Automatic software update of nodes in a network data processing system

• US 20050076325A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bergin, Helen R., Chagoly, Bryan Christopher, Emuchay, Nduwuisi I.
• Application Number:
  US10/677,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing software updates in a network data processing system. An update for an application is identified for distribution to customers from a supplier. The update is distributed through a supplier controlled process to a customer network based on customer access information for a customer owning the customer network.

Claims

1. A method for managing software updates in a network data processing system, the method comprising:

identifying an update for an application for distribution to customers from a supplier; and

distributing the update through a supplier controlled process to a customer network based on customer access information for a customer owning the customer network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the distributing step is implemented using at least one of a push mechanism and a pull mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining an inventory of the customer network; and

updating customer access information for the customer using the inventory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer access information includes licensing information for the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the distributing step includes:

denying a request for the application from the customer when the customer access information indicates that the customer is an unauthorized customer of the application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step and the distributing step are implemented in a live update server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the update includes prerequisite information for the update.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the update at a client update process; and

distributing the update to nodes in the customer network using the client update process.

9. A software distribution system comprising:

a customer database, wherein the client database stores customer access information used to identify what software updates are authorized for particular customers;

an update server process, wherein the update server process, controlled by a software organization, distributes software updates to customers based on customer access information and prerequisite information for installing the software updates; and

an update client process, wherein the client update process obtains a software update from the update server process for an authorized application and updates a data processing system using the update.

10. A data processing system for managing software updates in a network data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to identify an update for an application for distribution to customers from a supplier; and

distribute the update through a supplier controlled process to a customer network based on customer access information for a customer owning the customer network.

11. A data processing system for managing software updates in a network data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

identifying means for identifying an update for an application for distribution to customers from a supplier; and

distributing means for distributing the update through a supplier controlled process to a customer network based on customer access information for a customer owning the customer network.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the distributing means are implemented using at least one of a push mechanism and a pull mechanism.

13. The data processing system of claim 11 further comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining an inventory of the customer network; and

updating means for updating customer access information for the customer using the inventory.

14. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the customer access information includes an inventory of software on the customer network and licensing information for the customer.

15. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the distributing means includes:

denying means for denying a request for the application from the customer when the customer access information indicates that the customer is not an authorized customer of the application.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the identifying means and the distributing means are implemented in a live update server.

17. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the update includes prerequisite information for the update.

18. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the distributing means is a first distributing means and further comprising:

receiving means for receiving the update at a client update process; and

second distributing means for distributing the update to nodes in the customer network using the client update process.

19. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for managing software updates in a network data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for identifying an update for an application for distribution to customers from a supplier; and

second instructions for distributing the update through a supplier controlled process to a customer network based on customer access information for a customer owning the customer network.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising:

third instructions for obtaining an inventory of the customer network; and

fourth instructions for updating customer access information for the customer using the inventory.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the second instructions includes:

sub-instructions for denying a request for the application from the customer when the customer access information indicates that the customer is not an authorized customer of the application.