Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote computer
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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 The update service automatically inventories the user computer to determine what computer software may be out-of-date, and/or need maintenance updates.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.
72 Citations
54 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a first computer, the method comprising:
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establishing communications with a second computer over a network to determine whether computer software not installed on the first computer is available for installation on the first computer;
responsive to determining computer software not installed on the first computer is available for installation on the first computer, presenting a list at the first computer displaying the computer software not installed on the first computer and available for installation on the first computer;
from the list displaying the computer software not installed on the first computer and available for installation on the first computer, accepting a selection selected at the first computer indicating computer software to be downloaded and installed on the first computer; and
to the first computer, downloading the computer software to be downloaded and installed on the first computer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising:
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determining whether computer software is available for installation on the computer over the network;
responsive to determining that the computer software is available for installation on the computer, presenting a list at the computer displaying the computer software not installed on the computer and available for installation on the computer;
from the list displaying the computer software not installed on the computer and available for installation on the computer, accepting a selection selected at the computer indicating computer software to be downloaded to the computer; and
to the computer, downloading the computer software to be downloaded to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising:
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determining from communications over the network, whether computer software is available over the network for installation on the computer but not installed on the computer;
responsive to determining that the computer software is available but not installed on the computer, presenting a list at the computer displaying the computer software available but not installed on the computer;
from the list displaying the computer software available but not installed on the computer, accepting a selection selected at the computer indicating computer software to be downloaded and installed on the computer; and
to the computer, downloading and installing the computer software to be downloaded and installed to the computer.
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31. A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising:
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determining from communications over the network whether computer software is appropriate for installation on the computer;
responsive to a determination that the computer software is appropriate for installation on the computer, acquiring permission at the computer to download the computer software; and
responsive to acquiring permission, downloading the computer software to the computer over the network. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer-implemented method of providing computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising:
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determining from information sent over the network whether computer software is appropriate for installation on the computer;
as a result of permission given at the computer to download the computer software, receiving a request for the computer software from the computer; and
responsive to the request, providing the computer software for the computer over the network. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method performed at a computer in communication over a network, the method comprising:
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at the computer, presenting a user interface requesting user permission to download software downloadable over the network and determined from communications over the network as appropriate for installation at the computer; and
responsive to receiving user permission via the user interface at the computer, downloading the software from a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method for acquiring software over a network for a computer in communication over the network, the method comprising the following computer-executed actions:
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determining via the network that software is available over the network for installation at the computer but not installed on the computer;
as a result of the determining, presenting a user interface at the computer, wherein the user interface is operable to accept user input to initiate acquisition of the software; and
responsive to user input at the computer via the user interface, acquiring the software over the network. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. In a computer, a software delivery system for providing software to a remote computer over a network, the delivery system comprising:
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a program operable to determine, via communications over the network, software appropriate for installation at the remote computer;
wherein the program is further operable to send the software appropriate for installation to the remote computer over the network as a result of permission given at the remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising the following computer-executed actions:
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acquiring permission from a user at the computer to download software;
via the network, determining computer software is available for download over the network but not installed on the computer; and
responsive to determining computer software is available for download over the network but not installed, downloading without further user interaction the computer software available for download but not installed. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification