System and method for software distribution and desktop management in a computer network environment

Claim 1

A system for distributing software in a customized configuration to a computer coupled to a computer network comprising: console means for: creating distribution control information which includes a profile which instructs said computer on how to install said software onto said computer, and is both associated with said software and related to said customized configuration, and, a virgin process for assuring that an operating system operating on said console means does not conflict with said profile set up on said console means; server means responsive to said console means for storing said software and said distribution control information; and, agent means for downloading said software in accordance with said distribution control information, said agent means residing on said computer.

Claim 2

A system for distributing software in a customized configuration to a computer coupled to a computer network comprising: console means for: creating distribution control information which includes a profile which instructs said computer on how to install said software onto said computer, and is both associated with said software and related to said customized configuration, and, a virgin process for assuring that an operating system operating on said console means does not conflict with said profile set up on said console means; server means responsive to said console means for storing said software and said distribution control information; and, agent means for downloading said software in accordance with said distribution control information, said agent means residing on said computer.

Claim 9

A system for a customized distribution of a software in a computer network environment, comprising: a console based workstation, within said computer network environment, which administers said customized distribution of said software throughout said computer network environment, provides a profile which instructs said agent based workstation on how to install said software onto said agent based workstation in a customized configuration, and is configured for a virgin process which assures that an operating system within said console based workstation does not conflict with said profile set up on said console based workstation; a file server, within said computer network environment, which receives said software and information related to a configuration of said software for said customized distribution; and an agent based workstation, within said computer network environment, which retrieves from said file server said software in accordance with said configuration of said software as determined by said console based workstation.

Claim 10

A system for a customized distribution of a software in a computer network environment, comprising: a console based workstation, within said computer network environment, which administers said customized distribution of said software throughout said computer network environment, provides a profile which instructs said agent based workstation on how to install said software onto said agent based workstation in a customized configuration, and is configured for a virgin process which assures that an operating system within said console based workstation does not conflict with said profile set up on said console based workstation; a file server, within said computer network environment, which receives said software and information related to a configuration of said software for said customized distribution; and an agent based workstation, within said computer network environment, which retrieves from said file server said software in accordance with said configuration of said software as determined by said console based workstation.

Claim 17

A method for distributing software to a target computer having a customized configuration and coupled to a computer network, said method comprising the steps of: creating distribution control information which is both associated with said software and related to said customized configuration of said target computer using an administrator computer utilizing a configuration different from said customized configuration of said target computer; storing said software and said distribution control information; and downloading said software in accordance with said distribution control information to said target computer, wherein initialization of said downloading is performed by said target computer.

Claim 18

A method for distributing software to a target computer having a customized configuration and coupled to a computer network, said method comprising the steps of: creating distribution control information which is both associated with said software and related to said customized configuration of said target computer using an administrator computer utilizing a configuration different from said customized configuration of said target computer; storing said software and said distribution control information; and downloading said software in accordance with said distribution control information to said target computer, wherein initialization of said downloading is performed by said target computer.

Claim 24

A method for remotely installing software to a select group of a plurality of computers, wherein each of said plurality of computers is respectively coupled to a same computer network and at least one of said plurality of computers is operative to serve as an administrator workstation which, in a first mode, utilizes a first configuration indicative of a base configuration which has been modified to permit at least one installed software package to be executed, said method comprising the steps of: initializing said administrator workstation in a second mode utilizing said base configuration; installing at least one software application on said administrator workstation while said administrator workstation is operating in said second mode, resulting in changes being made to said base configuration; determining said changes made to said base configuration resulting from said step of installing said at least one software application on said administrator workstation; generating a sequence of steps capable of reproducing said determined changes on any of said plurality of computers; and, selectively executing at least some of said sequence of steps on each of said select group of said plurality of computers according to a preexisting configuration associated with each of said select group of said plurality of computers, wherein said preexisting configuration may be different for each of said select group of said plurality of computers.

Claim 25

A method for remotely installing software to a select group of a plurality of computers, wherein each of said plurality of computers is respectively coupled to a same computer network and at least one of said plurality of computers is operative to serve as an administrator workstation which, in a first mode, utilizes a first configuration indicative of a base configuration which has been modified to permit at least one installed software package to be executed, said method comprising the steps of: initializing said administrator workstation in a second mode utilizing said base configuration; installing at least one software application on said administrator workstation while said administrator workstation is operating in said second mode, resulting in changes being made to said base configuration; determining said changes made to said base configuration resulting from said step of installing said at least one software application on said administrator workstation; generating a sequence of steps capable of reproducing said determined changes on any of said plurality of computers; and, selectively executing at least some of said sequence of steps on each of said select group of said plurality of computers according to a preexisting configuration associated with each of said select group of said plurality of computers, wherein said preexisting configuration may be different for each of said select group of said plurality of computers.

Claim 29

A method for selectively distributing software to at least one of a plurality of computers coupled to a same network, wherein each of said plurality of computers is respectively operable in a first mode which utilizes an associated configuration indicative of a base configuration which has been modified so previously installed software packages can be executed on it, said method comprising the steps of: initializing a first of said plurality of computers in a second mode which utilizes said base configuration; installing a target software package on said first computer resulting in changes being made to said base configuration of said first computer; ascertaining said changes made to said base configuration of said first computer; selecting at least some of said ascertained changes to duplicate on a second computer selected from said plurality of computers dependent upon said associated configuration of said second computer; and, effecting said selected changes on said second computer, thus installing said target software on said second computer in a manner customized for said second computer regardless of said associated configuration of said first computer.

Claim 30

A method for selectively distributing software to at least one of a plurality of computers coupled to a same network, wherein each of said plurality of computers is respectively operable in a first mode which utilizes an associated configuration indicative of a base configuration which has been modified so previously installed software packages can be executed on it, said method comprising the steps of: initializing a first of said plurality of computers in a second mode which utilizes said base configuration; installing a target software package on said first computer resulting in changes being made to said base configuration of said first computer; ascertaining said changes made to said base configuration of said first computer; selecting at least some of said ascertained changes to duplicate on a second computer selected from said plurality of computers dependent upon said associated configuration of said second computer; and, effecting said selected changes on said second computer, thus installing said target software on said second computer in a manner customized for said second computer regardless of said associated configuration of said first computer.