updating the data structure includes adding information required to run the application on the client.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the sending means is performed by a batch file located on a server.

21. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for distributing applications, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for detecting a user at a client data processing system;

second instructions for identifying an application assigned to the user;

third instructions for determining whether the application is setup on the client data processing system in response to identifying the application assigned to the user;

fourth instructions, responsive to an absence of the application on the client data processing system, for sending files for the application to the client data processing system; and

fifth instructions for setting up the application on the client data processing system using the files wherein the fifth instructions include instructions for updating a registry in the client data processing system to include information required to run the application on the client data processing system.

22. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for distributing applications, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for detecting a user at a client;

second instructions for identifying a plurality of applications assigned to the user;

third instructions for determining whether the plurality of applications are installed on the client in response to identifying the application assigned to the user, wherein the client includes a data structure used by the plurality of applications to run on the client; and

fourth instructions, responsive to an absence of a determination that an application within the plurality of applications is accessible by the user on the client, for sending files and updating the data structure on the client to enable the user to access the application on the client wherein the data structure is a registry of the client, and wherein the fourth instructions for updating the data structure include instructions for adding information required to run the application on the client.

23. A server data processing system for distributing applications, the server data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to detect a user at a client data processing system;

identify an application accessible by the user;

determine whether the application is setup on the client data processing system;

send files for the application to the client data processing system in response to an absence of the application on the client data processing system; and

set up the application on the client data processing system wherein the setup of the application on the client data processing system includes updating a registry in the client data processing system to include information required to run the application on the client data processing system.

24. A data processing system for distributing applications, the data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to detect a user at a client;

identify a plurality of applications accessible by the user;

determine whether the plurality of applications are installed on the client in which the client includes a data structure used by the plurality of applications to run on the client; and

send files and update the data structure on the client to enable the user to access the application on the client in response to an absence of a determination that an application within the plurality of applications is accessible by the user on the client wherein the data structure is a registry of the client and wherein updating the data structure includes adding information required to run the application on the client.

25. A method in a data processing system for managing applications in a client to the data processing system, the method comprising:

identifying applications assigned to a user at the client;

determining whether all of the applications assigned to the user are present on the client in response to identifying the application assigned to the user, responsive to an application assigned to a user being absent on the client, updating the client to include the application wherein updating the client to include the application includes updating a registry in the client data processing system to include information required to run the application on the client data processing system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein applications assigned to a user on the client are identified using a profile associated with the user.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the updating step comprises:

running a batch file to install the application on the client.