Automatic computer upgrading
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for use in changing a resource of a computer from a first version of the resource to a second version of the resource, comprising:
- digitally storing replacement information that identifies the second version and describes features of the second version relative to one or more other versions of the resource,digitally storing information identifying the first version,by computer, automatically determining which of the other versions is the first version, andbased on the results of the determining step, automatically determining the importance of replacing the first version of the resource with the second version.
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Abstract
A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.
324 Citations
97 Claims
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1. A method for use in changing a resource of a computer from a first version of the resource to a second version of the resource, comprising:
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digitally storing replacement information that identifies the second version and describes features of the second version relative to one or more other versions of the resource, digitally storing information identifying the first version, by computer, automatically determining which of the other versions is the first version, and based on the results of the determining step, automatically determining the importance of replacing the first version of the resource with the second version. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of supplying at least one replacement version of at least one computer resource comprising:
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storing, on a portable medium, at least one copy of the replacement version of each resource, storing on the portable medium replacement information that identifies the replacement version, storing information that describes features of the replacement version relative to one or more other versions of the resource, and storing on the portable medium information that provides instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for automatically installing the replacement version of each resource. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A portable storage medium for use in supplying at least one replacement version of at least one resource on a computer comprising:
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at least one stored copy of the replacement version of each resource, stored information that identifies the replacement version, stored information that describes features of the replacement version relative to one or more other versions of the resource, and stored information that provides instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for automatically installing the replacement version of the resource. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A software program, stored on a storage medium, for use in changing a resource of a computer from a first version to a second version comprising:
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means for retrieving digitally stored replacement information that identifies the second version and describes features of the second version relative to one or more other versions of the resource, means for retrieving digitally stored information identifying the first version, means for automatically determining which of the other versions is the first version, and means for using the replacement information to automatically determine the importance of replacing the first version of the resource with the second version.
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35. An apparatus for use in determining whether to change a stored first version of a computer resource to a second version of the resource, comprising:
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an information gatherer that retrieves stored information identifying the second version and the first version and describing features of the second version relative to one or more other versions, a comparison service that compares the information about the first version to the information about the second version, and an advisor that uses output from the comparison service to automatically determine the importance of replacing the first version of the resource with the second version. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An apparatus for automatically changing at least one computer resource from a first version to a second version comprising:
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a device that retrieves from a storage medium the second version and instructions for installing the second version, a staging area that receives and stores the second version and the installation instructions, and a manager that retrieves the second version and the installation instructions from the staging area and installs the second version of the computer resource. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for use in changing a resource of a computer from a first version of the resource to a second version of the resource, comprising:
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digitally storing replacement information that identifies the second version and describes features of the second version relative to one or more other versions of the resource, digitally storing information identifying the first version, by computer, automatically determining which of the other versions is the first version, and based on the results of the determining step, providing a display that aids the user in determining whether to replace the first version of the resource with the second version. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A software program, stored on a storage medium, for use in changing a resource of a computer from a first version to a second version comprising:
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means for retrieving digitally stored replacement information that identifies the second version and describes features of the second version relative to one or more other versions of the resource, means for retrieving digitally stored information identifying the first version, means for automatically determining which of the other versions is the first version, and means for using the replacement information to provide a display that aids the user in determining whether to replace the first version of the resource with the second version.
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84. An apparatus for use in determining whether to change a stored first version of a computer resource to a second version of the resource, comprising:
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an information gatherer that retrieves stored information identifying the second version and the first version and describing features of the second version relative to one or more other versions, a comparison service that compares the information about the first version to the information about the second version, and an advisor that provides a display to help the user determine whether to replace the first version with the second version. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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Specification