System and method for providing computer upgrade information

• US 20060037012A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Upgradedetect Incorporated d/b/a Goldenram
• Inventors: Berry, Michael R., Zomaya, Christ J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which provide upgrade information for at least one computer. The method includes the steps of executing an upgrade program stored in a computer-readable medium on the at least one computer, detecting a current hardware configuration of the at least one computer, cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered during the detecting step with product specifications contained in a database, identifying an upgrade package for upgrading the at least one computer, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered during the detecting step and cross-referenced with the product specification database, and recommending use of the upgrade package for upgrading the at least one computer. The system and method may be used to provide upgrade information on a plurality of networked computers.

Claims

1. A method of providing upgrade information for a computer comprising the steps of:

executing an upgrade program stored in a computer-readable medium on the computer;

detecting a current hardware configuration of the computer;

cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered during the detecting step with product specifications contained in a database;

identifying an upgrade package for upgrading the computer, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered during the detecting step and cross-referenced with the product specification database; and

recommending use of the upgrade package for upgrading the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the upgrade is further based at least in part on a target hardware configuration.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the target hardware configuration is selected by a user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the target hardware configuration is automatically generated from a data source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the current hardware configuration is initiated at the request of a user of the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating an upgrade request.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of transmitting the upgrade request to a recipient.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the upgrade request is transmitted electronically.

9. A method of providing upgrade information for a plurality of networked computers comprising the steps of:

executing an upgrade program stored in a computer-readable medium on one of the plurality of networked computers;

detecting a current hardware configuration of the plurality of networked computers;

cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered during the detecting step for each of the plurality of networked computers with product specifications contained in a database;

identifying an upgrade package for at least some of the plurality of networked computers, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered during the detecting step and cross-referenced with the product specification database; and

recommending use of the upgrade package for at least some of the plurality of networked computers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of identifying the upgrade package is further based at least in part on a target hardware configuration.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the target hardware configuration is selected by a user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the target hardware configuration is automatically generated from a data source.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a single target hardware configuration is established for each of the plurality of networked computers.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of detecting the current hardware configuration is initiated at the request of a user of one of the plurality of networked computers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user is a network administrator.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of packaging one or more hardware components of the upgrade package, wherein a single package is used for each computer in the plurality of networked computers where upgrading was recommended.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the package is marked to identify the specific computer where upgrading was recommended.

18. A system for providing upgrade information for at least one computer comprising:

a detect module for detecting a current hardware configuration of the at least one computer;

a cross-referencing module for cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered by the detect module with product specifications contained in a database;

a compare module for comparing the current hardware configuration to a target hardware configuration to identify an upgrade package for upgrading the at least one computer, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered by the detect module and cross-referencing module;

a recommend module for recommending use of the upgrade package for upgrading the at least one computer;

wherein the detect module, the cross-referencing module, the compare module, and the recommend module are stored in a computer-readable medium.