Computer system and method for secure installation and operation of software

• US 7,376,947 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Evers, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SATISH
• Application Number:
  US10/785,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 715/851, 711/152, 707/3, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A computer system provides for the secure installation and operation of software. The computer system includes a platform, such as a personal computer, having a processor and the Microsoft® Windows® operating system. The computer system also includes a first drive, such as a network, DVD or CD-ROM drive, adapted for access by the processor, and a second drive, such as a hard disk, adapted for access by the processor. The second drive includes an NT File Structure logical volume. The computer system further includes an installer operatively associated with the first drive. The installer cooperates with the processor to write a Primary Data Stream file to the NT File Structure logical volume, to associate data with the Primary Data Stream file, and to write the associated data to the NT File Structure logical volume as an Alternate Data Stream file.

Claims

1. A method for secure installation and operation of software, said method comprising:

employing a New Technology File Structure logical volume;

employing an installer;

writing a Primary Data Stream file to said New Technology File Structure logical volume from said installer;

associating data with said Primary Data Stream file;

writing said associated data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume as an Alternate Data Stream file from said installer;

creating a Primary Data Stream directory chain;

writing said Primary Data Stream directory chain to said New Technology File Structure logical volume from said installer;

writing said Primary Data Stream file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume from said installer;

associating said data with said Primary Data Stream directory chain or said Primary Data Stream file by creating and closing said Alternate Data Stream file; and

installing said associated data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume as said Alternate Data Stream file from said installer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

selecting said data from the group comprising an installation log, an application configuration file, an error log, help information, and database information.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

writing, reading or manipulating said Alternate Data Stream file from an application program after said writing said associated data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising

employing as said Primary Data Stream file an executable file.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising

employing an installation file comprising said Primary Data Stream file, said Alternate Data Stream file, installation instructions, said Primary Data Stream directory chain, and an End User License Agreement.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

displaying said installation instructions and said End User License Agreement from said installation file.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising

employing as said associated data first data;

employing as said Alternate Data Stream file a first Alternate Data Stream file;

employing second data;

associating said second data with said Primary Data Stream file; and

writing said associated second data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume as a second Alternate Data Stream file from said installer.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising

displaying said associated data from said Alternate Data Stream file in said New Technology File Structure logical volume.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising

employing an installation file;

defining in said installation file a Primary Data Stream directory chain, said Primary Data Stream file, said Alternate Data Stream file, and at least one information file;

displaying said at least one information file from said installation file;

creating said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume;

copying said Primary Data Stream file from said installation file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume; and

copying said Alternate Data Stream file from said installation file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume.

10. A computer system for secure installation and operation of software, said computer system comprising:

a processor;

a first drive adapted for access by said processor;

a second drive adapted for access by said processor, said second drive including a New Technology File Structure logical volume; and

an installer operatively associated with said first drive, said installer cooperating with said processor to write a Primary Data Stream file to said New Technology File Structure logical volume, associate data with said Primary Data Stream file, and write said associated data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume as an Alternate Data Stream file; and

wherein said installer cooperates with said processor to create a Primary Data Stream directory chain, to write said Primary Data Stream directory chain to said New Technology File Structure logical volume, to write said Primary Data Stream file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume, to associate said data with said Primary Data Stream directory chain or said Primary Data Stream file, and to install said associated data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume as said Alternate Data Stream file.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said New Technology File Structure logical volume includes a directory chain or a system directory;

and wherein said installer installs said Primary Data Stream file in said directory chain or said system directory of said New Technology File Structure logical volume.

12. The computer system of claim 10 where said data is selected from the group comprising an installation log, an application configuration file, an error log, help information, and database information.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein said New Technology File Structure logical volume includes an application program, which cooperates with said processor to write, read or manipulate said Alternate Data Stream file.

14. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said Primary Data Stream file is an executable file, which is adapted for execution by said processor.

15. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said installer comprises an installation file comprising said Primary Data Stream file, said Alternate Data Stream file, installation instructions, a Primary Data Stream directory chain, and an End User License Agreement.

16. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said processor includes a display;

and wherein said installer cooperates with said processor to display said installation instructions and said End User License Agreement on said display.

17. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said processor includes a display;

wherein said New Technology File Structure logical volume includes a display utility; and

wherein said display utility cooperates with said processor to display said associated data from said Alternate Data Stream file in said New Technology File Structure logical volume on said display.

18. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said processor includes a display;

wherein said installer comprises an installation file including a Primary Data Stream directory chain, said Primary Data Stream file, said Alternate Data Stream file, and at least one information file; and

wherein said installer cooperates with said processor to display said at least one information file from said installation file to said display, to create said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume, to copy said Primary Data Stream file from said installation file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume, and to copy said Alternate Data Stream file from said installation file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume.

19. A method for secure installation and operation of software, said method comprising:

employing a computer-readable medium including a New Technology File Structure logical volume;

employing an installer;

writing a Primary Data Stream file to said New Technology File

Structure logical volume of said computer-readable medium from said installer;

associating data with said Primary Data Stream file; and

writing said associated data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume of said computer-readable medium as an Alternate Data Stream file from said installer;

creating a Primary Data Stream directory chain;

writing said Primary Data Stream directory chain to said New Technology File Structure logical volume from said installer;

writing said Primary Data Stream file to said Primary Data Stream directory chain in said New Technology File Structure logical volume from said installer;

associating said data with said Primary Data Stream directory chain or said Primary Data Stream file by creating and closing said Alternate Data Stream file; and

installing said associated data to said New Technology File Structure logical volume as said Alternate Data Stream file from said installer.