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`Approved for use through10/31/2002 0MB 0651-0032 ii.
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`Ul
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`US. Patent and Trademark Office; US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ~ =M
`~ - • Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless 11 displays a valid 0MB control number.
`== 'ti
`- -
`PROVISIONAL APPL/CATION FOR PA TENT COVER SHEET
`-
`""'
`o
`This is a request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT under 37 CFR 1.53(c).
`
`• "° ==o
`=>a.n =~
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`Ill
`~~ ~
`"° =o
`~
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`Given Name (first and middle [if any])
`Donn
`Dean
`Paul
`
`Family Name or Surname
`Rochette
`Huffman
`O'Leary
`
`Residence
`(City and either State or Foreign Country)
`Fenton, Iowa, U.S.A.
`Kanata, Ontario, Canada
`Kanata, Ontario, Canada
`
`INVENTOR(S
`
`□ Additional inventors are being named on thi __ separately numbered sheets attached hereto
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters max)
`DRAG & DROP APPLICATION MANAGEMENT
`
`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`000293
`
`I
`
`Type Customer Number here
`
`Place Customer Number
`Bar Code Label here
`
`Direct all correspondence to:
`
`~ Customer Number j
`OR
`
`□ Firm or
`
`Individual Name
`
`Address
`
`Arlrlp,,c,c:
`
`City
`
`Country
`
`State
`
`Telephone
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (check all that ann/vJ
`
`I 22
`I
`Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1.76
`
`~ Specification Number of Pages
`~
`Drawing(s} Number of Sheets
`□
`
`I
`I
`
`□ CD(s), Number
`□
`
`Other (specify)
`
`6
`
`ZIP
`
`Fax
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT OF FILING FEES FOR THIS PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT (check one)
`~ Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27.
`FILING FEE
`lK1
`AMOUNTm
`A check or money order is enclosed to cover the filing fees
`□ The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge filing J
`fees or credit any overpayment to Deposit Account Numbe
`□ Payment by credit card. Form PT0-2038 is attached.
`The invention was made by an agency of the United States Government or under a contract with an agency of the
`United States Government.
`
`04-1577
`
`I
`
`$80.00
`
`l8I No. D Yes, the name of the U.S. Governmen~he Government contract number are:
`Respectfullys,✓bmi a, h ,4
`
`. /
`
`\
`
`/
`
`I
`
`SIGNATURE
`
`/
`
`~-
`
`Date I 09,15,03 I
`~EGISTRATION NO. I
`
`(tf appropnate)
`Docket Number:
`
`26,868
`
`I
`
`TYPED or PRINTED NAME Ralph A. Dowell
`(703) 415-2555
`TELEPHONE
`USE ONLY FOR FILING A PROVISIONAL APPL/CATION FOR PA TENT
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.51. The information is used by the public to file (and by the PTO to process) a provisional
`application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 8 hours to complete, including
`gathering, preparing, and submitting the complete provisional application to the PTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any
`comments on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief
`Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20231. DO NOT SEND FEES OR
`COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Box Provisional Application, Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Washington, D.C.
`P19SMALUREVD5
`
`I
`'i
`
`I,
`
`Amazon Ex. 1013
`IPR Petition - USP 7,519,814
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`Drag & Drop Application Management
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`In
`The invention relates to computer software.
`particular, the invention relates to software that manages the
`
`5 operation of a data center.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`There has been an unprecedented proliferation of
`computer systems in the business enterprise. This has been a
`response to an increase in the number and changing nature of
`software applications supporting key business processes.
`
`10
`
`Management of computer systems required to support
`these applications has become an expensive proposition. This
`
`is partially due to the fact that each of the software
`
`applications are in most cases hosted on an independent
`15 computing platform. The result is an increase in the number of
`systems to manage.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`According to one broad aspect, the invention provides
`a method of installing a software application on a computing
`20 platform. The method includes displaying a software
`application icon representing the software application and a
`computing platform icon representing the computing platform. A
`
`25
`
`selection of the software application for installation is
`received using the software application icon. A selection of
`the computing platform to which the software application is to
`be installed is received using the computing platform icon.
