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US5361358A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System and method for installing program code for operation from multiple bootable operating systems

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-08-07
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2012-08-07
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Abstract

Abstract A method, system and process for installing an application under a first operating system and translating the installation parameters into a set of similar parameters to assure proper execution under a second operating system. The invention prompts a user for selection of preferences for an initial operating system and stores the initial selections representing a user's requirements under the initial operating system. Then, the hardware is examined to ascertain a list of all bootable devices and the operating systems associated therewith. The list of bootable devices is presented to the user for selection of which operating systems the application should be enabled under. Finally, the application is enabled in accordance with the information stored in the initial selections on each of the selected bootable devices and the operating systems associated with the bootable device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Clifford A. Cox
  • 👤 Steven G. Nacamuli
  • 👤 Laurie B. Turner
  • 👤 Amy L. Wilson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 03:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/61; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4406

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A system for installing program code on a computer system for operation with multiple alternately bootable operating systems each residing on an alternately bootable storage means, said system comprising: means for installing said program code for operating with a first operating system, said program code including program configuration information for operating said program code; means for identifying all alternately bootable storage means attached to said computer system, said alternately bootable storage means each having system control data; and means for modifying said system control data on each of said alternately bootable storage means to include said program configuration information for operating said program code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 104 words
A system for installing program code on a computer system for operation with multiple alternately bootable operating systems each residing on an alternately bootable storage means, said system comprising: means for installing said program code for operating with a first operating system, said program code including program configuration information for operating said program code; means for identifying all alternately bootable storage means attached to said computer system, said alternately bootable storage means each having system control data; and means for modifying said system control data on each of said alternately bootable storage means to include said program configuration information for operating said program code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 70 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: operator interface means for receiving operator input; bootable storage selection means for presenting to an operator a list of all bootable storage means identified by said means for identifying and for receiving operator selections from said operator interface means; and wherein said means for modifying modifies the system control data only on those bootable storage systems selected by said bootable storage selection means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 62 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for identifying all bootable storage means comprises: means for identifying all storage media connected to said computer system; and means for testing each of said identified storage media for the presence of a boot control file; and means for indicating a bootable storage means when said means for testing finds said boot control file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for installing comprises: means for writing program code to a storage medium attached to said computer system and accessible to one or more of said alternately bootable operating systems; and means for writing configuration information for said program code to said storage medium.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 100 words
A method for installing computer program code on a computer system having a processor and one or more persistent storage means, said one or more persistent storage means having two or more bootable operating systems for operating said computer system, the method comprising the steps of: copying said computer program code to a first persistent storage means; building a list of all storage means having a bootable operating system, each of said bootable operating systems having system control data; and modifying said system control data for each of said bootable operating systems to incorporate configuration data for said program code.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 100 words
A method for installing computer program code on a computer system having a processor and one or more persistent storage means, said one or more persistent storage means having two or more bootable operating systems for operating said computer system, the method comprising the steps of: copying said computer program code to a first persistent storage means; building a list of all storage means having a bootable operating system, each of said bootable operating systems having system control data; and modifying said system control data for each of said bootable operating systems to incorporate configuration data for said program code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: presenting a computer system operator with a choice of storage means for loading said program code; and accepting operator input indicating storage means selection; and wherein said first storage means is said selected storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 61 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: presenting a list of said bootable operating systems to said computer system operator; and accepting operator input indicating which of said bootable operating systems should have its system control data modified; and wherein said step of modifying said control data modifies only the system control data of selected bootable operating systems.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 83 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step of building a list comprises the steps of: constructing a list of possible storage means connections; testing each of said possible storage means connections for presence of a storage means to create a list of present storage means; testing each of said present storage means to detect the presence of system control data; and creating a list of bootable storage means for each of said present storage means on which system control data is present.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4335426A Cited
US4799145A Cited
US4825358A Cited
US5068780A Cited
US5136711A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-10-31 1998-05-02 1998-11-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-10-31 2002-05-02 2002-11-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-10-31 2006-05-02 2006-11-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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