Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2001-07-24
Chaki, Kakali (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266811
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to computer systems and computer networks. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for installing application software packages onto one or more computers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As new and useful application software packages for personal computers are developed, the need arises for an automated or semi-automated process for installing a given application software package onto a plurality of computers. This need arises, for example, in the context of corporate computer networks which may comprise tens, hundreds, or even thousands of client computers. For such corporate computer networks, the purchase and installation of even a single new application software package can become a major task, requiring a large amount of time and effort from the system administrators whose job it is to support the many client computers coupled to a corporate computer network.
FIG. 1
shows a typical corporate computer network
100
comprising a network backbone
102
, a plurality of local area network servers
104
a-c
, and a plurality of client computers
106
a-l
. Corporate computer network
100
further comprises a gateway computer
108
for coupling the corporate computer network
100
to an external network such as the Internet. Corporate computer network
100
further comprises a service computer
112
which, generally speaking, is a computer dedicated at least in part to assisting in servicing the various hardware and software applications being used by corporate computer network
100
. Finally, shown in
FIG. 1
is a system administrator
114
. Generally speaking, the system administrator
114
represents the person or persons responsible for supporting the users of the client computers
106
a-l
and for servicing the various hardware and software applications being used by corporate computer network
100
.
FIG. 2
shows steps taken in the development, distribution, and installation of application software packages according to the prior art. At step
202
, an application software package represented by the files NEW_APP.EXE and NEW_DATA.DAT are developed by an application software manufacturer. At step
204
, the application software manufacturer develops a rule-based instruction file SETUP.INS. At step
206
, the application software manufacturer releases the application software package by either a physical data delivery mechanism such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic media disk, or a DVD-disk, or alternatively configures the application software package for electronic delivery, e.g., by posting the application software package on an Internet World Wide Web Site or bulletin board. Along with the application software package files NEW_APP.EXE and NEW_DATA.DAT, the rule-based instruction file SETUP.INS is included, along with a rule-based installation engine denoted by a file SETUP.EXE.
A rule-based installation engine is a standard computer program which is designed to install an application software package from a first medium onto a client computer when executed. Examples of rule-based installation engines include InstallShield®, Wise Installation System, and Microsoft Setup Toolkit. A rule-based installation engine is characterized in that it provides a standard installation environment, e.g. standard configuration options, familiar look-and-feel, etc., while operating according to a set of rules that are expressed in a rule-based instruction file. As an example, InstallShield® is commonly used for installing many Windows 95™-based application software packages. Installshield® is provided with a variety of software packages ranging from antivirus application software such as McAfee VirusScan™ to natural speech detection programs such as Dragon Systems NaturallySpeaking™. When a user invokes Installshield® by launching its executable file named SETUP.EXE, a selection from among a standard set of dialog and options boxes appear to the user, according to parameters in a rule-based instruction file SETUP.INS generated by the application software manufacturer. Such familiar dialog and options boxes include, for example, a license dialog box for displaying a license agreement to the user, and a destination files dialog box for requesting a destination directory for installed application software files.
A rule-based instruction file is a computer file that is readable by a rule-based installation engine and that comprises a set of instructions and parameters for use during the instruction process. As an example, the InstallShield® program operates according to a rule-based installation file called SETUP.INS and generally according to files having an INS extension. When the exemplary InstallShield® system is used as a delivery vehicle by an application software manufacturer, at step
204
the application software manufacturer generates a rule-based instruction file named SETUP.INS. This file provides a set of detailed instructions from the application software manufacturer including specific parameters associated with the application software package and computer operating system. This file also includes defaults, including the location of a desired license agreement file, the default destination directory, the identity of the application software files that require duplication onto the destination client computer, and default parameters for entry into the client computer operating system.
Importantly, at step
204
the application software manufacturer generates the rule-based instruction file named SETUP.INS by first writing a rule-based installation language file which may bear, for example, the name SET_UTIL.RUL. This file is created according to a specific set of commands adapted for the specific rule-based installation engine. For the exemplary InstallShield engine, descriptions of the specific language used in the rule-based installation language files *.RUL may be found in documents including “InstallShield 3 User's Guide,” InstallShield Corporation, rev. 4/29/96, which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure. A proprietary compiler ICOMP.EXE provided to the application software manufacturer by InstallShield is used to compile the rule-based installation language files *.RUL into rule-based instruction files *.INS. Accordingly, the *.INS files are binary files which cannot be read or modified using a standard ASCII editor. The compilation requirement of the rule-based installation engine providers helps to ensure that rule-based installation language files are accurately written by the application software manufacturer prior to release. This is due to the fact that many mistakes in writing the rule-based installation language file would be detected by the compiler, thus preventing the release or erroneous or buggy installation routines. Additionally, speed of execution is increased over a situation where an ASCII or non-compiled rule-based installation language file is used. Finally, security of the product is enhanced with regard to unauthorized access to proprietary information contained therein.
At step
208
of
FIG. 2
, the system administrator
114
acquires the magnetic disk or other medium containing the application software and installation files. At steps
210
-
220
, using distribution methods known in the art, system administrator
114
distributes the application software and installation files to each of the computers
106
a
-
106
l
that require the new software installation. In what is perhaps the oldest prior art method, the system administrator physically goes to each computer with the CD-ROM or disk, executes the rule-based installation engine program, i.e. the InstallShield® SETUP.EXE program, and enters the appropriate responses when prompted. In particular, starting at step
210
, the system administrator
114
launches the rule-based installation engine at each client computer COMPUTER (i) at step
212
. At steps
214
and
216
, the system administrator
114
enters the appropriate information when prompted. At steps
218
and
220
, the system
Chaki Kakali
Network Associates
Nguyen-Ba Hoang-Vu Antony
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
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