`Installation of the selected software application is then
`initiated on the selected computing platform.
`
`1
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`In some embodiments, the computing platform is a
`remote computing platform.
`
`In some embodiments, the selection of the software
`application is received with the use of a graphical user
`interface in response to the software application icon being
`pointed to using a pointing device.
`
`5
`
`In some embodiments, the pointing device is a mouse.
`
`In some embodiments, the selection of the computing
`platform is received in response to the software application
`icon being dragged over the computing platform icon and the
`software application icon being dropped.
`
`10
`
`In some embodiments, the installation of the selected
`software application on the selected computing platform is
`initiated in response to the software application icon being
`15 dropped over the computing platform icon.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, the
`selected computing platform is tested to determine whether it
`is a valid computing platform.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, a user
`20 account is created for the selected software application.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, files
`specific to the selected application software are installed on
`the selected computing platform.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, file access
`25 permissions are set to allow a user to access the application.
`
`2
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, a console
`on the selected computing platform is updated with information
`indicating that the selected software application is resident
`on the selected computing platform.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`In accordance with a second broad aspect, the
`invention provides a method of de-installing a software
`application from a computing platform. The method includes
`displaying a software application icon representing the
`software application and a computing platform icon representing
`the computing platform on which the software application is
`installed. A selection of the software application for de(cid:173)
`installation using the software application icon is received. A
`selection of the computing platform from which the software
`application is to be de-installed using the computing platform
`icon is also received. De-installation of the selected
`software application from the selected computing platform is
`then initiated.
`
`In some embodiments, the computing platform is a
`remote computing platform.
`
`20
`
`In some embodiments, the displaying comprises
`displaying the software application as being installed on the
`computing platform with the use of the software application
`icon and the computing platform icon.
`
`In some embodiments, the selection of the software
`25 application is received with the use of a graphical user
`interface in response to the software application icon being
`pointed to using a pointing device.
`
`In some embodiments, the pointing device is a mouse.
`
`3
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`In some embodiments, the selection of the computing
`platform is in response to the software application icon being
`dragged away from the computing platform icon and the software
`application icon being dropped.
`
`5
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, the
`selected computing platform is tested to determined whether it
`is a valid computing platform for de-installation of the
`software application.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, any process
`10 associated with the selected software application is stopped.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, data file
`changes specific to the software application are copied back to
`a storage medium from which the data file changes originated
`prior to installation.
`
`15
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, a user
`account associated with the selected software application is
`removed.
`
`In some embodiments, upon initialization, a console
`on the computing platform is updated with information
`indicating that the selected software application is no longer
`resident on the selected computing platform.
`
`20
`
`In accordance with a third broad aspect, the
`invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a
`computer usable medium having computer readable program code
`25 means embodied therein for installing a software application on
`a computing platform. The computer readable code means in the
`article of manufacture has computer readable code means for
`performing any of the above method steps for installation.
`
`4
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`In accordance with a fourth broad aspect, the
`invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a
`computer usable medium having computer readable program code
`means embodied therein for de-installing a software application
`from a computing platform. The computer readable code means in
`the article of manufacture has computer readable code means for
`performing any of the above method steps for de-installation.
`
`5
`
`In accordance with a fifth broad aspect, the
`invention provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) adapted to
`10 perform any of the above method steps for installation or de(cid:173)
`installation.
`
`In accordance with a sixth broad aspect, the
`invention provides a GUI adapted to display a software
`application icon representative of a software application
`15 available for installation and display a computing platform
`icon representative of a computing platform. The GUI is
`responsive to a selection of the software application icon and
`the computing platform icon by initiating installation of the
`software application on the computing platform.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`In accordance with a seventh broad aspect, the
`invention provides a GUI adapted to display a software
`application icon representative of a software application and
`display a computing platform icon representative of a computing
`platform, the GUI being responsive to a selection of the
`software application icon and the computing platform icon by
`initiating de-installation of the software application from the
`computing platform.
