Patent · US Expired

Distribution of software in a computer network environment

US6094679A · kind A · utility

132Cited by
9References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 16, 1998
Grant dateJul 25, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F8/61
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of distributing software files resident on a network server to a network client. To effectuate the distribution, the network client issues an HTTP formatted request message to the network server which requests that certain software files resident on the network server be downloaded to the network client. The HTTP formatted request message may include information indicative of one or more of the operating system or processor architecture associated with the network client that the network server can use as an aide in determining which software files to return to the network client. The software files are bundled into a cabinet file by the network server and returned to the network client which, in turn, automatically unbundles the cabinet file, checks the authenticity of certain of the individual software files, and installs the software files in an appropriate memory location associated with the network client. In this manner, a world wide distributed printing solution is provided that is capable of working transparently on intranets and the Internet.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.