Method, apparatus and computer program product for deploying software via post-load images
First Claim
1. An apparatus for deploying software, comprising:
- a processor;
a memory for storing program instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of;
providing a Web site on a first computer system coupled to a network for presenting users with an interface, wherein the users include purchasers;
receiving from the user a selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system;
receiving from a user a selection of hardware for the target computer system and responsively determining what drivers correspond to the selected hardware, wherein the first computer system has a pre-built array of post-load images stored thereon for combinations of hardware and the software applications that the user may select, the post-load images being substantially identical to respective images resulting on a target computer system hard drive from an installation process of corresponding pre-load images, so that the respective post-load images include software application configuration information, files from the corresponding pre-load images, and links to drivers for hardware of the target computer system;
selecting a certain one of the pre-built images by the first computer system responsive to the received user selections, wherein the selected image has the software applications selected by the user and the drivers for the hardware selected by the user; and
receiving a first order from the user for the certain image of the selected software applications deployable to the target computer system hardware, including a selection by the user of a method for delivery of the selected image;
sending the selected image, the image sent being limited to the selected pre-built, post-load image;
maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier;
receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;
retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and
presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for deploying software includes providing a Web site on a server coupled to a network for presenting a user with an interface. The server has an array of post-load images stored thereon for combinations of the software and hardware that the user may select. The server receives a user selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system and of hardware for the target system and responsively determines what drivers correspond to the indicated hardware. The server then selects a certain one of the post-load images having the software applications that have been selected by the user and has the drivers for the hardware that have been selected by the user.
125 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for deploying software, comprising:
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a processor; a memory for storing program instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of; providing a Web site on a first computer system coupled to a network for presenting users with an interface, wherein the users include purchasers; receiving from the user a selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system; receiving from a user a selection of hardware for the target computer system and responsively determining what drivers correspond to the selected hardware, wherein the first computer system has a pre-built array of post-load images stored thereon for combinations of hardware and the software applications that the user may select, the post-load images being substantially identical to respective images resulting on a target computer system hard drive from an installation process of corresponding pre-load images, so that the respective post-load images include software application configuration information, files from the corresponding pre-load images, and links to drivers for hardware of the target computer system; selecting a certain one of the pre-built images by the first computer system responsive to the received user selections, wherein the selected image has the software applications selected by the user and the drivers for the hardware selected by the user; and receiving a first order from the user for the certain image of the selected software applications deployable to the target computer system hardware, including a selection by the user of a method for delivery of the selected image; sending the selected image, the image sent being limited to the selected pre-built, post-load image; maintaining a record of the order for the software applications and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier; receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier;
retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; andpresenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested software programs for the second order in addition to those of the first order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product, stored on a recordable-type computer readable medium, for deploying software, said computer program product having instructions for execution by a computer, wherein the instructions cause the computer to implement a method when executed by the computer, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for providing a Web site on a first computer system coupled to a network for presenting users with an interface, wherein the users include purchasers; instructions for receiving from a user a selection of software applications for deploying to a target computer system; instructions for receiving from the user a selection of hardware for the target computer system and responsively determining what drivers correspond to the selected hardware, wherein the first computer system has a pre-built array of post-load images stored thereon for combinations of hardware and the software applications that the user may select, the respective post-load images being substantially identical to images resulting on a target computer system hard drive from an installation process of corresponding pre-load images, so that the respective post-load images include software application configuration information, files from the corresponding pre-load images, and links to drivers for hardware of the target computer system; instructions for selecting a certain one of the pre-built images by the first computer system responsive to the received user selections, wherein the selected image has the software applications selected by the user and the drivers for the hardware selected by the user; and instructions for receiving a first order from the user for the certain image of the selected software applications deployable to the target computer system hardware, including a selection by the user of a method for delivery of the selected image;
instructions for sending the selected image, the image sent being limited to the selected pre-built, post-load image;instructions for maintaining a record of the order for the software application and drivers included in the certain image that is sent, wherein the record is associated with an order identifier and user identifier; instructions for receiving a second order for the user, including the user or order identifier; instructions for retrieving the record for the first order responsive to the user or order identifier; and instructions for presenting, responsive to the user or order identifier, a list of suggested software program for the second order in addition to those of the first order. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification