Method and system for integrating a client computer into a computer network

• US 6,449,642 B2
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jenkins, George, Raghavan, Kartik Nadipuram, Bourke-Dunphy, Erin Marie, Ingle, Bill, Logan, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason D.
• Application Number:
  US09/153,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 709/222, 709/223, 709/221, 709/220, 709/228, 709/230, 709/237, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 717/11
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An improved method and system for integrating a client computer into a computer network is described. At the server, information is taken from a user'"'"'s account, user input, and the server registry and a series of application configuration files is generated for use by an installation program. A client set-up program automatically configures the client computer for communication with the server. An installation manager installs application programs from the server to the client computer, configuring them according to the application configuration files.

Claims

1. A method of installing user applications from a server computer to a client computer, the method comprising:

at the server computer;

presenting to a user who is physically present at the server computer a plurality of user applications that may be installed on the client computer;

receiving a selection from the user of which of the plurality of user applications the user wishes to have installed on the client computer;

storing at least one configuration file onto a removable computer readable medium, the configuration file including parameters usable by the client computer to configure the client computer for communication with the server computer;

storing a setup program on the removable computer readable medium, the setup program being executable to change one or more network settings on the client computer based on the configuration file; and

at the client computer;

upon physical transfer of the removal computer readable medium from the server computer to the client computer, executing the setup program on the client computer to configure the client computer for communication with the server computer; and

receiving an installation of the selected user applications from the server computer.

2. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the server computer;

receiving an input of a user name from the user; and

including the user name into the configuration file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the removable computer readable medium is a floppy disk.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected user applications include a fax program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected user applications include an internet browser program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected user applications include a modem sharing program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected user applications include an email program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected user applications include a proxy program.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the user physically transferring the computer-readable medium from the server computer to the client computer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user removing the computer-readable medium from a drive of the server computer upon completion of the step of storing a setup program on the computer-readable medium; and

the user inserting the computer-readable medium into a drive of the client computer prior to the step of executing the setup program.

12. A method of configuring a client computer for communicating with a linked server computer, the method comprising:

at the server computer;

collecting network parameters in response to a first user-initiated command, wherein the network parameters comprise server data extracted from a file accessible by an operating system residing on the server computer;

storing the network parameters on a removable computer readable medium in preparation for physical transfer of the removable computer readable medium to the client computer; and

providing the computer-readable medium to a user, thereby allowing the user to transfer the computer-readable medium to the client computer;

at the client computer;

receiving the computer-readable medium from the user;

in response to a second user-initiated command, reading the network parameters from the transferred computer readable medium; and

,

installing the network parameters to a file accessible by an operating system residing on the client computer.

13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 12.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein collecting network parameters further comprises receiving a client computer name as a user input.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein collecting network parameters further comprises receiving a user name as a user input.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein collecting network parameters further comprises obtaining the name of the server computer from the operating system residing on the server computer.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein collecting network parameters further comprises obtaining the name of the network domain to which the server computer belongs from the operating system residing on the server computer.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein collecting network parameters further comprises obtaining the name of an organization that uses the server computer from the operating system residing on the server computer.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein collecting network parameters further comprises obtaining the name of a default printer of the server computer from the operating system residing on the server computer.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

at the client computer, installing a network protocol to facilitate communication between the client computer and the server computer.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

at the client computer, binding a network protocol to an interference card associated with the client computer to facilitate communication between the client computer and the server computer.