US6557169B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for changing the operating system of a workstation connected to a data transmission network
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-03-23
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Granted: 2003-04-29
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Expires: 2019-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and system of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation connected to a data transmission network interconnecting a plurality of workstations each having a storage device and a plurality of servers providing services to the workstations through the network, at least one of the plurality of servers being a software distribution server providing one of the plurality of workstations with updated application code. Such a method comprises the steps of creating in the storage device of the workstation a first partition containing a minimum version of the current operating system and a second partition including a free storage space sufficient to store the partition image of the new operating system, transferring the partition image of the new operating system from the software distribution server to the second partition, deleting the current operating system from the storage device of the workstation and delimiting a new partition for storing the new operating system, and loading the new operating system resulting from the partition image stored in the second partition.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Erpeldinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4406; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation using a data transmission network interconnecting a plurality of workstations, each workstation having a storage device with at least one server being a software distribution server for providing one of said plurality of workstations with updated application software, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating in the storage device of said workstation a maintenance partition containing a version of said current operating system and a backup partition including sufficient free storage space to store the new operating system; b) storing customization information into said backup partition; c) transferring a partition image of said new operating system from said software distribution server to said backup partition on said workstation; d) deleting said current operating system from the storage device of said workstation and delimiting a new partition for storing said new operating system; and e) loading said new operating system resulting from said partition image stored in said backup partition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation using a data transmission network interconnecting a plurality of workstations, each workstation having a storage device with at least one server being a software distribution server for providing one of said plurality of workstations with updated application software, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating in the storage device of said workstation a maintenance partition containing a version of said current operating system and a backup partition including sufficient free storage space to store the new operating system; b) storing customization information into said backup partition; c) transferring a partition image of said new operating system from said software distribution server to said backup partition on said workstation; d) deleting said current operating system from the storage device of said workstation and delimiting a new partition for storing said new operating system; and e) loading said new operating system resulting from said partition image stored in said backup partition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the customization information saved in the storing step (step b) includes at least of one following: the name of the user of the workstation, network address of the workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific to the workstation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transferring step (step c) for transferring the partition image to the backup partition further comprises the step of storing into the backup partition a second copy of the customization information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the second copy of customization information saved includes at least one of the following: the name of the user of the workstation, network address of the workstation, security information, configuration data or application data specific to the workstation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the loading step (step e) further comprises the steps of: e1) loading the copy of the new operating system from the backup partition to the delimited operating system partition; e2) restoring the customization information containing at least one of the following: the name of the user of the workstation, network address of the workstation, security information, configuration data or application data specific of the new operating system using the customization information which have been saved on the backup partition during the steps of transferring the partition image; and e3) rebooting the workstation whereby the new operating system is executed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation having a storage device using a data transmission network to interconnect said workstation with a software distribution server for providing said workstation with updated application software, the method comprising the steps of: a) creating a maintenance partition containing a version of the current operating system and a backup partition including sufficient free storage space to store the new operating system in the storage device of said workstation; b) storing into said backup partition customization information; containing the name of the user of said workstation, network address of said workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific to said workstation; c) transferring a partition image of the new operating system from the software distribution server to said backup partition on said workstation; d) deleting the current operating system from the storage device of said workstation and delimiting a new partition on the storage device for storing the new operating system; e) loading the new operating system resulting from said partition image stored in said backup partition on said workstation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation having a storage device using a data transmission network to interconnect said workstation with a software distribution server for providing said workstation with updated application software, the method comprising the steps of: a) creating a maintenance partition containing a version of the current operating system and a backup partition including sufficient free storage space to store the new operating system in the storage device of said workstation; b) storing into said backup partition customization information; containing the name of the user of said workstation, network address of said workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific to said workstation; c) transferring a partition image of the new operating system from the software distribution server to said backup partition on said workstation; d) deleting the current operating system from the storage device of said workstation and delimiting a new partition on the storage device for storing the new operating system; e) loading the new operating system resulting from said partition image stored in said backup partition on said workstation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said step of transferring the partition image to the backup partition further comprises the step of storing into said backup partition a second copy of said customization information containing the name of the user of said workstation, network address of said workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific to said workstation whereby any customization information that was updated in the transferring step (step c) is saved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of loading the new operating system further includes the step of: restoring the customization information containing the name of the user of said workstation, network address of said workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific of said new operating system using the data which have been saved on said backup partition during said step of transferring the partition image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the version of the operating system stored in the maintenance partition during the creating step (step a) is a minimum version of the current operating system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the minimum version of the current operating system includes at least the following operations: executing a startup program; execution of system file operations including at least the following functions: file creation, file copy, file delete, partition definition, partition format; and execution of utility programs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the maintenance partition and the backup partition of the creating step (step a) are created on a second storage device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation having a first and second storage device using a data transmission network to interconnect to a server being a software distribution server for providing the workstation with updated application software, the method comprising the steps of: a) executing a software distribution application in the workstation; b) establishing a network session with the software distribution server; c) creating in the first storage device of the workstation a maintenance partition containing a minimum version of the current operating system and a backup partition including sufficient free storage space to store the new operating system and customization information; d) storing a first set of customization information into the backup partition; e) transferring a partition image of the new operating system from the software distribution server to the backup partition on the workstation; f) storing a second set of customization information into the backup partition whereby any updates to the customization information in the transferring step (step e) is saved; g) deleting the current operating system from the second storage device of the workstation and delimiting a new partition on the second storage device for storing the new operating system; h) transferring the new operating system image from the partition image stored in the backup partition on the workstation into the newly delimited partition on the second storage device; i) restoring the customization information; and j) rebooting the system whereby the new operating system is executed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation having a first and second storage device using a data transmission network to interconnect to a server being a software distribution server for providing the workstation with updated application software, the method comprising the steps of: a) executing a software distribution application in the workstation; b) establishing a network session with the software distribution server; c) creating in the first storage device of the workstation a maintenance partition containing a minimum version of the current operating system and a backup partition including sufficient free storage space to store the new operating system and customization information; d) storing a first set of customization information into the backup partition; e) transferring a partition image of the new operating system from the software distribution server to the backup partition on the workstation; f) storing a second set of customization information into the backup partition whereby any updates to the customization information in the transferring step (step e) is saved; g) deleting the current operating system from the second storage device of the workstation and delimiting a new partition on the second storage device for storing the new operating system; h) transferring the new operating system image from the partition image stored in the backup partition on the workstation into the newly delimited partition on the second storage device; i) restoring the customization information; and j) rebooting the system whereby the new operating system is executed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein customization information saved in the storing step (step d) includes at least of one following: the name of the user of the workstation, network address of the workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific to the workstation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the customization information restored in the restoring step (step i) includes at least of one following: the name of the user of the workstation, network address of the workstation, security information, configuration data and application data specific of the new operating system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the minimum version of the current operating system in the creating step (step c) includes at least the following operations: executing a startup program; execution of system file operations including at least the following functions: file creation, file copy, file delete, partition definition, partition format; and execution of utility programs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-10-28 | 2007-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-10-28 | 2011-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-28 | 2014-10-28 | 2015-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |