Patent ID: 7634488

Claim:
A server for dynamically managing software functionality of a plurality of non-general purpose computing devices via a network, comprising: an interface operably linked to the network for receiving a management request including an identification file of a client device distinct from the plurality of non-general purpose computing devices designating selected ones of the plurality of non-general purpose computing devices, and a modification package for distribution to the selected ones of the plurality of non-general purpose computing devices; a memory configured to store the identification file and the modification package; a management agent responsive to the management request configured to access the identification file and establish communication with a corresponding deployment agent of the selected ones of the plurality of non-general purpose computing devices via the interface to negotiate a network transfer of the modification package for installation thereto, the transfer being initiated with the selected ones of the deployment agents based upon a status indication provided by the corresponding deployment agent of the selected ones of the plurality of non-general purpose computing devices, wherein, transfer of the modification package is not initiated with deployment agents currently indicating a status of processing a previously initiated management request, and, transfer is initiated with deployment agents currently indicating an available status, Wherein, the modification package is a compressed file, and wherein, the management agent decompresses the modification package to build a boot script corresponding thereto, and recompresses the modification package to include the boot script for transfer to the non-general purpose computing devices for installation.