Automatic software installation on heterogeneous networked client computer systems

In a data processing system having a first computer with software for installation on a second computer that stores local software and that has associated configuration characteristics that comprise characteristics of the local software and characteristics of a configuration of the second computer, the second computer having a processor type, an operating system type, and a current natural language, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• performing a first logon to the first computer by the second computer, the second computer having first associated configuration characteristics;
• performing a second logon to the first computer by the second computer, the second computer having second associated configuration characteristics;
• determining if the first associated configuration characteristics and the second associated configuration characteristics are equivalent;
• and
• when it is determined that the first associated configuration characteristics and the second associated configuration characteristics are not equivalent,
• selecting the software to install based on the second associated configuration characteristics of the second computer utilizing a software directory structure, the software directory structure storing different versions of the software, natural language-independent portions of the stored versions of the software being differentiated in the software directory structure at a first level by the processor type of the second computer and at a second level by operating system type of second computer, natural language-dependent portions of the stored versions of the software being differentiated in the software directory structure at a first level by the processor type of the second computer, at a second level by the operating system type of second computer, and at a third level based on the current natural language of the computer system, the selecting step selecting a natural language-independent portion of the stored versions of the software based upon the processor type and operating system type of the second computer and selecting a natural language-dependent portion of the stored versions of the software based upon the processor type, operating system type, and current natural language of the second computer, and
• installing the selected portions of software onto the second computer by the first computer.

In a data processing system having programs, a first computer having a first of the programs and a second computer having a second of the programs, wherein the first computer provides network services to the second computer after the second computer performs a logon to the first computer, a prescribed program list being available for access by the first computer system that lists programs to be stored on the second computer, a method comprising the steps of:

• initiating a logon to the first computer by the second computer, wherein the second computer is heterogeneous with respect to the first computer;
• during the logon, performing the following steps automatically by the first computer:
• determining whether to copy the first program onto the second computer by accessing the prescribed program list and determining whether the first program is among the programs listed by the prescribed program list;
• when it is determined to copy the first program onto the second computer based on a determination that the first program is among the programs listed by the prescribed program list,
• copying the first program from the first computer onto the second computer;
• determining whether to delete the second program from the second computer by accessing the prescribed program list and determining whether the second program is among the programs listed by the prescribed programs list;
• and
• when it is determined to delete the second program from the second computer based upon a determination that the second program is not among the programs listed by the prescribed programs list,
• deleting the second program from the second computer;
• and
• completing the logon to the first computer.

An automatic software installation system, comprising:

• a network for communicatively connecting a first computer to a second computer;
• the first computer having an associated natural language and a processor running an operating system;
• and
• the second computer for providing network services to the first computer after the first computer logs onto the second computer, and further comprising:
• a storage component for storing editions of software;
• a determination component for determining the associated natural language of the first computer, the operating system running on the first computer and the processor of the first computer;
• and
• a copy component for copying an edition of the software onto the first computer that is suitable for execution on the processor of the first computer, that is suitable for execution with the operating system running on the first computer and that is suitable for the associated natural language of the first computer, wherein the copy component automatically copies the edition of the software from the second computer to the first computer via the network by utilizing commands that are suitable for the operating system of the first computer in response to the first computer initiating a logon to the second computer, the copy component copying the edition of the software from a software directory structure, the software directory structure storing different editions of the software being differentiated in the software directory structure at a first level by the processor of the first computer, at a second level by the operating system running on the first computer, and at a third level by the associated natural language of the first computer.

A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a data processing system to perform processing, the data processing system having a first computer with software for installation on a second computer that stores local software and that has associated configuration characteristics that comprise characteristics of the local software and characteristics of a configuration of the second computer, the second computer having a processor type, an operating system type, and a current natural language, by performing the steps of:

• performing a first logon to the first computer by the second computer, the second computer having first associated configuration characteristics;
• performing a second logon to the first computer by the second computer, the second computer having second associated configuration characteristics;
• determining if the first associated configuration characteristics and the second associated configuration characteristics are equivalent;
• and
• when it is determined that the first associated configuration characteristics and the second associated configuration characteristics are not equivalent,
• selecting the software to install based on the second associated configuration characteristics of the second computer utilizing a software directory structure, the software directory structure storing different versions of the software, natural language-independent portions of the stored versions of the software being differentiated in the software directory structure at a first level by the processor type of the second computer and at a second level by operating system type of second computer, natural language-dependent portions of the stored versions of the software being differentiated in the software directory structure at a first level by the processor type of the second computer, at a second level by the operating system type of second computer, and at a third level based on the current natural language of the computer system, the selecting step selecting a natural language-independent portion of the stored versions of the software based upon the processor type and operating system type of the second computer and selecting a natural language-dependent portion of the stored versions of the software based upon the processor the operating system type, and current natural language of the second computer, and
• installing the selected portions of software onto the second computer by the first computer.

A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a data processing system to perform processing, the data processing system having programs, a first computer having a first of the programs and a second computer having a second of the programs, wherein the first computer provides network services to the second computer after the second computer performs a logon to the first computer, a prescribed program list being available for access by the first computer system that lists programs to be stored on the second computer, by performing the steps of:

• initiating a logon to the first computer by the second computer, wherein the second computer is heterogeneous with respect to the first computer;
• during the logon, performing the following steps automatically by the first computer:
• determining whether to copy the first program onto the second computer by accessing the prescribed program list and determining whether the first program is among the programs listed by the prescribed program list;
• when it is determined to copy the first program onto the second computer based on a determination that the first program is among the programs listed by the prescribed program list,
• copying the first program onto the second computer;
• determining whether to delete the second program from the second computer by accessing the prescribed program list and determining whether the second program is among the programs listed by the prescribed programs list;
• and
• when it is determined to delete the second program from the second computer based upon a determination that the second program is not among the programs listed by the prescribed programs list,
• deleting the second program from the second computer;
• and
• completing the logon to the first computer.