Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote computer
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a software-receiving computer in communication with a remote software-providing computer over a network, the software-providing computer having access to a database identifying software remotely available to the software-receiving computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the software-receiving computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer, the method comprising, at the software-providing computer:
- retrieving over the network from the software-receiving computer to the software-providing computer an inventory identifying at least certain computer software already installed on the software-receiving computer;
comparing the inventory of computer software retrieved from the software-receiving computer with the database to identify a set of computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer;
preparing a report indicating the set of software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer;
sending the report indicating the set of software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer to the software-receiving computer over the network;
receiving at the software-providing computer a user software selection out of the set of software available for installation on the software receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer, wherein the user software selection out of the set of software available for installation on the software receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer is selected by a user at the software-receiving computer responsive to the report; and
transferring, to the software-receiving computer, software indicated by the user software selection.
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.
401 Citations
30 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a software-receiving computer in communication with a remote software-providing computer over a network, the software-providing computer having access to a database identifying software remotely available to the software-receiving computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the software-receiving computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer, the method comprising, at the software-providing computer:
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retrieving over the network from the software-receiving computer to the software-providing computer an inventory identifying at least certain computer software already installed on the software-receiving computer; comparing the inventory of computer software retrieved from the software-receiving computer with the database to identify a set of computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer; preparing a report indicating the set of software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer; sending the report indicating the set of software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer to the software-receiving computer over the network; receiving at the software-providing computer a user software selection out of the set of software available for installation on the software receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer, wherein the user software selection out of the set of software available for installation on the software receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer is selected by a user at the software-receiving computer responsive to the report; and transferring, to the software-receiving computer, software indicated by the user software selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a computer system having a software-receiving computer in communication with a remote software-providing computer, the software-providing computer having access to a database identifying software available to the software-receiving computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the software-receiving computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer, the method comprising, at the software-receiving computer:
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conducting an inventory of the software-receiving computer, the inventory identifying at least certain computer software already installed on the software-receiving computer; sending from the software-receiving computer to the software-providing computer the inventory for comparison to the database to identify a set of computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer; receiving from the software-providing computer a software summary indicating the set of computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer; and presenting the software summary indicating the set of computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer at the software-receiving computer for consideration by a user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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; 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 (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a networked computer, a software delivery system for providing software to a remote computer over a network, the delivery system comprising:
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a database containing entries indicative of software available over the network for installation on the remote computer; an inventory collector operable for receiving from the remote computer over the network an inventory of software indicating at least certain software installed at the remote computer; a comparer operable for comparing software in the database with the inventory to identify a set of software available over the network for installation on the remote computer and not already installed on the remote computer; and a report generator operable for generating a summary of the set of software identified by the comparer as available over the network for installation on the remote computer and not already installed on the remote computer for presentation to a user at the remote computer, the report generator further operable for sending the summary to the remote computer over the network. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. In a computer system having a local computer in communication with a remote computer, the remote computer having access to a database identifying software remotely available to the local computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the local computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the local computer, the method comprising, at the remote computer:
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retrieving from the local computer to the remote 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 local computer and not installed on the local computer; preparing for presentation at the local computer software information indicating software available to the local computer and not installed on the local computer; and sending the software information to the local computer, said information including data about a defect in software on the local computer correctable by software available to the local computer and not installed thereon.
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24. A computer-implemented method of providing software to a user computer, the method comprising:
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establishing communication between the user computer and a remote, update service computer; at the user computer, conducting an inventory to generate inventory data indicating software installed at the user computer; sending the inventory data indicating software installed at the user computer to the update service computer; comparing the inventory data indicating software installed at the user computer to a computer software database of software available to the user computer; flagging software in the database but not indicated in the inventory data, as a set of software available to the user computer but not installed on the user computer; at the user computer, selecting a set of software to be downloaded out of the set of software available to the user computer but not installed on the user computer; and downloading the set of software to be downloaded to the user computer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification