Patent ID: 8191059

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: modeling an installation process as a workflow, the installation process including a branching operation involving at least one condition that is dictated by at least one of a plurality of users; receiving input from the plurality of users, the plurality of users having different roles, where each of the roles are associated with individual activities within the installation process, the receiving input including: receiving a first input from a first user having a first role associated with at least one first activity within the installation process, the first input including first configuration information for controlling the at least one first activity in association with a plurality of devices and identifying a location of a program corresponding to the at least one first activity, and receiving a second input from a second user having a second role associated with at least one second activity within the installation process, the second input including second configuration information for controlling the at least one second activity in association with the plurality of devices; generating a workflow definition based on the received input from the plurality of users, the workflow definition defining parameters for installing at least a portion of the program associated with the installation process; displaying the workflow definition for allowing at least one of the plurality of users to visually control the installation process, utilizing a graphical user interface that is capable of displaying a visual representation of the workflow of the installation process; loading the workflow definition into a workflow engine; executing the workflow of the installation process onto the plurality of devices, utilizing the workflow engine; installing the at least a portion of a program utilizing the workflow; and during the execution of the workflow of the installation process onto the plurality of devices, receiving additional input from the plurality of users, the receiving additional user input including: receiving, during the execution of the workflow of the installation process, a third input from the first user having the first role associated with the at least one first activity within the installation process, the third input including third configuration information for controlling the at least one first activity in association with the plurality of devices during the execution of the workflow of the installation process, and receiving, during the execution of the workflow of the installation process, a fourth input from the second user having the second role associated with the at least one second activity within the installation process, the fourth input including fourth configuration information for controlling the at least one second activity in association with the plurality of devices during the execution of the workflow of the installation process; wherein the installation process only allows each of the roles to manage the associated individual activities.