Method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system

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METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN IMAGE OF
SOFTWARE INSTALLED ON A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
Inventors: Neal R. Caliendo, Jr., Raleigh, NC
(US); Jeffrey M. Estroff, Cary, NC
(US); Michaelle L. Fuccella-Walcutt,
Apex, NC (U S); James A. Hunt, Chapel
Hill, NC (US); Howard J. Locker, Cary,
NC (US); John C. Mese, Cary, NC (US);
Joshua N. Nokav, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jose R. Ruiz, Raleigh, NC (U S); Rod D.
W. Waltermann, Durham, NC (U S);
Arnold Weksler, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.,
Singapore (SG)

Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 865 days.

Appl. NO.Z 12/045,648

Filed: Mar. 10, 2008
Prior Publication Data
US 2008/0155532 A1 Jun. 26, 2008

Related U.S. Application Data

Continuation of application No. 10/642,890, filed on Aug. 18, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,343,600.

Int. Cl.

G06F 9/445 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. ..................................................... .. 717/174 Field of Classification Search ...................... .. None

See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,175,856 A 12/1992 Van Dyke et al. 5,701,423 A 12/1997 Croziet 6,061,513 A 5/2000 Scandura 6,071,317 A 6/2000 Nagel 6,281,893 B1 8/2001 Goldstein 6,442,754 B1 8/2002 Curtis 6,591,415 B1 7/2003 Torrubia-Saez 6,615,199 B1 9/2003 Bowman-Amuah 6,715,145 B1 3/2004 Bowman-Amuah 6,721,946 B1 4/2004 Fogarty et al. 6,742,015 B1 5/2004 Bowman-Amuah (Continued) OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Fontana, Dominick, “Ghost User Guide,” Soundcraft, Harman International Industries Ltd., 1999, Whole Manual, 184 pages.

(Continued)

Primary Examiner I James D Rutten (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm I Sawyer Law Group, P.C.

(57) ABSTRACT

A method for providing an image of software installed on a computer system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of deconstructing the image into at least one portion and creating at least one module from the at least one portion of the image. The deconstructing step can include the steps of scanning an image and identifying at least one portion of the image to be modularized. The creating step can include the steps of extracting the at least one portion of the image identified to be modularized, generating at least one module from the extracted portion of the image. The modules that are created in accordance with the present invention can be formatted for use in a new image or part of a new image to be used with a software program such as with a hardware-independent imaging tool. Further, the modules can be used with hardware-independent technologies.

30 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets

Duggan, Dominic, Modular Type-Based Reverse Engineering of Parameterized Types in Java Code, Department of Computer Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, pp. 97-113.

Martin, Johannes, “Leveraging IBM VisualAge for C++ for Reverse Engineering Tasks,” University of Victoria, Department of Computer Science, pp. 1-13.

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Muller, Hausi, et al., “Reverse Engineering: A Roadmap,” Future of Software Engineering Limerick Ireland, Copyright ACM 2000, pp. 47-60.

Tilley, Scott, et al., Evaluating the Reverse Engineering Capabilities of Web Tools for Understanding Site Content and Structure: A Case Study, IEEE, 2001 pp. 514-523.

Buss, Erich, et al., “A Software Reverse Engineering Experience,” IBM Canada Laboratory Technical Report TR-74.065, pp. 55-73. Engler, Dawson R., et al., “Derive: A Tool That Automatically Reverse-Engineers Instruction Encodings,” Dynamic, Boston, Massachusetts, 2000, pp. 12-22.

* cited by examiner