Method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system

• US 8,151,260 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Caliendo, Neal R. Jr., Estroff, Jeffrey M., Fuccella-Walcutt, Michaelle L., Hunt, James A., Locker, Howard J., Mese, John C., Nokav, Joshua N., Ruiz, Jose R., Waltermann, Rod D. W., Weksler, Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutten, James D
• Application Number:
  US12/045,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of deconstructing the image into at least one portion and creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image. The deconstructing step can include the steps of scanning an image and identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized. The creating step can include the steps of extracting the at least one portion of the image identified to be modularized, generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image. The modules that are created in accordance with the present invention can be formatted for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program such as with a hardware-independent imaging tool. Further, the modules can be used with hardware-independent technologies.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing an image onto a plurality of computer systems, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) deconstructing the image of at least one of the plurality of computer systems into at least one portion; and

(b) creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image, wherein the at least one module is software that comprises one or more software programs, installation scripts, definitions, and other data for installing the one or more software programs on at least another of the plurality of computer systems, further wherein the at least one module can be combined with a different image or a different module;

wherein the creating step (b) further comprises the steps of;

(b2) extracting the at least one portion of the image; and

(b3) generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image;

wherein the extracted portion of the image comprises uninstall scripts;

wherein the generating step (b3) comprises the steps of;

(b3ii) scanning the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iii) generating install scripts from the uninstall scripts.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the deconstructing step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(a2) scanning the image; and

(a3) identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the identifying step (a3) comprises the steps of

(a3ii) providing a list of portions of the image to be modularized;

and

(a3iii) selecting at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents at least one software program.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the at least one software program is hardware independent.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents a plurality of software programs.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of software programs comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent software programs.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one portion of the image comprises one or more of an operating system, a set of drivers, and application software.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the generating instruction (b3iii) comprises the instructions of:

(b3iiiA) reversing the order of the uninstall scripts;

(b3iiiB) determining install scripts from the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iiiC) configuring a portion of the install scripts.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprises the step of (c) formatting the at least one module for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein the software program is hardware-independent application software.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the hardware-independent application software is a hardware-independent imaging tool.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the module is hardware independent.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the creating step (b) further comprises the step of (b2) creating a plurality of modules from the at least one portion of the image.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the plurality of modules comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent modules.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructions for providing an image onto a plurality of computer systems, comprising the program instructions for:

(a) deconstructing the image of at least one of the plurality of computer systems into at least one portion; and

(b) creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image, wherein the at least one module is software that comprises one or more software programs, installation scripts, definitions, and other data for installing the one or more software programs on at least another of the plurality of computer systems, further wherein the at least one module can be combined with a different image or a different module;

wherein the creating instruction (b) further comprises the instructions of;

(b2) extracting the at least one portion of the image; and

(b3) generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image;

wherein the extracted portion of the image comprises uninstall scripts;

wherein the generating step (b3) comprises the steps of;

(b3ii) scanning the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iii) generating install scripts from the uninstall scripts.

17. The medium of claim 16 wherein the deconstructing instruction (a) further comprises the instructions of:

(a2) scanning the image; and

(a3) identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

18. The medium of claim 17 wherein the identifying instruction (a3) comprises the instructions of:

(a3ii) providing a list of portions of the image to be modularized; and

(a3iii) selecting at least one portion of the image to be modularized.

19. The medium of claim 16 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents at least one software program.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the at least one software program is hardware independent.

21. The medium of claim 16 wherein the at least one portion of the image represents a plurality of software programs.

22. The medium of claim 21 wherein the plurality of software programs comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent software programs.

23. The medium of claim 16 wherein the at least one portion of the image comprises one or more of an operating system, a set of drivers, and application software.

24. The medium of claim 16 wherein the generating instruction (b3iii) comprises the instructions of:

(b3iiiA) reversing the order of the uninstall scripts;

(b3iiiB) determining install scripts from the uninstall scripts; and

(b3iiiC) configuring a portion of the install scripts.

25. The medium of claim 16 further comprises the instruction of (c) formatting the at least one module for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program.

26. The medium of claim 25 wherein the software program is hardware-independent application software.

27. The medium of claim 26 wherein the hardware-independent application software is a hardware-independent imaging tool.

28. The medium of claim 16 wherein the module is hardware independent.

29. The medium of claim 16 wherein the creating instruction (b) further comprises the instruction of (b2) creating a plurality of modules from the at least one portion of the image.

30. The medium of claim 29 wherein the plurality of modules comprises a combination of hardware-independent and hardware-dependent modules.