SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION, EXECUTION AND UPGRADING

摘要

A method of distributing software over a communication network includes the steps of: making the software available on a file server attached to the network; providing and executing an installation application on a user's computer attached to the network; monitoring file requests made by the installation application; identifying file requests which relate to files which are not present on the user's computer; downloading the identified files from the file server; storing the downloaded files in storage media on the user's computer; and directing the file requests for the identified files, and any future file requests for those files, to the downloaded versions of those files. Similar methods are provided for executing software over a network and upgrading software over a network.