`
`In accordance with an eighth broad aspect, the
`invention provides a GUI adapted to display a software
`30 application icon representative of a software application
`
`5
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`installed on a computing platform, the GUI being responsive to
`a selection of the software application icon by initiating de(cid:173)
`installation of the software application from the computing
`platform.
`
`5
`
`In some embodiments of the invention, the selection
`is made using a drag and drop operation.
`
`In accordance with an ninth broad aspect, the
`invention provides a method of de-installing a software
`application from a computing platform. The method includes
`10 displaying a software application icon representing the
`software application installed on a computing platform. A
`selection of the software application for de-installation from
`the computing platform is received using the software
`application icon. The de-installation of the selected software
`15 application from the computing platform is then initiated.
`
`In some embodiments, the selection of the application
`icon is in response to the software application icon being
`dragged away.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`In some embodiments, the de-installation of the
`selected software application from the computing platform is
`initiated in response to the software application icon being
`dropped.
`
`Accordingly, the invention relates, in part to
`methods of installing and removing software applications
`through a selection such as, for example, a graphical drag and
`drop operation.
`
`In some embodiments of the invention, functions of
`the GUI support the ability to select an object, move it and
`initiate an operation when the object is placed on a specific
`
`6
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`destination. This process has supported operations including
`the copy and transfer of files.
`
`Some embodiments of the invention extend this
`operation to allow software applications, represented by a
`5 graphical icon, to be installed in working order following a
`drag and drop in a graphical user interface.
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be
`described with reference to the attached drawings in which:
`
`10
`
`Figure 1 is a schematic showing the operation of the
`invention, according to an embodiment of the invention;
`
`Figure 2 is a schematic showing software application
`icons collected in a centralized file storage medium and a
`remote computing platform icon, according to another embodiment
`15 of the invention;
`
`Figure 3 is a screen snapshot of an implementation
`according to the schematic of Figure 2;
`
`Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method of initializing
`icons of Figure 3;
`
`20
`
`Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method of installing a
`software application on a computing platform in response to a
`drag & drop operation of Figure 2; and
`
`Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method of de-installing
`a software application from a computing platform in response to
`a drag & drop operation of Figure 2.
`
`25
`
`7
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`
`The following definitions are used herein:
`
`Storage repository: A centralized disk based storage containing
`application specific files that make up a software application.
`
`5 Computing platform: A computer hardware platform having an
`operating system is referred to as a computing platform. As
`such, a computing platform is suitably configured and ready to
`host software applications.
`
`A computer-based display that
`GUI (Graphical User Interface)
`10 presents a graphical interface by which a user interacts with a
`computing platform by means of icons, windows, menus and a
`pointing device is referred to as a GUI.
`
`Icon: An icon is an object supported by a GUI. Normally an
`icon associates an image with an object that can be operated on
`through a GUI.
`
`15
`
`Aspects of the invention include:
`
`•GUI supporting drag & drop operations
`
`•Icons
`
`•Storage medium
`
`20
`
`•Console
`
`•Network connections
`
`•One or more computing platforms
`
`While software applications are represented as
`graphical icons, they are physically contained in a storage
`25 medium. Such a storage medium consists, for example, of disk-
`
`8
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`based file storage on a server accessible through a network
`connection.
`
`A computing platform is a computer with an installed
`operating system capable of hosting software applications.
`
`5
`
`When a software application icon is "dropped" on a
`computing platform the applications associated with the icon
`are installed in working order on the selected platform. The
`computing platform is generally remote with respect to either
`the platform hosting the graphical interface or the server
`10 hosting the storage medium. This topology is not strictly
`required, but rather a likely scenario.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`Referring to Figure 1, shown is a schematic showing
`the operation of the invention, according to an embodiment of
`the invention. A graphical icon representing a specific
`software application is displayed through a graphical user
`interface. Also displayed is an icon representing a remote
`computing platform upon which a software application can be
`hosted. Only one computing platform icon is shown; however, it
`is to be understood that several computing platform icons each
`representing a respective remote or local computing platform
`may also be displayed. Similarly, several software application
`icons may be displayed depending on the number of software
`applications available. The software application is selected,
`through the use of a graphical user interface, by pointing to
`its software application icon and using a mouse click (or other
`pointing device). The software application icon is dragged
`over top of the remote computing platform icon and dropped.
