Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software installation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2004-06-15
Zhen, Wei (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software installation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06751795
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for software installation.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-368188, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional system for software installation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 4-30218. Referring to
FIG. 6
, the conventional system for software installation
61
comprises a difference list output device
611
, a file operation controller
612
, and a storage medium
613
. The difference list output device outputs a list indicating a difference, based on a release number
622
of the product in a storage medium
621
in a computer
62
and on a product update history recorded in the storage medium
613
. Based on this list, the file operations for installation are performed.
This conventional technique has the following problems:
The first disadvantage is that the installation cannot be performed while maintaining the data updated by the user. The data updated by the user cannot be completely deleted, and the initial installation state cannot be recovered. The reason for this is that the file operations for installation do not depend on the difference between the files but are always determined based on the release number of the product in the computer and on the product update history recorded in the storage medium.
The second disadvantage is that a damaged file cannot be recovered. The reason for this is that the damaged file is excluded from the target because the file operations are determined based on the release number and the product update history.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for software installation which can appropriately select file operations and target files.
In a first aspect of the present invention, the system for software installation comprises: a storage medium for storing a file to be installed; a difference detector for comparing the file in the storage medium with the file in a target, and detecting a difference therebetween; a file operation determination device for determining an operation for the file, based on the comparison by the difference detector; and an installer for performing an installation, based on the determination made by the file operation determination device.
In a second aspect of the present invention, the difference detector comprises a list output device for outputting a list describing a difference between the file in the storage medium and the file in the target.
In a third aspect of the present invention, the system for software installation further comprises a file operation course selector for selecting a file operation course, depending on the type of the difference.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the file operation course selector selects to perform no file operation when the file in the storage medium is identical to the file in the target, to copy the file from the storage medium to the target when the file in the storage medium is different from the file in the target, to copy the file from the storage medium to the target when the file in the storage medium is not stored in the target, and to delete the file from the target when the file is not stored in the storage medium but is stored in the target.
In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the file operation determination device determines prohibiting a file operation for a file containing a setting value for software and for a file containing user data.
In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the file operation determination device determines copying the file from the storage medium to the target only when the file in the storage medium is newer than the file in the target.
In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the software installation method comprises the steps of: recording a file for installation; comparing the recorded file with a file in a target and detecting a difference therebetween; determining an operation for the file, based on the detection; and performing installation, based on the determination.
According to the present invention, the installation becomes quick because the invention installs only the different software files.
Further, a damaged file in the target computer can be detected or recovered, because the invention compares the files in the target with the source files to thereby detect the differences.
The installation is achieved while maintaining files personally added by a user because the file operations are preset based on the differences.
The invention avoids overwriting the latest version file, because no file operation is performed when the file version in the computer is newer than the file in the installation system.
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Seemann et al. Visualization of Differences Between Versions of Object-Oriented Software. IEEE. Mar. 1998. pp. 201-204.*
Symborski. Updating Software and Configuration Data in a Distributed Communications Network. IEEE. 1988. pp. 331-338.
NEC Corporation
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Zhen Wei
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