System, method and program to estimate cost of distributing software

Abstract

System and computer program product for estimating the cost of an ESD for software and subsequent updates for the software. Various cost factors can be considered such as one or more of the following. First program instructions determine a cost of the ESD associated with packaging together components of the software. Second program instructions receive a selection from an operator whether to push or pull the subsequent updates to a customer, and determine a cost for distributing the subsequent updates based on the selection. Third program instructions estimate a cost of the ESD associated with a type of program used by the customer to create images of the software. Fourth program instructions estimate a cost of the subsequent updates associated with distributing the updates to a remote distribution site, and then distributing the updates from the remote distribution site to the customer based on a type of customer tool used to download the updates from the remote distribution site. Fifth program instructions sum together the various costs.

1 . A computer program product to estimate the cost of an ESD for software and subsequent updates for said software, said program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium;    first program instructions to determine a cost of said ESD associated with packaging together components of said software; and    second program instructions to receive a selection from an operator whether to push or pull said subsequent updates to a customer, and determine a cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection; and wherein    said first and second program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       2 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 third program instructions to estimate a cost of said ESD associated with a type of program used by said customer to create images of said software; and wherein    said third program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       3 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising: 
 fourth program instructions to sum the cost of said ESD associated with packaging said software and the cost of said ESD associated with the type of program used by said customer to create images of said software; and    wherein said fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       4 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 third program instructions to estimate a cost of said subsequent updates associated with distributing said updates to a remote distribution site, and then distributing said updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said updates from said remote distribution site; and wherein    said third program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       5 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising: 
 fourth program instructions to sum the cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection and the cost for distributing said subsequent updates to said remote distribution site, and then distributing said software updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said software updates from said remote distribution site; and wherein    said fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       6 . A computer program product to estimate the cost of an ESD for software and subsequent updates for said software, said program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium;    first program instructions to estimate a cost of said ESD associated with a type of program used by said customer to create images of said software; and    second program instructions to receive a selection from an operator whether to push or pull subsequent updates to a customer, and determine a cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection; and wherein    said first and second program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       7 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 third program instructions to sum the cost of said ESD associated with the type of program used by said customer to create images of said software and the cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection; and    wherein said third program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       8 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 third program instructions to estimate a cost of said subsequent updates associated with distributing said updates to a remote distribution site, and then distributing said updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said updates from said remote distribution site; and wherein    said third program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       9 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 fourth program instructions to sum the cost of said ESD associated with the type of program used by said customer to create images of said software, the cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection, and the cost for distributing said subsequent updates to said remote distribution site and then distributing said software updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said software updates from said remote distribution site; and wherein    said fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       10 . A computer program product to estimate the cost of distributing software updates, said program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium;    first program instructions to estimate a cost associated with distributing said software updates to a remote distribution site, and then distributing said updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said updates from said remote distribution site; and    second program instructions to receive a selection from an operator whether to push or pull subsequent updates to a customer from said remote site, and determine a cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection; and wherein    said first and second program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       11 . A computer program product as set forth in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 third program instructions to sum the cost associated with distributing said updates to a remote distribution site and then distributing said updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said updates from said remote distribution site, and the cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection; and    wherein said third program instructions are recorded on said medium.    
   
   
       12 . A computer system product for estimating the cost of distributing software updates, said system comprising: 
 means for estimating a cost associated with distributing said software updates to a remote distribution site, and then distributing said updates from said remote distribution site to said customer based on a type of customer tool used to download said updates from said remote distribution site; and    means for receiving a selection from an operator whether to push or pull subsequent updates to a customer from said remote site, and determining a cost for distributing said subsequent updates based on said selection.