`The drop initiates the operation of installing software
`applications on the remote computing platform.
`
`30
`
`Referring to Figure 2, shown is a schematic showing
`software applications icons collected in a centralized file
`
`9
`
`

`

`

`

`50357-4
`
`in a tree view. An application connected to a compute platform
`as root in a tree view is selected and dropped onto the
`repository. This initiates the de-install operation.
`
`Referring to Figure 4, shown is a flow chart of a
`5 method of initializing the icons of Figure 3. An icon such as a
`computing platform icon or software application icon is created
`as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) object. Drop handler
`operations are then associated to the computing platform icon.
`In particular, any operation required for installation is
`10 associated with the icon.
`
`!.Installation
`
`As discussed above with reference to Figures 1 to 3,
`the installation process is initiated by a drag & drop of a
`software application icon, from a storage medium, to a top of a
`15 computing platform icon. An install drop handler implements
`the installation of the software application.
`
`The install drop handler performs several tasks on
`the destination computing platform:
`
`•Tests whether the computing platform is a valid computing
`platform;
`
`20
`
`•Creates a user account for the software application;
`
`•Installs application specific files so that they are
`accessible to the remote computing platform;
`
`•Sets file access permissions such that a new user can access
`its applications;
`
`25
`
`•Starts a first application; and
`
`11
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`•Updates a console showing that the selected software
`application is resident on the selected computing
`platform.
`
`These steps will now be described with reference to
`5 Figure 5 which is a flow chart of a method of installing a
`software application on a computing platform in response to the
`drag & drop operation of Figure 2. As discussed above, in
`operation the installation process is invoked when a software
`application icon is dropped on a computing platform icon. The
`10 method steps of Figure 5 are performed by an install drop
`handler. During installation, a verification is performed to
`determine whether the selected computing platform is a valid
`candidate for installing a selected software application. If
`the computing platform is a valid candidate, a user account is
`15 created for the software application; otherwise, the
`installation process ends. Once the user account is created,
`application files associated with the software applications are
`installed on the selected computing platform so that they are
`accessible to the computing platform. File access permissions
`20 are then set such that one or more new users can access the
`application being installed. A first application is then
`started.
`In some embodiments, an application, for example
`accounting or payroll, represent several programs/processes.
`In order to start the accounting/payroll service a first
`25 application is started that MAY in turn start other
`It is then
`programs/processes. The first program is started.
`up to the specific service, accounting/payroll, to start any
`other services it requires.
`
`30
`
`A console on the selected computing platform on which
`the software application is being installed is then updated
`with information to show that the selected software application
`is resident on the selected computing platform. The console is
`
`12
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`operational on any desktop computing platform for example,
`Unix, Linux and Windows.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2.Removal of application software from a computing platform
`
`With reference to Figure 3, the removal process is
`initiated by a drag & drop operation of a software application
`icon from a computing platform icon to the repository. For this
`purpose each computing platform icon shows, with the use of
`associated software application icons (not shown in Figure 3),
`each application software installed on the computing platform.
`
`The de-installation of application software from a
`selected computing platform is done by a remove drop handler
`which performs the following tasks on the selected computing
`platform:
`
`•Tests whether the computing platform is a valid computing
`platform; (Tests are made to verify whether the computing
`platform is operational. For example, it may have been
`taken off-line due to a problem or routine maintenance.
`If so, then applications should not be removed or
`installed until this state changes.)
`
`20
`
`•Stops processes associated with the software application;
`
`•Copies application specific data file changes from the
`computing platform back to the storage medium;
`
`•Removes user accounts associated with the software
`application; and
`
`25
`
`•Updates the console to show that the selected software
`application is resident in the repository.
