METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED DISTRIBUTION OF SOFTWARE

• US 20020059242A1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: WONG, ROGER W., HYDEN, WILLIAM PAUL, BUTTS, DAVID ALAN, BRYAN, JOE MARK
• Granted Patent: US 6,421,671 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system for automated distribution of software are provided. The method comprises maintaining a database of configuration information. The configuration information includes version information of loaded software stored on a remote server. The configuration information further includes version information of available software operable to be loaded upon the remote server. A request is received from a user to load the available software on the remote server. The version information of the available software is compared with the version information of the loaded software. The available software is copied to the remote server.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for automated distribution of software, the method comprising:

maintaining a database of configuration information, the configuration information including version information of loaded software stored on a remote server, the configuration information further including version information of available software operable to be loaded upon the remote server;

receiving a request from a user to load the available software on the remote server;

comparing the version information of the available software with the version information of the loaded software; and

copying the available software onto the remote server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the comparing step, allowing the user to terminate the method if the available software will corrupt the loaded software.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the comparing step, allowing the user to continue the method if the available software will corrupt the loaded software.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, before the copying step, requiring a remote user to accept the available software on the remote server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a request page, the request page accessible by a user, and wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the user request on the request page.

6. The method claim 3, wherein the request page is accessible by a web browser.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the database after the copying step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the copying step comprises:

determining a source of the available software;

copying the available software from the source to a local cache;

establishing a connection to the remote server; and

copying the available software from the cache to the remote server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a log of the users making requests.

10. A computer implemented method for automated distribution of software, the method comprising:

maintaining a database of configuration information, the configuration information including version information of loaded software stored on a remote server, the configuration information further including version information of available software operable to be loaded upon the remote server;

receiving a request from user to load the available software onto the remote server;

comparing the version information of the available software with the version information of the loaded software;

allowing the user to terminate or continue if the available software will corrupt the loaded software; and

copying the available software onto the remote server.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, before the copying step, requiring a remote user to accept the available software on the remote server.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising maintaining a request page, the request page accessible by a user, and wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the user request on the request page.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the request page is accessible by a web browser.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising updating the database after the copying step.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the copying step comprises:

determining a source of the available software;

copying the available software from the source to a local cache;

establishing a connection to the remote server; and

copying the available software from the cache to the remote server.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising maintaining a log of users making requests.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the pre-processor comprises a stored SQL procedure.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the request page is accessible by a web browser.

17. A system for automated distribution of software, the method comprising:

a database of configuration information maintained on a computer readable medium, the configuration information including version information of loaded software stored on a remote server, the configuration information further including version information of available software operable to be loaded upon the remote server;

a request page for receiving a request from a user to load the available software onto the remote server;

a pre-process interfacing with the database and the request page, the pre-processor operable to compare the version information of the available software with the version information of the loaded software and allow the user to terminate or continue the method if the available software will corrupt the loaded software; and

a distribution engine interfaced with the pre-processor for copying the available software onto the remote server.