Software updates

• US 20050022178A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Williamson, Brian, Smith, Martin R., Ghafoor, Gameelah
• Application Number:
  US10/886,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A telecommunications device that is configured to form a connection with another telecommunications device without user intervention; select software that is available on that other device, and receive a copy of that software.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device comprising:

means for forming a connection with another telecommunications device without user intervention;

means for selecting software which is available on the other device; and

means for receiving a copy of the selected software.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for identifying new software or an up-dated version of existing software on the other device, and means for selecting any such new or up-dated software.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a listing of software which is available on the other device, and means for using the received listing to identify any desired software.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and means for requesting confirmation via the user interface that the selected software is to be received and/or installed.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving an unsolicited request for access to available software from another device or details of that software.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for allowing the other device access to at least some details of its software by sending a list of such available software to the other device.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for sending requested software to the other device when a request for software is received.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for allowing user specification of devices which are allowed to receive software or devices which are to be blocked.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for forming a connection includes means for wirelessly communicating with a mobile telephone.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for forming a connection includes means for wirelessly communicating with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for forming a connection includes means for connecting to a self-service terminal.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for forming a connection includes means for connecting to an automated teller machine (ATM).

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting when another telecommunications device is within range and a connection has been formed therewith without user intervention.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for causing payment of a fee for the selected software.

15. A device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for requesting user authorization of the payment, and means for causing payment of the fee in response to authorization from the user.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising receiving details associated with software on the other device to allow selection of software based upon the details received.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising causing a fee for the software to be paid.

16. A method of receiving or updating software on a telecommunications device, the method comprising:

forming a connection with another telecommunications device without user intervention;

selecting software on the other device; and

receiving a copy of the selected software.

19. A method of receiving or updating software on a telecommunications device, the method comprising:

forming a connection with another telecommunications device without user intervention;

selecting software on the other device; and

receiving a copy of the selected software;

charging a first user of software obtained from the software provider a first license fee; and

charging a second user of the software obtained from the first user a second license fee which may be different from the first license fee.

20. A program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for receiving or updating software on a telecommunications device, the method comprising the steps of:

causing a connection with another telecommunications device to be formed without user intervention;

selecting software which is available on the other device; and

installing a copy of the selected software.