`
`13
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`These steps will now be described with reference to
`Figure 6 which is a flow chart of a method of de-installing a
`software application from a computing platform in response to a
`drag & drop operation of Figure 2. The state of the platform
`is verified to determine whether it is valid. The state
`includes, for example, on-line, off-line (a problem state) or
`
`If the state
`maintenance (off-line, but for a scheduled task}.
`of the platform is valid and a process or processes associated
`with a software application selected to be de-installed are
`stopped; otherwise the de-installation process ends. Once the
`processes are stopped, application specific data file changes
`are copied from the computing platform back to the storage
`medium. This is a process of capturing changes that may have
`taken place while the application ran and that need to be saved
`for future instances when the application runs again. For
`example, payroll may be run every other week. Changes made to
`the system, accrued amounts, year to date payments, etc. will
`need to be saved so that when payroll is run the next time
`these values are updated.
`It may be required (depending on how
`the operator configures a system) to copy changes made when
`payroll ran back to the repository so that the next time
`payroll is run these values are installed along with the
`application.
`
`Any user account associated with the selected
`software application is removed and a console on the computing
`platform from which the selected software application is being
`de-installed is updated with information to show that the
`selected software application is resident in the repository.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`Using the method steps of Figures 5 and 6, software
`30 applications are therefore installed on a computing platform
`and removed from the computing platform through a graphical
`user interface drag and drop operation.
`
`14
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`A number of programming languages may be used to
`implement programs used in embodiments of the invention.
`Some
`example programming languages used in embodiments of the
`invention include, but are not limited to, C++, Java and a
`5 number of scripting languages including TCL/TK and PERL.
`
`Installation of software applications is preferably
`performed on computing platforms that are remote from a console
`computing platform. However, some embodiments of the invention
`also have installation of software applications performed on a
`computing platform that is local to a console computing
`platform.
`
`10
`
`Numerous modifications and variations of the present
`invention are possible in light of the above teachings.
`It is
`therefore to be understood that within the scope of the
`15 appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than
`
`as specifically described herein.
`
`15
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`WE CLAIM:
`
`1.
`
`A method of installing a software application on a
`computing platform, the method comprising:
`
`5
`
`displaying a software application icon representing
`the software application and a computing platform icon
`representing the computing platform;
`
`receiving a selection of the software application for
`installation using the software application icon;
`
`receiving a selection of the computing platform to
`10 which the software application is to be installed using the
`computing platform icon; and
`
`initiating the installation of the selected software
`application on the selected computing platform.
`
`A method according to claim 1 wherein the computing
`2.
`15 platform is a remote computing platform.
`
`A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the
`3.
`selection of the software application is received with the use
`of a graphical user interface in response to the software
`application icon being pointed to using a pointing device.
`
`20 4.
`A method according to claim 3 wherein the pointing
`device is a mouse.
`
`A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the
`5.
`receiving a selection of the computing platform is in response
`to the software application icon being dragged over the
`computing platform icon and the software application icon being
`dropped.
`
`25
`
`16
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`6.
`A method according to claim 5 wherein the initiating
`the installation of the selected software application on the
`selected computing platform is in response to the software
`application icon being dropped over the computing platform
`icon.
`
`5
`
`7.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 1 to 6 further
`comprising, upon initialization, testing whether the selected
`computing platform is a valid computing platform.
`
`10
`
`8.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 1 to 7
`further comprising, upon initialization, creating a user
`account for the selected software application.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 1 to 8
`9.
`further comprising, upon initialization, installing files
`specific to the selected application software on the selected
`15 computing platform.
`
`10.
`A method according to claim 9 further comprising,
`upon initialization, setting file access permissions to allow a
`user to access the application.
`
`11.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 1 to 10
`further comprising starting the selected software application.
`
`20
`
`12.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 1 to 11
`further comprising, upon initialization, updating a console on
`the selected computing platform with information indicating
`that the selected software application is resident on the
`25 selected computing platform.
`
`13.
