US5933646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Software manager for administration of a computer operating system
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-10
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Granted: 1999-08-03
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Expires: 2016-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A software manager enables a computer user to administer software elements within a computer operating system. The software manager comprises a configuration database storing information including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of the software components within the system. The software manager also comprises a user interface which allows the computer user to view the stored information and permits the user to specify changes to the prevailing states. Finally, the software manager comprises a software manager server which communicates with the user interface and the configuration database, effects the user specified changes, and updates the stored information to reflect those changes. A user of the software manager can readily obtain an overall "picture" of a prevailing system configuration, use that picture to make intelligent decisions with respect to system modification, and thereby administer the operating system environment in a seamless, efficient, and robust manner.
Inventors
- 👤 B. Winston Hendrickson
- 👤 Gregory Scown
- 👤 James E. Palmer
- 👤 Robert Bowers
- 👤 Jeffrey R. Cobb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/70; G06F8/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A software manager enabling a computer user to administer software components within a computer operating system, comprising: a configuration database storing information including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of said software components, the dependency listing for a given software component describing interdependencies between the given software component and other aspects of the computer operating system; a user interface allowing said computer user to view said stored information and permitting said user to specify changes to said prevailing states; and a software manager server communicating with said user interface and said configuration database, for effecting said user specified changes and for updating said stored information to reflect said changes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A software manager enabling a computer user to administer software components within a computer operating system, comprising: a configuration database storing information including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of said software components, the dependency listing for a given software component describing interdependencies between the given software component and other aspects of the computer operating system; a user interface allowing said computer user to view said stored information and permitting said user to specify changes to said prevailing states; and a software manager server communicating with said user interface and said configuration database, for effecting said user specified changes and for updating said stored information to reflect said changes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said prevailing states indicate which of said software components are installed and enabled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said prevailing states indicate locations of said software components within a hierarchical filing system associated with said computer operating system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said user specified changes comprise enabling and disabling of previously installed software components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said user specified changes comprise deinstallation of previously installed software components and installation of additional software components.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said user specified changes comprise movement of said software components within a hierarchical filing system associated with said computer operating system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said components within said operating system comprise independent system core modules and associated dependent system plug-in modules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said components within said operating system comprise independent application products and associated dependent application features.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said stored information is presented to said user for viewing in accordance with user specified criteria.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The software manager of claim 9, wherein said user is presented with information corresponding to logical groupings of related software components, wherein said related software components are grouped together according to category and type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The software manager of claim 1, further comprising at least one software manager plug-in providing an interface between an associated one of said software components and said software manager server, whereby said one associated software component requests and receives notification of certain changes in said information stored in said configuration database.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for managing software components of a computer operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing a database of software components within said operating system, said database including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of said software components, the dependency listing for a given software component describing interdependencies between the given software component and other aspects of the computer operating system; displaying a user interface in which related software components are grouped together in a manner which identifies their relationships; permitting a user of the computer operating system to specify, via the user interface, changes to the prevailing states of the software components; implementing the user-specified changes; and updating the database to reflect the user-specified changes.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for managing software components of a computer operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing a database of software components within said operating system, said database including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of said software components, the dependency listing for a given software component describing interdependencies between the given software component and other aspects of the computer operating system; displaying a user interface in which related software components are grouped together in a manner which identifies their relationships; permitting a user of the computer operating system to specify, via the user interface, changes to the prevailing states of the software components; implementing the user-specified changes; and updating the database to reflect the user-specified changes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein the dependency listing for a given software component describes a relationship between the given software component and at least one other software component in the computer operating system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein the dependency listing for a given software component describes a relationship between the given software component and a set of system files associated with the computer operating system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said configuration database comprises a component tree describing a hierarchy of installed software components, a plug-in tree listing items tracked by software manager plug-ins and an item tree describing properties of the items tracked by the software manager plug-ins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said user interface permits said computer user to return to a core installation for a particular software component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The software manager of claim 1, wherein said computer operating system permits multiple user environments and wherein said software manager filters a global configuration database to provide ephemeral user-specific configuration databases for the user environments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing at least one software manager plug-in whereby an associated software component can request and receive notification of certain changes in the information stored in said database.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12, wherein a dependency listing for a given software component describes a relationship between the given software component and at least one other software component in the computer operating system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12, wherein a dependency listing for a given software component describes a relationship between the given software component and a set of system files associated with the computer operating system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-02 | 2003-02-01 | 2003-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-02 | 2007-02-01 | 2007-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-02 | 2011-02-01 | 2011-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |