Component installation tool

• US 7,526,775 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, Evan Yu-Ling, Pham, Tuan Huu, Luu, Son T., O'Connell, Daniel Joseph, Strang, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Andy
• Application Number:
  US09/855,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,904 Days
• Field of Search: 709/321, 709/322, 709/327, 709/328, 709/217, 709/219, 719/321, 717/176, 717/178
• US Class Current: 719/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/283 in response to processing delays, e.g. caused by jitter or round trip time [RTT]
• 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: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Installing computer software components on a client device for enabling connectivity to a host system by at least one of several different hardware devices typically includes receiving a connectivity component for enabling connectivity to a host system by at least one of several different hardware devices and detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is needed to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system. The connectivity component is typically installed on the client device when installation of the connectivity component is needed.

Claims

1. A system for installing computer software components on a client device for enabling connectivity to a host system by at least one of several different hardware devices, comprising:

a selection module that is structured and arranged to select a hardware device from several hardware devices of different physical connectivity types;

a detection module that is structured and arranged to detect whether installation of a particular connectivity component is required to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the selected hardware device, wherein the detection module is structured and arranged to determine the required connectivity component by;

generating an installation request to a remote host,

receiving a reply to the installation request from the remote host, wherein the reply identifies the required connectivity component if the remote host determines that enabling connectivity between the client device and the host system is feasible using the selected hardware device, and

determining whether the connectivity component is stored locally on the client device;

a receiving module that is structured and arranged to receive the connectivity component from a remote host if the connectivity component is not stored locally; and

an installation module that is structured and arranged to install the connectivity component on the client device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the connectivity component is capable of interfacing with a device driver to enable communications between computer software at the client device and the host system using the new hardware device associated with the device driver.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the connectivity component is capable of interfacing directly with the new hardware device to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the new hardware device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the connectivity component includes computer software that interfaces with a driver for the new hardware device that is used to connect to the host system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the connectivity component includes a broadband connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using a broadband communication device.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the connectivity component includes a DSL connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using a DSL modem.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the connectivity component includes a cable connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using a cable modem.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the connectivity component includes a satellite connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using a satellite modem.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the installation module installs a list of programs needed to install the connectivity component.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the list of programs includes a sequential list of programs needed to install the connectivity component such that only one reboot of the client device is necessary to accomplish installation using the sequential list of programs.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiving module, the detection module, and the installation module are structured and arranged to perform automatically without user intervention to receive, detect, and install the connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using the new hardware device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the connectivity component received includes an updated version of a connectivity component stored on the client device before the connectivity component is installed by the installation module.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the detection module is structured and arranged to detect whether installation of the connectivity component is needed on the client device by comparing a version of the updated connectivity component received with a version of the connectivity component stored on the client device.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the receiving module is structured and arranged to receive version information from a remote server associated with a connectivity component;

the detection module is structured and arranged to detect whether installation of the connectivity component is needed on the client device, and to determine a version of the connectivity component to install by comparing the version information received from the remote server with version information associated with the connectivity component already received by the receiving module when installation of the connectivity component is needed; and

the installation module is structured and arranged to install the connectivity component stored on the client device when the detection module determines the version information associated with the stored connectivity component is correct when compared against the version information received from the remote server.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the receiving module is structured and arranged to receive an updated connectivity component from the remote server when the detection module determines that the version information associated with the connectivity component stored on the client device is not correct when compared against the version information received from the remote server; and

the installation module is structured and arranged to install the updated connectivity component received from the remote server.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the receiving module is structured and arranged to include a host system receiving module that is structured and arranged to receive a request to send a connectivity component to a local client device; and

the installation module is structured and arranged to include a host system installation module that is structured and arranged to send the connectivity component to the local client device for installation on the local client device in response to the request.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the detection module is structured and arranged to include a host system detection module that is structured and arranged to determine a version of the connectivity component needed for installation on the local client device.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the detection module is structured and arranged to detect a prior receipt of the connectivity component that is needed to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the new hardware device.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein determining that enabling connectivity between the client device and the host system is feasible using the selected hardware device includes determining whether a physical connectivity type of the selected hardware device is supported in the geographical area of the client device.

20. A method for installing computer software components on a client device for enabling connectivity to a host system by at least one of several different hardware devices, the method comprising:

selecting a hardware device from several hardware devices of different physical connectivity types;

detecting whether installation of a particular connectivity component is required to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the selected hardware device, wherein the detection includes determining the required connectivity component by;

generating an installation request to a remote host,

receiving a reply to the installation request from the remote host, wherein the reply identifies the required connectivity component if the remote host determines that enabling connectivity between the client device and the host system is feasible using the selected hardware device, and

determining whether the connectivity component is stored locally on the client device;

receiving the connectivity component from a remote host if the connectivity component is not stored locally; and

installing the connectivity component on the client device.

21. The method as in claim 20 wherein the connectivity component is capable of interfacing with a device driver to enable communications between computer software at the client device and the host system using the new hardware device associated with the device driver.

22. The method as in claim 20 wherein the connectivity component is capable of interfacing directly with the new hardware device to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the new hardware device.

23. The method as in claim 20 wherein the connectivity component includes computer software that interfaces with a driver for the new hardware device that is used to connect to the host system.

24. The method as in claim 20 wherein the connectivity component includes a broadband connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using a broadband communication device.

25. The method as in claim 20 wherein installing the connectivity component includes installing a list of programs needed to install the connectivity component.

26. The method as in claim 25 wherein the list of programs includes a sequential list of programs needed to install the connectivity component such that only one reboot of the client device is necessary to accomplish installation using the sequential list of programs.

27. The method as in claim 20 wherein receiving the connectivity component, detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is necessary, and installing the connectivity component includes automatically without user intervention receiving, detecting, and installing the connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using the new hardware device.

28. The method as in claim 20 wherein the connectivity component received includes an updated version of a connectivity component stored on the client device before the connectivity component is installed by the installation module.

29. The method as in claim 28 wherein detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is needed includes comparing a version of the updated connectivity component received with a version of the connectivity component stored on the client device.

30. The method as in claim 20 wherein:

receiving the connectivity component includes receiving version information from a remote server associated with a connectivity component;

detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is needed includes detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is needed on the client device, and determining a version of the connectivity component to install by comparing the version information received from the remote server with version information associated with the connectivity component already received when installation of the connectivity component is needed; and

installing the connectivity component includes installing the connectivity component stored on the client device when the version information associated with the stored connectivity component is determined to be correct when compared against the version information received from the remote server.

31. The method as in claim 30 wherein:

receiving the connectivity component includes receiving an updated connectivity component from the remote server when the version information associated with the connectivity component stored on the client device is determined not to be correct when compared against the version information received from the remote server; and

installing the connectivity component includes installing the updated connectivity component received from the remote server.

32. The method as in claim 20 wherein:

receiving the connectivity component includes using a host system to receive a request to send a connectivity component to a local client device; and

installing the connectivity component includes using the host system to send the connectivity component to the local client device for installation on the local client device in response to the request.

33. The method as in claim 32 wherein detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is necessary includes using the host system to determine a version of the connectivity component to install on the local client device.

34. The method as in claim 20 wherein detecting whether installation of the connectivity component is necessary includes detecting a prior receipt of the connectivity component that is needed to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the new hardware device.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein determining that enabling connectivity between the client device and the host system is feasible using the selected hardware device includes determining whether a physical connectivity type of the selected hardware device is supported in the geographical area of the client device.

36. A computer program for installing computer software components on a client device for enabling connectivity to a host system by at least one of several different hardware devices, the computer program being stored on a tangible computer readable medium and comprising:

a selection code segment that causes the computer to select a hardware device from several hardware devices of different physical connectivity types;

a detection code segment that causes the computer to detect whether installation of a particular connectivity component is required to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the selected hardware device, wherein the detection code segment causes the computer to determine the required connectivity component by;

generating an installation request to a remote host,

receiving a reply to the installation request from the remote host, wherein the reply identifies the required connectivity component if the remote host determines that enabling connectivity between the client device and the host system is feasible using the selected hardware device, and

determining whether the connectivity component is stored locally on the client device;

a receiving code segment that causes the computer to receive the connectivity component from a remote host if the connectivity component is not stored locally; and

an installation code segment that causes the computer to install the connectivity component.

37. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the connectivity component is capable of interfacing with a device driver to enable communications between computer software at the client device and the host system using the new hardware device associated with the device driver.

38. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the connectivity component is capable of interfacing directly with the new hardware device to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the new hardware device.

39. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the connectivity component includes computer software that interfaces with a driver for the new hardware device that is used to connect to the host system.

40. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the connectivity component includes a broadband connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using a broadband communication device.

41. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the installation code segment causes the computer to install a list of programs needed to install the connectivity component.

42. The computer program of claim 41 wherein the list of programs includes a sequential list of programs needed to install the connectivity component such that only one reboot of the client device is necessary to accomplish installation using the sequential list of programs.

43. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the receiving code segment, the detection code segment, and the installation code segment cause the computer to perform automatically without user intervention to receive, detect, and install the connectivity component to enable connectivity to the host system using the new hardware device.

44. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the connectivity component received includes an updated version of a connectivity component stored on the client device before the connectivity component is installed by the installation code segment.

45. The computer program of claim 44 wherein the detection code segment causes the computer to detect whether installation of the connectivity component is needed on the client device by comparing a version of the updated connectivity component received with a version of the connectivity component stored on the client device.

46. The computer program of claim 36 wherein:

the receiving code segment causes the computer to receive version information from a remote server associated with a connectivity component;

the detection code segment causes the computer to detect whether installation of the connectivity component is needed on the client device, and to determine a version of the connectivity component to install by comparing the version information received from the remote server with version information associated with the connectivity component already received by the receiving code segment when installation of the connectivity component is needed; and

the installation code segment causes the computer to install the connectivity component stored on the client device when the detection code segment determines the version information associated with the stored connectivity component is correct when compared against the version information received from the remote server.

47. The computer program of claim 46 wherein:

the receiving code segment causes the computer to receive an updated connectivity component from the remote server when the detection code segment determines that the version information associated with the connectivity component stored on the client device is not correct when compared against the version information received from the remote server; and

the installation code segment causes the computer to install the updated connectivity component received from the remote server.

48. The computer program of claim 36 wherein:

the receiving code segment includes a host system receiving code segment that causes the computer to receive a request to send a connectivity component to a local client device; and

the installation code segment includes a host system installation code segment that causes the computer to send the connectivity component to the local client device for installation on the local client device in response to the request.

49. The computer program of claim 48 wherein the host system detection code segment causes the computer to determine a version of the connectivity component to install on the local client device.

50. The computer program of claim 36 wherein the detection code segment causes the computer to detect a prior receipt of the connectivity component that is needed to enable connectivity between the client device and the host system using the new hardware device.

51. The computer program of claim 36 wherein determining that enabling connectivity between the client device and the host system is feasible using the selected hardware device includes determining whether a physical connectivity type of the selected hardware device is supported in the geographical area of the client device.