System and method for installing software and updating configuration files

In a data processing system comprising a central computer, and at least one workstation connected to the central computer through a communication system, a system for installing software files in said workstation comprising:

• transmitting means for transmitting a software file from said central computer to said workstation via said communication system;
• first reading means, coupled to said transmitting means, for reading a configuration build file located in said central computer, said configuration build file containing one or more configuration parameters associated with said software file, said configuration parameters controlling configuration of said workstation;
• detecting means, coupled to said transmitting means, for detecting software files installed in said workstation;
• second reading means, coupled to said transmitting means, for reading from said workstation at least one configuration build file containing configuration parameters associated with said detected software files;
• combining means, coupled to said transmitting means, for combining said configuration parameters contained in said configuration build file associated with said transmitted software file with said configuration parameters contained in said at least one configuration build file associated with said detected software files to generate a composite configuration build file;
• and
• reconfiguring means, coupled to said transmitting means, for reconfiguring said workstation using at least said composite configuration build file to reflect the configuration parameters required by installation of said transmitted software file.

In a data processing system comprising a central computer, and at least one workstation connected to the central computer through a communication system, a method of installing software files in said workstation comprising the steps

• transmitting a software file from said central computer to said workstation via said communication system, said software file having first configuration build information containing one or more configuration parameters associated with said transmitted software file;
• detecting, by one or both of said central computer and said workstation, software files installed in said workstation;
• reading from said workstation, by said one or both of said central computer and said workstation, second configuration build information containing one or more configuration parameters associated with said detected software files;
• and
• combining, by said one of both of said central computer and said workstation, said configuration parameters contained in said first configuration build information associated with said transmitted software file with said configuration parameters contained in said second configuration build information associated with said detected software files to generate a composite configuration build file;
• and
• reconfiguring said workstation using at least said composite configuration build file to reflect the configuration required by said transmitted software file.

In a data processing system comprising a central computer, and at least one workstation connected to the central computer through a communication system, a system for installing software files in said workstation comprising:

• transmitting means for transmitting a software file from said central computer to said workstation via said communication system, said software file having first configuration build information containing one or more configuration parameters associated with said transmitted software file;
• detecting means, coupled to said transmitting means, for detecting software files installed upon said workstation;
• reading means, coupled to said transmitting means, for reading from said workstation, by said one or both of said central computer and said workstation, second configuration build information containing one or more configuration parameters associated with said detected software files;
• combining means, coupled to said transmitting means, for combining said configuration parameters contained in said first configuration build information associated with said transmitted software file with said configuration parameters contained in said second configuration build information associated with said detected software files to produce a composite configuration build file;
• and
• reconfiguring means, coupled to said transmitting means, for reconfiguring said workstation using at least said composite configuration build file to reflect the configuration required by said transmitted software file.

In a data processing system comprising a central computer and at least one workstation connected to the central computer through a communication system, said workstation having workstation software files and first configuration build information containing configuration parameters associated with said workstation software files, a method of installing software files comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, by one or both of said central computer and said workstation, a software file from said central computer to said workstation via said communication system, said transmitted software file having second configuration build information containing configuration parameters associated with said workstation software files;
• combining, by one or both of said central computer and said workstation, said parameters contained in said first configuration build information with said parameters contained in said second configuration build information to produce a composite configuration build file;
• and
• reconfiguring, by said one of said central computer and said workstation, said workstation using at least said composite configuration build file to reflect the configuration required by said transmitted software file.

In a data processing system comprising a central computer, and at least one workstation connected to the central computer through a communication system, said workstation having workstation software files and first configuration build information containing configuration parameters associated with said workstation software files, a system for installing software files within said workstation comprising:

• transmitting means for transmitting, by one or both of said central computer and said workstation, a software file from said central computer to said workstation via said communication system, said transmitted software file having second configuration build information containing configuration parameters associated with said workstation software files;
• combining means for combining, by said one of said central computer and said workstation, said parameters contained in said first configuration build information with said parameters contained in said second configuration build information to produce a composite configuration build file;
• and
• reconfiguring means for reconfiguring, by said one of said central computer and said workstation, said workstation using at least said composite configuration building file to reflect the configuration required by said transmitted software file.