US 6,117,187 AGranted

Automatic generation of a software installation package

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company

InventorCarl H. Staelin

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Abstract

A method of automatically generating a software installation package. The method operates on an application program that has been ported to and debugged on a target computer system. A manifest is automatically generated, listing all application program files that must be installed on the target computer system. Then the method automatically determines which resources, in particular shared libraries, are needed by any of the listed files. Necessary filesets and subproducts are then automatically generated. Program files are then automatically assigned to the filesets and filesets are automatically assigned to the subproducts. The need for control scripts is automatically detected and control scripts are automatically generated. Then the installation package is generated by combining the listed files, filesets, subproducts, control scripts, the needed resources, and any related installation materials. The needed resources are determined by generating a dependency list, comparing it with existing software installation packages, and identifying any packages that contain needed shared libraries as needed resources.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of automatically generating a new software installation package for installing an application program on a target computer system, the application having been ported to the target system and debugged so that it is operable thereon the method comprising:

(a) providing a list of files of an application program which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(b) automatically generating filesets which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(c) automatically generating subproducts which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(d) automatically assigning each of the listed application program files to one the filesets;
(e) automatically assigning each of the filesets to one of the subproducts;
(f) automatically determining which resources needed by any of the listed application program files must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(g) automatically generating a dependency list that lists any shared libraries needed by any of the listed application program files but not included in the application program;
(h) automatically determining which of the listed shared libraries are already included in one or more preexisting software installation packages;
(i) automatically identifying said preexisting software installation packages as needed resources;
and
(j) generating the new software installation package by associating the listed application program files, the filesets, subproducts, and the resources determined to be needed by the application program files.

8 more elements

(a) generating a list of all files of the application program which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(b) automatically detecting the need for control scripts in the new software installation package in order for the application program to install to the target computer properly;
(c) automatically generating the control scripts;
and
(d) generating the new software installation package by associating the application program files, and the control scripts.

2 more elements

(a) generating a list of all files of the application program which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(b) automatically generating filesets which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(c) automatically generating subproducts which must be installed on the target computer system in order for the application program to function correctly;
(d) automatically assigning each of the application program files to one of the filesets;
(e) automatically assigning each of the filesets to one of the subproducts;
(f) automatically detecting the need for control scripts in the new software installation package in order for the application program to install to the target computer properly;
(g) automatically generating the control scripts;
and
(h) generating the new software installation package by associating the application program files, the filesets, the subproducts, and the control scripts.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.