Method and system for embedded network device installation

Abstract

The present disclosed system is directed toward a communication and management system that dynamically targets network devices for content deployment, such as application programs, device drivers, configuration files, and registry subhives. Moreover, the present system targets users of network devices for promotions, such as advertisements offered by Internet e-commerce sites. Promotions are generally icons or graphic images with links to host web servers overlaying a video display, but also includes audio and video clips or data streams. Network devices and their users are targeted through user profiles. User profiles are created when network devices register with the system server and are continually updated with information provided by user activity and event logs that are periodically uploaded from each device. The present system implements a scalable messaging system for data transmission between the system server and among the network devices such that it is neutral as to the specific hardware platforms on which it is implemented.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for event driven content installation on a network device over a data network, the system comprising: 
 a network device detecting a change in a configuration of the network device and transferring information regarding the configuration change;    a remote server receiving the information regarding the configuration change and searching a database for content corresponding to the configuration change;    the remote server sending a message notifying the network device of a location of the content corresponding to the configuration change;    the network device requesting download of the content at the location identified in the message; and    the server downloading the content to the network device in response to the request.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the configuration change is an addition of hardware associated with the network device.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the content is a driver, application program, configuration file, registry data or promotion associated with the additional hardware.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the configuration change is a removal of hardware associated with the network device.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the content is an uninstall program for removal of software associated with the removed hardware.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the content is a driver, application program, configuration file, registry data or promotion.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the remote server comprises a bulk download manager that downloads the content to the network device.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the remote server comprises a system manager that receives the information regarding the configuration change and sends the message notifying the network device of the location of the content in the database.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network device comprises a system agent that detects the change in the configuration of the network device and transfers information regarding the configuration change.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network device comprises a bulk download agent that requests the download of the content.  
     
     
         11 . A method for event driven content installation on a network device over a data network, the method comprising: 
 detecting a change in a configuration of a network device;    transferring information regarding the configuration change to a remote server;    receiving a message from the server that provides a location in a database of the content corresponding to the configuration change; and    downloading the content from the database location identified in the message.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the configuration change is an addition or removal of hardware associated with the network device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the content is a driver, application program, configuration file, registry data or promotion.  
     
     
         14 . A method for event driven content installation on a network device over a data network, the method comprising: 
 receiving the information from a remote network device regarding a change in a configuration of the network device;    searching a database for content corresponding to the configuration change;    sending a message to the network device including a location of the content corresponding to the configuration change;    receiving a request for a download of the content at the location from the network device; and    downloading the content to the network device in response to the request.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the configuration change is an addition or removal of hardware associated with the remote network device.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the content is a driver, application program, configuration file, registry data or promotion.