Remote installation of computer resources

• US 7,975,266 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schneider, Manfred, Bozak, Erol
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coyer; Ryan D
• Application Number:
  US10/903,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 717/127
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for installing resources in a computer system operate to identify a need to install resources on a target device and perform an installation of the resources on the target device using installer components located remotely from the target device. The remotely located installer components control the installation of the resources.

Claims

1. A method for installing resources in a target device, the method comprising:

receiving an installation request message at an installation device, the installation request message corresponding to an installation to be performed on the target device and identifying installation data for performing the installation;

receiving, at the installation device, target device metadata from a metadata repository associated with the target device, the target device metadata including data regarding an operating system of the target device and being transmitted to the installation device from a backend installer component on the target device, the installation device communicating with the backend installer component over a network, the backend installer component operating as an interface to the target device and providing read and write access to the target device;

identifying primary metadata based on the target device metadata;

requesting the primary metadata from a metadata repository associated with the installer device;

receiving the primary metadata from the metadata repository, the primary metadata corresponding to attributes of the operating system of the target device as provided in the target device metadata;

retrieving one or more installable components from an installable units repository using the installation device; and

transmitting the one or more installable components to the target device for installation of the one or more installable components on the target device under control of the installation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation request message is generated by the target device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation device controls the installation based on interactions between execution of instructions on the installation device and execution of instructions on the target device, the interactions including:

receiving an update message at the installation device, the update message being sent by the target device; and

storing information contained in the update message at the installation device, the information corresponding to at least one of attributes of the target device and progress of the installation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation comprises installing the one or more installable components in an installed units repository that is communicably coupled to the backend installer component at the target device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary metadata defines features selected from the group consisting of attributes of the one or more remote installer components, attributes of an environment of the one or more remote installer components, and attributes of the installable units repository.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing a security function selected from the group consisting of authenticating the target device, authenticating a device associated with the one or more remote installer components, verifying an authorization to perform the installation, and controlling access between the target device and the one or more remote installer components.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communications between the installation device and the target device pass through an abstraction layer, the backend installer component being specific to the operating system of the target device, the installation device being specific to another operating system different than the operating system of the target device, and the abstraction layer converting commands issued by the installation device to the backend installer component.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the installation device registers with the abstraction layer, and the installer backend component registers with the abstraction layer based on type.

9. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, for installing resources in a target device, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing apparatus perform operations comprising:

receiving an installation request message at an installation device, the installation request message corresponding to an installation to be performed on the target device and identifying installation data for performing the installation;

receiving, at the installation device, target device metadata from a metadata repository associated with the target device, the target device metadata including data regarding an operating system of the target device and being transmitted to the installation device from a backend installer component on the target device, the installation device communicating with the backend installer component over a network, the backend installer component operating as an interface to the target device and providing read and write access to the target device;

identifying primary metadata based on the target device metadata;

requesting the primary metadata from a metadata repository associated with the installer device;

receiving the primary metadata from the metadata repository, the primary metadata corresponding to attributes of the operating system of the target device as provided in the target device metadata;

retrieving one or more installable components from an installable units repository using the installation device; and

transmitting the one or more installable components to the target device for installation of the one or more installable components on the target device under control of the installation device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the installation request message is generated by the target device.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the installation device controls the installation based on interactions between execution of instructions on the installation device and execution of instructions on the target device, the interactions including:

receiving an update message at the installation device, the update message being sent by the target device; and

storing information contained in the update message at the installation device, the information corresponding to at least one of attributes of the target device and progress of the installation.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the installation comprises installing the one or more installable components in an installed units repository that is communicably coupled to the backend installer component at the target device.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein communications between the installation device and the target device pass through an abstraction layer, the backend installer component being specific to the operating system of the target device, the installation device being specific to another operating system different than the operating system of the target device, and the abstraction layer converting commands issued by the installation device to the backend installer component.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the installation device registers with the abstraction layer, and the installer backend component registers with the abstraction layer based on type.

15. A system, comprising:

a target device that includes a backend installer component operating as an interface to the target device and providing read and write access to the target device; and

an installation device that communicates with the backend installer component over a network, the installation device;

receiving an installation request message corresponding to an installation to be performed on the target device and identifying installation data for performing the installation;

receiving target device metadata from a metadata repository associated with the target device, the target device metadata including data regarding an operating system of the target device and being transmitted to the installation device from the backend installer component;

identifying primary metadata based on the target device metadata;

requesting the primary metadata from a metadata repository associated with the installer device;

receiving the primary metadata from the metadata repository, the primary metadata corresponding to attributes of the operating system of the target device as provided in the target device metadata;

retrieving one or more installable components from an installable units repository using the installation device; and

transmitting the one or more installable components to the target device for installation of the one or more installable components on the target device under control of the installation device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the installation request message is generated by the target device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the installation device controls the installation based on interactions between execution of instructions on the installation device and execution of instructions on the target device, the interactions including:

receiving an update message at the installation device, the update message being sent by the target device; and

storing information contained in the update message at the installation device, the information corresponding to at least one of attributes of the target device and progress of the installation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the installation comprises installing the one or more installable components in an installed units repository that is communicably coupled to the backend installer component at the target device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein communications between the installation device and the target device pass through an abstraction layer, the backend installer component being specific to the operating system of the target device, the installer device being specific to another operating system different than the operating system of the target device, and the abstraction layer converting commands issued by the installation device to the backend installer component.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the installation device registers with the abstraction layer, and the installer backend component registers with the abstraction layer based on type.