Automatic computer upgrading
First Claim
1. 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, comprisingdigitally storing, on a portable medium, the later version of the resource and upgrade information whichidentifies the later version,describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource,identifies the location of the resource on the portable medium,provides instructions for installation of the resource,describes reasons for the later version,indicates the type of change from a prior version to a later version, andindicates the importance of the change from a prior version to the later version,digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version,by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version,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, andautomatically performing the upgrade.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. 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, comprising
digitally storing, on a portable medium, the later version of the resource and upgrade information which identifies the later version, describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, identifies the location of the resource on the portable medium, provides instructions for installation of the resource, describes reasons for the later version, indicates the type of change from a prior version to a later version, and indicates the importance of the change from a prior version to the later version, digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, 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, and automatically performing the upgrade.
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2. A computer-implemented method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; and when an upgrade is available for a resource, automatically assembling, by computer, information about whether or not the computer system should be upgraded. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing information about resource replacements for computer systems comprising the steps of
storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version, and storing on a storage medium instructions for automatically installing said replacement version.
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20. A method for providing information about upgrades for resources on computer systems, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information to a computer for determining by computer whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; assembling information identifying features of a replacement version of the computer system resource relative to another version; and transmitting said information to said computer system to enable said system to assemble information about whether said resource should be upgraded. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling by computer information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling by computer information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically determining the importance of the upgrade. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling, by computer, information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically providing information to a computer system user to determine the importance of the upgrade.
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41. A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling, by computer, information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
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42. A method for updating a resource at a local computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a resource to be updated at the local computer; assembling, by computer, information identifying features of a replacement version of the resource relative to another version, saving an old version of the computer resource to a storage medium at the local computer; coupling the computer to a remote computer; and updating the resource from the old version to a new version by downloading the new version from the remote computer to the local computer. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for automatically updating software on a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining information about each of a plurality of resources within the computer, the information including the name and version number of a plurality of pieces of software; storing information about an upgrade available for at least one of the plurality of resources; informing a user of the computer about the availability of the upgrade; informing the user of the reasons for the upgrade; providing an option of storing an old version of the resource to a storage medium at the computer; retrieving the upgrade from a remote location; and installing the upgrade. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. Computer software for automatically updating software on a computer, the computer software comprising:
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a set of computer instructions stored in a software storage medium for maintaining information about each of a plurality of resources within the computer, the information including the name and version number of a plurality of pieces of software; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for storing information about an upgrade available for at least one of the plurality of resources; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for informing a user of the computer about the availability of the upgrade; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for informing the user of the reasons for the upgrade; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for optionally storing an old version of the resource to a storage medium at the computer; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for retrieving the upgrade from an on-line service; and a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for installing the upgrade.
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Specification