Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote computer
DCFirst Claim
1. In a computer system having a first computer in communication with a remote second computer, the second computer having access to a database identifying software remotely available to the first computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the first computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the first computer, the method comprising, at the second computer:
- retrieving from the first computer to the second computer an inventory identifying at least certain computer software installed on the first computer;
comparing the inventory of computer software with the database to identify computer software available to the first computer and not installed on the first computer;
preparing for presentation at the first computer software information indicating software available to the first computer and not installed on the first computer; and
sending the software information to the first computer, said information including an alert about a defect in software on the first computer correctable by software available to the first computer and not installed thereon.
2 Assignments
Litigations
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 The update service automatically inventories the user computer to determine what computer software may be out-of-date, and/or need maintenance updates.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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a first computer in communication with a remote second computer, the second computer having access to a database identifying software remotely available to the first computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the first computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the first computer, the method comprising, at the second computer:
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retrieving from the first computer to the second computer an inventory identifying at least certain computer software installed on the first computer; comparing the inventory of computer software with the database to identify computer software available to the first computer and not installed on the first computer; preparing for presentation at the first computer software information indicating software available to the first computer and not installed on the first computer; and sending the software information to the first computer, said information including an alert about a defect in software on the first computer correctable by software available to the first computer and not installed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a computer system having a first computer in communication with a remote second computer, the second computer having access to a database identifying software available to the first computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the first computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the first computer, the method comprising, at the first computer:
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conducting an inventory of the first computer, the inventory identifying at least certain computer software installed on the first computer; sending from the first computer to the second computer the inventory for comparison to the database; receiving from the second computer a software summary indicating software available to the second computer and not installed on the first computer, said software summary including an alert about a defect in software on the first computer correctable by software available to the first computer but not installed thereon; and presenting the software summary on the first computer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a computer system having a user computer in communication with a remote update service computer having access to a database identifying software available to the update service computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the user computer, a computer implemented method for transferring computer software to the user computer, the method comprising:
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establishing a first communications session between the user computer and the update service computer; collecting an inventory during the first session from the user computer to identify at least certain computer software installed on the user computer; comparing the inventory of computer software on the user computer with the database to identify software available to the update service computer and not installed on the user computer; presenting at the user computer software information indicating software available to the update service computer and not installed on the user computer, said information including an alert about a defect in software on the user computer correctable by software available to the user computer and not installed thereon; receiving a selection of software from the software information during the first session; saving a list indicating the software selected; during the first session, retrieving reconnection information to the update service computer from the user computer for establishing a second communications session with the user computer; terminating the first communications session; establishing a second communications session between the user computer and the update service computer using the reconnection information; and transferring during the second communications session software indicated by the saved list from the update service computer to the user computer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a computer, a software delivery system for providing software to a remote computer, the delivery system comprising:
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a database containing entries indicative of software available to the remote computer; an inventory collector operable for receiving from the remote computer an inventory of software indicating at least certain software installed at the remote computer; a comparer operable for identifying software in the database and not in the inventory; and a report generator operable for generating a summary of the software in the database and not in the inventory for presentation to a user at the remote computer, the summary including an alert about a defect in software on the remote computer correctable by software available to the remote computer and not installed thereon, the report generator further operable for sending the summary to the remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of updating software earlier installed on a first computer from a library of software stored on a second computer, comprising:
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identifying software earlier installed on the first computer; identifying to a user of the first computer a software update that is available on the second computer corresponding to software identified as earlier installed on the first computer, and alerting the user to a defect in the earlier installed software that would be correctable by installation of said software update; and in response to user authorization, sending said software update from the second computer to the first computer.
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Specification