FIELD

The present application generally relates to methods and corresponding systems for management of local craft terminal applications (LCT) executed on a local computer system.

BACKGROUND

Computer systems often use startup applications to download and run application programs. For example, Java™ Web Start allows for the downloading and running of Java applications from the web. Such applications can generally provide easy (e.g., one-click) activation of applications that guarantee that a local computer system is always running the latest version of an application, and can often be used to eliminate complicated installation or upgrade procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to methods and corresponding systems for management of execution of a local craft terminal application on a local computer system. In one aspect, a method for managing execution of a local craft terminal application on a local computer system is described. The local computer system can be a local computer that is connected via a communications network to a plurality of remote network node elements. The local computer system can be configured to initially access a first remote network element and obtain, from the first remote network element, selected information including the address information of the network element and a launcher application program configured to manage execution of the local craft terminal application on the local computer system. The launcher application program can stored on the local computer system and can be launched thereon. The launcher application can determine whether the local computer system contains an appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application. In the event that the local computer system does not contain the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application, the local computer system can communicate with the network element and download therefrom a data file that includes, among other things, the appropriate version or copy of the local craft terminal application.

The present invention is directed to a method for managing execution of a local craft terminal application on a local computer system that communicates with a plurality of remote network elements, the method comprising accessing a first one of the plurality of remote network elements and obtaining therefrom a launcher application program configured to manage execution of the local craft terminal application on the local computer system; launching the launcher application program on the local computer system and determining, using the launcher application program, whether the local computer system contains an appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application; and if the local computer system does not contain the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application, obtaining the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements.

The method of the present invention further comprises determining if the launcher application program is already installed on the local computer system. Further, if the local computer system does not contain a copy of the launcher application program, installing the launcher application from the first one of the plurality of network elements, and executing the launcher application program on the local computer system.

The method of the invention further comprises if the launcher application program is already installed on the local computer system, verifying that the launcher application program is updated to a current version; if the launcher application program is not updated then updating the launcher application program to the current version; and executing the current version of the launcher application program on the local computer system.

The method of the invention also includes if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is not the same as the local craft terminal application received from the first one of the plurality of network elements, installing the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application received from the first one of the plurality of network elements, and executing the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application.

The step of accessing of the method of the present invention further comprises obtaining a network address for the first one of the plurality of network elements. Further, the step of obtaining further comprises determining if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is the same as the local craft terminal application stored on the first one of the plurality of remote network elements.

The method of the invention can further comprise generating configuration data for the first one of the plurality of remote network elements from the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system, and configuring the first one of the plurality of remote network elements by sending the configuration data thereto.

The method of the present invention can further include obtaining an installer file from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements, wherein the installer file includes a server information file that includes the launcher application program and address information of the first one of the plurality of remote network elements; determining if the launcher application program is already installed on the local computer system; if the local computer system does not contain a copy of the launcher application program, installing the launcher application from the first one of the plurality of network elements; executing the launcher application program on the local computer system; obtaining the network address of the first one of the plurality of remote network elements from the server information file; and downloading from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements an application information file that includes the local craft terminal application.

The method can further include if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is the same as the local craft terminal application in the application information file, and then executing the local craft terminal application; if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is not the same as the local craft terminal application in the application information file received from the first one of the plurality of network elements, installing the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application received from the application information file; and then executing the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a communication system including a local computer system in communication with a plurality of remote network elements, a computer-implemented method for configuring a first one of the plurality of remote network elements, the method comprising accessing the first one of the plurality of remote network elements and obtaining therefrom a launcher application program configured to manage execution of the local craft terminal application on the local computer system; launching the launcher application program on the local computer system and determining, using the launcher application program, whether the local computer system contains an appropriate copy of a local craft terminal application for configuring the first one of the remote network element; if the local computer system does not contain the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application, obtaining the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements; and transmitting configuration data from the local craft terminal application on the local computer system to the first one of the plurality of remote network elements for configuring the first one of the plurality of network elements.

The present inventions is also directed to a communication system comprising a plurality of remote network elements, each of said plurality of network elements having a launcher application program associated therewith and a local computer system in communication with the plurality of remote network elements, where the local computer system including a memory for storing instructions and a processor programmed to execute the instructions. Specifically, the processor can be programmed to access a first one of the plurality of remote network elements and obtaining therefrom the launcher application program configured to manage execution of a local craft terminal application on the local computer system; launch the launcher application program on the local computer system and determining, using the launcher application program, whether an appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application is stored thereon; and if the local computer system does not contain the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application, obtain the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements.

In the system of the present invention, the processor can be further programmed to determine if the launcher application program is already installed on the local computer system; if the local computer system does not contain a copy of the launcher application program, install the launcher application from the first one of the plurality of network elements; and execute the launcher application program on the local computer system.

According to an aspect of the system, the processor can be further programmed to: if the launcher application program is already installed on the local computer system, verify that the launcher application program is updated to a current version; if the launcher application program is not updated then update the launcher application program to the current version; and execute the current version of the launcher application program on the local computer system.

According to another aspect of the system, the processor can be further programmed to: if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is not the same as the local craft terminal application received from the first one of the plurality of network elements, install the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application received from the first one of the plurality of network elements; and execute the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application. The processor can be further programmed to obtain a network address for the first one of the plurality of network elements.

According to still another aspect of the system, the processor is programmed to determine if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is the same as the local craft terminal application stored on the first one of the plurality of remote network elements. Further, the processor can be programmed to generate configuration data for the first one of the plurality of remote network elements from the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system, and configure the first one of the plurality of remote network elements by sending the configuration data thereto.

According to yet another aspect of the system, the processor is programmed to obtain an installer file from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements, wherein the installer file includes a server information file that includes the launcher application program and address information of the first one of the plurality of remote network elements; determine if the launcher application program is already installed on the local computer system; if the local computer system does not contain a copy of the launcher application program, install the launcher application from the first one of the plurality of network elements; execute the launcher application program on the local computer system; obtain the network address of the first one of the plurality of remote network elements from the server information file; and download from the first one of the plurality of remote network elements an application information file that includes the local craft terminal application. Still further, the processor is programmed to if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is the same as the local craft terminal application in the application information file, execute the local craft terminal application; and if the local craft terminal application stored on the local computer system is not the same as the local craft terminal application in the application information file received from the first one of the plurality of network elements, install the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application received from the application information file, and then execute the appropriate copy of the local craft terminal application.

