Installation of application software through a network from a source computer system on to a target computer system

Claim 3

The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot, is further comprised of the steps of: identifying the differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and generating said plurality of instructions for installing said application software package based on said application software package and the differences between said post-installation snapshot from said pre-installation system snapshot.

Claim 4

The method as recited in claim 2 wherein prior to said step of transmitting said application installation file to one or more target workstations performing the step of scheduling said installation of said application software on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 5

The method as recited in claim 3 is further comprised of the step of deinstalling said application software from said source workstation.

Claim 6

The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said network is a Local Area Network.

Claim 7

The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said workstation is operating on a Local Area Network operating system.

Claim 8

The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said step of installing said application software package on said corresponding target workstation through said application installation file is further comprised of the step of executing instructions from said application installation file including an instruction for retrieving said application software from said storage location and instructions for modifying system files in said target workstation.

Claim 11

The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of said target workstation receiving said application installation package and installing said application software package based on said application installation package and said personality file is further comprised of the step of executing instructions from said application installation package including an instruction for modifying systems files in said target workstation according to said application installation package.

Claim 12

The method as recited in claim 9 wherein prior to said step of transmitting said application installation package across said network to said target workstation performing the steps of: scheduling a predetermined time for the installation of said application software on said target workstation; and waiting for said predetermined time to be reached.

Claim 13

The method as recited in claim 10 is further comprised of the step of deinstalling said application software package from said source workstation.

Claim 14

A network for coupling at least a source workstation with a target workstation, said network comprising: a media for connecting said source workstation with said target workstation; said source workstation comprising: a source workstation adapter for coupling said source workstation to said media; means for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of the software on said source workstation; means for installing said application software package on said source workstation; means for creating a post-installation system snapshot of the software on said source workstation; means for comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot; means for generating an application installation package based on said differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said target workstation; means for transmitting said application installation package to said target workstation; said target workstation comprising; a target workstation adapter for coupling said target workstation to said media; means for receiving said application installation package; and means for installing said application software package based on said application installation package.

Claim 15

A network for coupling at least a source workstation with a target workstation, said network comprising: a media for connecting said source workstation with said target workstation; said source workstation comprising: a source workstation adapter for coupling said source workstation to said media; means for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of the software on said source workstation; means for installing said application software package on said source workstation; means for creating a post-installation system snapshot of the software on said source workstation; means for comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot; means for generating an application installation package based on said differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said target workstation; means for transmitting said application installation package to said target workstation; said target workstation comprising; a target workstation adapter for coupling said target workstation to said media; means for receiving said application installation package; and means for installing said application software package based on said application installation package.

Claim 16

The network as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for comparing said pre-installation snapshot with said post-installation snapshot is further comprised of: means for determining the differences between said pre-installation snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and means for generating said plurality of commands in said application installation package based on differences between said pre-installation snapshot and said post-installation snapshot.

Claim 17

The network as recited in claim 13 wherein said source workstation is further comprised of means for assigning a time for transmitting said application installation package to said target workstation.

Claim 18

The network as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for receiving said application installation package is a Terminate and Stay Resident program.

Claim 19

The network as recited in claim 15 wherein said target workstation is further comprised of means for specifying custom installation parameters.

Claim 20

The network as recited in claim 16 wherein said means for installing said application software package based on said application installation package is further comprised of means for installing said application software based on said custom installation parameters.

Claim 21

The network as recited in claim 12 further including a means for deinstalling said application software package from said target workstation.

Claim 22

A computer-implemented method for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations from a source workstation, said one or more target workstations and said source workstation all coupled to a network executing a network operating system, said method comprising the steps of: creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said source workstation; installing said application software package on said source workstation; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said source workstation; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot; generating an application installation package based on said step of comparing said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 23

A computer-implemented method for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations from a source workstation, said one or more target workstations and said source workstation all coupled to a network executing a network operating system, said method comprising the steps of: creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said source workstation; installing said application software package on said source workstation; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said source workstation; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot; generating an application installation package based on said step of comparing said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 24

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19 wherein said step of comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation system snapshot further includes the steps of: identifying differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and generating said plurality of instructions for installing said application software package based on said differences between said post-installation snapshot and said pre-installation system snapshot.

