Importance

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Abstract

A real time 'plug and play' installation mechanism which, instead of signaling the operating system to activate a pre-existing installation file previously shipped with the operating system file structure, energizes the operating system to retrieve the installation from a remote source. Examples of locations from which the installation resources may be retrieved include (1) an internet universal resource location (URL), (2) a dial-up bulletin board service (BBS), (3) a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) in which any required access protocols are supplied with the new device being installed, or (4) non-volatile storage (e.g. firmware) physically located on the new device being installed. The device manufacturer gives the operating system manufacturer a special installation file at the time that the operating system manufacturer distributes a new release. The special file appears to the operating system to be a conventional installation file. Then, when a new device is installed, the device identifies itself to the operating system, whereupon the operating system's 'plug and play' functionality causes the operating system to execute the corresponding special installation file. Instead of receiving installation instructions in the special file, however, the operating system receives instructions to retrieve the installation resources from a selected remote location.

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First Claim