Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote computer
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Accused Products
Abstract
Creators of computer software provide the most up-to-date versions of their computer software on an update service. A user who has purchased computer software calls the update service on a periodic basis. The update service automatically inventories the user computer to determine what computer software may be out-of-date, and/or need maintenance updates. If so desired by the user, the update service computer automatically downloads and installs computer software to the user computer. By making periodic calls to the update service, the user always has the most up-to-date computer software immediately available. The update service may also alert the user to new products (i.e. including new help files, etc.), and new and enhanced versions of existing products, which can be purchased electronically by a user from the update service.
65 Citations
110 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method for distributing information to a plurality of user stations via a server based information distribution service over a network including the Internet, comprising:
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for each of the user stations, providing the user station with a directory of items, the directory being provided over the network to the user station by the information distribution service;
for each of the user stations, enabling a user at the user station to select a personalized set of multiple items from the directory; and
for each of the user stations, transferring, via the information distribution service over the network to the user station, information contained in a plurality of information objects corresponding to respective items of the selected personalized set of multiple items, in response to a single triggering action by the user at the user station. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A system for distributing information to a plurality of user stations via a server based information distribution service over a network including the Internet, comprising:
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first code that provides each of the user stations with a directory of items over the network from which a user at each respective one of the user stations can select a personalized set of multiple items; and
second code that effects transport, to each of the user stations, via the information distribution service, over the network, of information contained in a plurality of information objects corresponding to respective items of the personalized set of multiple items, in response to a single triggering action by the user at the respective one of the user stations. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for distributing information to a plurality of user computers via a server based information distribution system over a network including the Internet, comprising:
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for each of the user computers, providing the user computer with a summary of items, the summary being provided over the network to the user computer by the information distribution system;
for each of the user computers, enabling a user at the user computer to select a personalized set of multiple items from the summary; and
for each of the user computers, transferring, via the information distribution system over the network to the user computer, information corresponding to respective items of the selected personalized set of multiple items, in response to a choice by the user at the user computer. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. A system for distributing information to a plurality of user computers via a server based information distribution system over a network including the Internet, comprising:
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first software that provides each of the user computers with a summary of items over the network from which a user at each respective one of the user computers can select a personalized set of multiple items; and
second software that effects transport, to each of the user computers, via the information distribution system, over the network, of information corresponding to respective items of the personalized set of multiple items, in response to a choice by the user at the respective one of the user computers. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
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Specification