`A method of de-installing a software application from
`a computing platform, the method comprising:
`
`17
`
`

`

`50357-4
`
`displaying a software application icon representing
`the software application and a computing platform icon
`representing the computing platform on which the software
`application is installed;
`
`5
`
`receiving a selection of the software application for
`de-installation using the software application icon;
`
`receiving a selection of the computing platform from
`which the software application is to be de-installed using the
`computing platform icon; and
`
`10
`
`initiating the de-installation of the selected
`software application from the selected computing platform.
`
`A method according to claim 13 wherein the computing
`14.
`platform is a remote computing platform.
`
`A method according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the
`15.
`15 displaying comprises displaying the software application as
`being installed on the computing platform with the use of the
`software application icon and the computing platform icon.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 13 to 15
`16.
`wherein the selection of the software application is received
`20 with the use of a graphical user interface in response to the
`software application icon being pointed to using a pointing
`device.
`
`A method according to claim 16 wherein the pointing
`17.
`device is a mouse.
`
`A method according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the
`25 18.
`displaying a software application icon comprises displaying
`
`18
`
`

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`
`software application icon as being installed on the computing
`platform and wherein the selection of the application icon and
`the selection of the computing platform are in response to the
`software application icon being dragged away from the software
`5 application icon.
`
`A method according to claim 18 wherein the initiating
`19.
`the de-installation of the selected software application from
`the selected computing platform is in response to the software
`application icon being dropped.
`
`10 20.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 13 to 19
`further comprising, upon initialization, testing whether the
`selected computing platform is a valid computing platform for
`de-installation of the software application.
`
`21.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 13 to 20
`
`15
`
`further comprising, upon initialization, stopping any process
`associated with the selected software application.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 13 to 21
`22.
`further comprising, upon initialization, copying data file
`changes specific to the software application back to a storage
`20 medium from which the data file changes originated prior to
`installation.
`
`23.
`A method according to anyone of claims 13 to 22
`further comprising, upon initialization, removing a user
`account associated with the selected software application.
`
`25 24.
`
`A method according to anyone of claims 13 to 23
`further comprising, upon initialization, updating a console on
`the computing platform with information indicating that the
`
`19
`
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`selected software application is no longer resident on the
`selected computing platform.
`
`25.
`
`An article of manufacture comprising:
`
`a computer usable medium having computer readable
`5 program code means embodied therein for installing a software
`application on a computing platform, the computer readable code
`means in said article of manufacture comprising:
`
`computer readable code means for performing the
`method steps of any one of claims 1 to 12.
`
`10 26.
`
`An article of manufacture comprising:
`
`a computer usable medium having computer readable
`program code means embodied therein for de-installing a
`software application from a computing platform, the computer
`readable code means in said article of manufacture comprising:
`
`15
`
`computer readable code means for performing the
`method steps of any one of claims 13 to 24 and 32 to 34.
`
`27.
`A GUI (Graphical User Interface) adapted to perform
`the method steps of anyone of claims 1 to 24 and 32 to 34.
`
`20
`
`28.
`A GUI (Graphical User Interface) adapted to display a
`software application icon representative of a software
`application available for installation and display a computing
`platform icon representative of a computing platform, the GUI
`being responsive to a selection of the software application
`icon and the computing platform icon by initiating installation
`25 of the software application on the computing platform.
`
`29.
`
`A GUI (Graphical User Interface) adapted to display a
`software application icon representative of a software
`
`20
`
`

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`application and display a computing platform icon
`representative of a computing platform, the GUI being
`responsive to a selection of the software application icon and
`the computing platform icon by initiating de-installation of
`the software application from the computing platform.
`
`A GUI (Graphical User Interface) adapted to display a
`30.
`software application icon representative of a software
`application installed on a computing platform, the GUI being
`responsive to a selection of the software application icon by
`initiating de-installation of the software application from the
`computing platform.
`
`A GUI (Graphical User Interface) according to anyone
`31.
`of claims 29 to 30 wherein the selection is in response to a
`drag and drop operation.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15 32.
`A method of de-installing a software application from
`a computing platform, the method comprising:
`
`displaying a software application icon representing
`the software application installed on a computing platform;
`
`receiving a selection of the software application for