Automatically updating software components across network as needed
First Claim
1. In a computer that communicates with other computers over a network, a method for automatically updating software components at the computer, the method comprising the acts of:
- accessing a data file, wherein the data file includes;
content data; and
component information and version information specifying required software components and required versions thereof that are to be used to process the content data;
comparing the component information and the version information with software components installed at the computer and identifying a required version of a required software component that is not yet installed at the computer;
requesting and receiving the required version of the required software component from one of said other computers; and
using the required version of the required software component to process the content data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Updating software components that are required to appropriately process content data included in a data file. A computer having installed thereon certain software components obtains a data file that includes a required component list identifying the required software components and required versions thereof needed for processing the content data. The computer compares the information in the list with the software components already installed at the computer. The computer obtains an update table identifying network locations from which the required software components can be obtained. If the required component list includes software components not already installed at the computer, these required components are requested from the network locations identified in the update table. If the required component list includes new versions of required software components and only previous versions of the required software components are already, these new versions are requested from the network locations. In this manner, the computer obtains the software components required to process the content data. As a result software providing new functionality and other software upgrades can be efficiently distributed to a large number of users.
173 Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a computer that communicates with other computers over a network, a method for automatically updating software components at the computer, the method comprising the acts of:
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accessing a data file, wherein the data file includes;
content data; and
component information and version information specifying required software components and required versions thereof that are to be used to process the content data;
comparing the component information and the version information with software components installed at the computer and identifying a required version of a required software component that is not yet installed at the computer;
requesting and receiving the required version of the required software component from one of said other computers; and
using the required version of the required software component to process the content data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a computer that communicates with other computers over a network, a method for automatically updating software components of a processing program at the computer so that the updated software components can be used to process content data of a data file, the method comprising the acts of:
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opening the data file using the processing software, wherein the data file includes;
content data; and
component information and version information specifying required software components and required versions thereof that are to be used to process the content data;
comparing the component information and the version information with data identifying software components already installed at the client computer and versions of the installed software components;
based on the act of comparing, identifying a required version of a required software component that is not yet installed at the computer;
requesting an update table from another computer associated with the network, wherein the update table specifies a network location from which the required version of the required software component can be obtained;
receiving the requested update table;
based on the update table, identifying said network location from which the required version of the required software component can be obtained;
requesting the required version of the required software component from the network location;
receiving the required version of the required software component from the network location; and
installing the required version of the required software component, thereby updating the software components of the processing software such that the required version of the required software component can be used to process the content data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product for implementing, in a computer that communicates with other computers over a network, a method for automatically updating software components at the computer, the computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to perform the method, wherein the method comprises the acts of accessing a data file, wherein the data file includes;
content data; and
component information and version information specifying required software components and required versions thereof that are to be used to process the content data;
comparing the component information and the version information with software components installed at the computer and identifying a required version of a required software component that is not yet installed at the computer;
requesting and receiving the required version of the required software component from one of said other computers; and
using the required version of the required software component to process the content data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system of networked computers that is capable of automatically updating software components of a processing program of a computer included in the system so that the updated software components can be used to process content data of a data file, the system comprising
a computer, wherein the computer includes a memory module which stores software components of the processing program that are used to process the data file; -
a plurality of servers with memory modules that store updated software components, wherein one of the plurality of servers is a software server with a memory module that stores a table of available updated software components related to the processing program and the network locations from which the updated software components can be obtained, wherein the computer uses a communication module to interface with the plurality of servers;
a communication network that connects the computer with the plurality of servers; and
processing means at the computer for;
comparing component information and version information of a data file specifying required software components and required versions thereof that are to be used to process content data included in the data file with software components installed at the computer and identifying a required version of a required software component that is not yet installed at the computer; and
automatically obtaining the required version of the required software component from a network location specified in said table. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A system for automatically updating software components of a processing program of a computer system so that the updated software components can be used to process content data of a data file, the system comprising:
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means for opening a data file, wherein the data file includes;
content data; and
component information and version information specifying required software components and required versions thereof that are to be used to process the content data;
means for reading the component information and the version information;
means for logically comparing the component information and the version information with the software components already installed at the computer to determine whether any required version of any required software component is not yet installed at the computer;
means for requesting from a source external to the computer said any required version of said any required software component that is not yet installed at the computer;
means for receiving said any required version of said any required software components sent by the source; and
means for installing said any required version of said any required software component such that the computer can use updated versions of the required software components to process the content data. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification