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Software distribution systems and methods using one or more channels

  • US 7,707,571 B1
  • Filed: 01/07/2002
  • Issued: 04/27/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:

  • one or more distribution servers used to install client software on a plurality of client computers and to subsequently use the client software to perform tasks later assigned to one or more of the plurality of client computers by at least one of the distribution servers;

    at least one computer program operative on the one or more distribution servers to communicate with the plurality of client computers to initiate an installation of the client software on the client computers, wherein the installation on a particular computer of the plurality of client computers comprises;

    i) distributing a client software component installation file to the particular client computer;

    ii) distributing a client service installation file to the particular client computer; and

    iii) from at least one of the distribution servers, remotely causing the client software component installation file and the client service installation file to be used to install a client software component and a client service, respectively,wherein the client software component and the client service are associated with one another when installed on the particular client computer, andwherein the client software component and the client service are subsequently used by the particular client computer to perform at least in part one or more tasks assigned to the particular client computer by at least one of the distribution servers;

    and wherein the one or more distribution servers including one or more distribution computer programs are operative to;

    a) manage a hierarchical list of at least some of the plurality of client computers, wherein the hierarchical list uniquely identifies each of the client computers on the hierarchical list using a computer identification and wherein the hierarchical list is configured to arrange and group the at least some of the plurality of client computers into one or more computer groups;

    b) assign tasks to one or more client computers managed in the hierarchical list, wherein the tasks are assigned to individual ones of the client computers on the hierarchical list based on the computer identification or to groups of computers on the hierarchical list based on the computer groups, wherein the tasks include at least one item selected from the group;

    a file, a script or a command; and

    c) store the tasks assigned to the client computers in the hierarchical list;

    and wherein the particular client computer having installed thereon the client software component and the client service, the client software component and client service operative on the particular client computer to;

    i) connect to at least one of the distribution servers;

    ii) request one or more scheduled tasks from the at least one distribution servers, the one or more scheduled tasks having been previously assigned to the particular client computer using the hierarchical list;

    iii) receive the one or more scheduled tasks, the one or more scheduled tasks including at least one of a file, a script, or a command; and

    iv) process the one or more scheduled tasks, wherein to process the one or more scheduled tasks, the client software component and client service are operative on the particular client computer to;

    i) determine whether the particular client computer is licensed to execute the one or more scheduled tasks;

    ii) determine whether a special account is required to execute the one or more scheduled tasks;

    iii) automatically log into the particular client computer using the special account when the particular client computer is licensed to execute the one or more scheduled tasks and requires the special account to execute the one or more scheduled tasks; and

    iv) use the special account to perform the one or more scheduled tasks.

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