Claim 25

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 20 further including the step of scheduling said installation of said application software on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 26

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 20 wherein said network is an Ethernet Local Area Network.

Claim 27

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 20 wherein said network operating system is NetWare.

Claim 28

A computer-implemented method for installation of an application software package on a target workstation from a source workstation across a network, said computer-implemented method comprising the steps of: generating a personality file for said target workstation, said personality file describing installation parameters for said application software package and said target workstation; generating an application installation package for said application software package on said source workstation, said step of generating said application installation package further including the steps of: creating a pre-installation snapshot of said source workstation, installing said application software package on said source workstation, creating a post-installation snapshot of said source workstation, comparing said pre-installation snapshot with said post-installation snapshot, and generating said application installation package based on differences between said pre-installation snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and said target workstation receiving said application installation package and installing said application software package based on said application installation package and said personality file.

Claim 29

A computer-implemented method for installation of an application software package on a target workstation from a source workstation across a network, said computer-implemented method comprising the steps of: generating a personality file for said target workstation, said personality file describing installation parameters for said application software package and said target workstation; generating an application installation package for said application software package on said source workstation, said step of generating said application installation package further including the steps of: creating a pre-installation snapshot of said source workstation, installing said application software package on said source workstation, creating a post-installation snapshot of said source workstation, comparing said pre-installation snapshot with said post-installation snapshot, and generating said application installation package based on differences between said pre-installation snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and said target workstation receiving said application installation package and installing said application software package based on said application installation package and said personality file.

Claim 30

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24 wherein said step of said target workstation receiving said application installation package and installing said application software package based on said application installation package and said personality file further includes the step of executing instructions from said application installation file including an instruction for modifying systems files in said target workstation according to said application installation file.

Claim 31

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24 further including the step of scheduling a predetermined time for the installation of said application software on said target workstation.

Claim 32

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24 further including of the step of deinstalling said application software package from said source workstation.

Claim 33

A computer system for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations, said computer system comprising: means for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system; means for installing said application software package on said computer system; means for creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system; means for comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; means for generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 34

A computer system for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations, said computer system comprising: means for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system; means for installing said application software package on said computer system; means for creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system; means for comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; means for generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 35

The computer system as recited in claim 28 further including means for receiving said application installation package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 36

The computer system as recited in claim 28 further including means for assigning a time for transmitting said application installation package to said one or more target workstations.

Claim 37

The computer system as recited in claim 28 wherein said means for receiving said application installation package is a Terminate and Stay Resident program.

Claim 38

A computer system for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations, said computer system comprising: a program for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system prior to installation of said application software package; said program also creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system after installation of said application software package; said program comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and said program generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 39

A computer system for generating an application installation package to install an application software package on one or more target workstations, said computer system comprising: a program for creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system prior to installation of said application software package; said program also creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system after installation of said application software package; said program comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and said program generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on said one or more target workstations.

Claim 40

The computer system as recited in claim 32 wherein said program also assigns a time for transmitting said application installation package to said one or more target workstations.

Claim 41

A machine readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause said computer system to perform the steps of: creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system prior to installation of an application software package; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system after installation of said application software package; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on one or more target workstations.

Claim 42

A machine readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause said computer system to perform the steps of: creating a pre-installation system snapshot of software on said computer system prior to installation of an application software package; creating a post-installation system snapshot of said software on said computer system after installation of said application software package; comparing said pre-installation system snapshot with said post-installation snapshot to identify differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation snapshot; and generating an application installation package from differences between said pre-installation system snapshot and said post-installation system snapshot, and said application software package, said application installation package comprising a plurality of commands for installing said application software package on one or more target workstations.

Claim 43

The machine readable medium as recited in claim 34 wherein said sequences of instructions also cause said computer system to perform the step of assigning a time for transmitting said application installation package to said one or more target workstations.