Distributing software features to a computer
First Claim
1. A method of distributing software features to a computer being accessible with a plurality of different user profiles each one associated with a corresponding operating context, the method including the steps of:
- providing a distribution package including at least one item indicative of an activity for enforcing a corresponding software feature on the computer, at least one activity being defined as a user activity associated with at least one user profile,storing an indication of the at least one user activity on the computer,accessing the computer with a current user profile, andretrieving and executing each user activity associated with the current user profile in the corresponding operating context, wherein at least one item includes a flag defining the corresponding activity as a global activity or a generic user activity, the method further including, for each user activity of the at least one item, the steps of;
storing an indication of a completion of the generic user activity for each user profile, andverifying whether the generic user activity has been completed in the context associated with the current userprofile, the generic user activity being executed in the context associated with the current user profile only if the result of the verification is negative.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism is provided for distributing software features (particularly software products having a global portion and a user portion necessary for activating the software products) to client workstations of a network. Each client workstation has a multi-user operating system that may be accessed with different user profiles, each one associated with a corresponding operating context. A distribution package is received in the client workstation; the distribution package includes instructions associated with global activities for the client workstation as a whole or with user activities specific for the single profiles. A distribution agent (running outside the context of a current profile) executes only the global activity and schedules the user activities to be performed when a user next logs onto the workstation. A user agent loaded when the workstation is accessed with a selected profile executes the user activities in the corresponding context.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of distributing software features to a computer being accessible with a plurality of different user profiles each one associated with a corresponding operating context, the method including the steps of:
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providing a distribution package including at least one item indicative of an activity for enforcing a corresponding software feature on the computer, at least one activity being defined as a user activity associated with at least one user profile, storing an indication of the at least one user activity on the computer, accessing the computer with a current user profile, and retrieving and executing each user activity associated with the current user profile in the corresponding operating context, wherein at least one item includes a flag defining the corresponding activity as a global activity or a generic user activity, the method further including, for each user activity of the at least one item, the steps of; storing an indication of a completion of the generic user activity for each user profile, and verifying whether the generic user activity has been completed in the context associated with the current userprofile, the generic user activity being executed in the context associated with the current user profile only if the result of the verification is negative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A software distribution application for use in a computer being accessible with a plurality of different user profiles each one associated with a corresponding operating context, the software distribution application including a distribution agent for receiving a distribution package including at least one item indicative of an activity for enforcing a corresponding software feature on the computer, at least one activity being defined as a user activity associated with at least one user profile, and for storing an indication of the at least one user activity on the computer, and a user agent for retrieving and executing each user activity associated with a current user profile in the corresponding operating context, wherein at least one item includes a flag defining the corresponding activity as a global activity or a generic user activity and wherein the user agent further:
stores an indication of a completion of the generic user activity for each user profile, and verifies whether the generic user activity has been completed in the context associated with the current user profile, the generic user activity being executed in the context associated with the current user profile only if the result of the verification is negative.
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14. A system for distributing software features to a computer being accessible with a plurality of different user profiles each one associated with a corresponding operating context, the computer including a distribution agent for receiving a distribution package including at least one item indicative of an activity for enforcing a corresponding software feature on the computer, at least one activity being defined as a user activity associated with at least one user profile, and for storing an indication of the at least one user activity on the computer, a logon module for accessing the computer with a current user profile, and a user agent for retrieving and executing each user activity associated with the current user profile in the corresponding operating context, wherein at least one item includes a flag defining the corresponding activity as a global activity or a generic user activity and wherein the user agent further:
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stores an indication of a completion of the generic user activity for each user profile, and verifies whether the generic user activity has been completed in the context associated with the current user profile, the generic user activity being executed in the context associated with the current user profile only if the result of the verification is negative. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification