Distributing software via distribution files

• US 7,149,789 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Webber, Jeffrey S., Slivka, Benjamin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US09/898,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173, 717/174, 717/175, 717/176, 717/178, 709/218, 709/200, 709/203, 709/219, 709/217, 709/221
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

When creating a distribution file for distributing software over a network, instructions for automatically invoking instructions for installing software can be placed in the software distribution file. If an installation program, the software, and the instructions are placed in the software distribution file, a single user action can download and activate the software distribution file, leading to automatic installation of the software. The installation can be accomplished without further user input. The software distribution file can include an extractor for automatically extracting items in the distribution file.

Claims

1. A method of building a file for installing software at a remote computer, the method comprising:

placing the software in the file; and

placing, at a location within the file so as to be automatically excecuted responsive to execution of the file, instructions for installing the software on the remote computer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

combining the file with a digital signature of the file into a digitally-signed file.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

appending a digital signature of the file to the file.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions for installing the software in the file comprise instructions for installing the software in appropriate directories.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions for installing the software in the file comprise instructions for deleting files.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions for installing the software in the file comprise instructions for updating files.

7. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a file built according to the method of claim 1.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-executable distribution file for distributing software to a computer and installing the software on the computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer; and

an installation program co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installation program operable to install the software and arranged within the distribution file to automatically install the software upon execution of the distribution file.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the distribution file is combined with a digital signature of the distribution file into a digitally-signed file.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein a digital signature of the distribution file is appended to the distribution file.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the installation program comprises instructions for installing the software in appropriate directories.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the installation program comprises instructions for deleting files.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the installation program comprises instructions for updating flies.

14. A method of providing a file for installing desired software at a remote computer, the method comprising:

placing the desired software in the file;

placing instructions for installing the software in the file;

placing instructions for automatically invoking the instructions for installing the software in the file; and

placing the file in a location accessible to the remote computer via a computer network;

whereby, when the file is retrieved and opened by the remote computer, the instructions for installing the software are automatically invoked to install the desired software.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

over the computer network, providing to the remote computer a reference to the location accessible to the remote computer via the computer network.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-executable distribution file for distributing software to a computer and installing the software on the computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

an installation program co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installation program operable to install the software; and

executable installation program starting instructions arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed responsive to execution of the distribution file, the installation program starting instructions operable to start the installation program to install the software.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the computer-executable distribution file is an executable program.

18. A computer-readable storage medium having a distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer; and

code for extracting and installing the software installable at the computer, the code arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed upon execution of the distribution file.

20. A computer-readable software program carrier medium having carried thereon a computer-executable distribution file for distributing software to a computer and installing the software on the computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

an installation program co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installation program operable to install the software; and

executable installation program starting instructions arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed responsive to execution of the distribution file, the installation program starling instructions operable to start the installation program to install the software.

21. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-executable distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

an installation program co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installation program operable to install the software; and

executable installation program starting instructions arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed responsive to execution of the distribution file, the installation program starting instructions operable to slur the installation program to install the software.

22. A computer-readable storage medium having a distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

an installer co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installer operable to install the software;

an extractor co-resident in the distribution flue with the software, the extractor operable to extract the software and the installer from the distribution file and automatically invoked upon receipt of the distribution file; and

installer starting instructions arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed upon completion of extraction of the software and the installer, the installer starting instructions operable to start the installer to install the software.

23. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-executable distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

a set of installation instructions co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installation instructions operable to direct installation of the software; and

executable installation program starting instructions arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed responsive to execution of the distribution file, the installation program starting instructions operable to start the installation instructions to direct installation of the software.

24. In a server computer in communication with a remote computer over a network, a software system for installing software on the remote computer, the system comprising:

means for accepting an indication from a user at the remote computer that selected software is to be installed on the remote computer;

responsive to the means for accepting, means for uploading a software distribution file to the remote computer, wherein the software distribution file comprises the selected software and an installation program for installing the selected software, wherein the software distribution file further comprises means for initiating the installation program upon activation of the software distribution file; and

means to indicate the distribution file is to be activated to install the selected software.

25. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-executable distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer upon execution of the distribution file, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

installation means co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installation means operable to install the software; and

executable installation starting means arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed responsive to execution of the distribution file, the installation starting means operable to start the installation means to install the software.

26. A method of building a file for installing desired software at a remote computer, the method comprising:

placing the desired software in the file;

placing instructions for installing the software in the file;

placing, at a location within the file so as to be automatically executed upon execution of the file, instructions for automatically invoking the instructions for installing the software in the file.

27. A computer-readable storage medium having a distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

an installer co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installer operable to install the software;

an extractor co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the extractor operable to extract the software from the distribution file and automatically invoked upon execution of the distribution file; and

installer starting instructions arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed upon completion of extraction of the software, the installer starting instructions operable to start the installer to install the software.

28. A computer-readable storage medium having a distribution file for distributing and installing software on a computer, the distribution file comprising:

software installable at the computer;

an extractor co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the extractor operable to extract the software from the distribution file and automatically invoked upon execution of the distribution file to extract the software from the distribution file; and

an installer co-resident in the distribution file with the software, the installer operable to install the software and arranged within the distribution file to be automatically executed responsive to execution of the distribution file.