Automatic updating of diverse software products on multiple client computer systems by downloading scanning application to client computer and generating software list on client computer
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of providing information for software residing on a client computer, comprising:
- maintaining a service provider computer on a network, the client computer accessible over the network by the service provider computer;
maintaining on the service provider computer a database, the database containing references to network locations where information relating to software from a plurality of software vendors can be obtained;
maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application being capable of performing a scan of the client computer to identify one or more software products residing on the client computer;
establishing a communication link between client computer and the service provider computer over the network;
downloading the application to the client computer over the communication link;
scanning the client computer with the application;
as a result of the scan, generating a list of software residing on the client computer for which the service provider has information; and
for at least one product on the list, downloading to the client computer at least a portion of the information for that product that is available to the service provider.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method update client computers of various end users with software updates for software products installed on the client computers, the software products manufacturered by diverse, unrelated software vendors. The system includes a service provider computer system, a number of client computers and software vendor computer systems communicating on a common network. The service provider computer system stores in an update database information about the software updates of the diverse software vendors, identifying the software products for which software updates are available, their location on the network at the various software vendor computer systems, information for identifying in the client computers the software products stored thereon, and information for determining for such products, which have software updates available. Users of the client computers connect to the service provider computer and obtain a current version of portions of the database. The client computer determines that software products stored thereon, and using this information, determines from the database, which products have updates available, based on product name and release information for the installed products. The user selects updates for installation. The selected updates are downloaded from the software vendor computer systems and installed on the client computer. Payment for the software update and the service is mediated by the service provider computer. Authentication of the user ensures only registered users obtain software updates. Authentication of the software updates ensures that the software updates are virus free and uncorrupted. Changes to the client computer during installation are monitored and archived, allowing the updates to be subsequently removed by the user.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of providing information for software residing on a client computer, comprising:
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maintaining a service provider computer on a network, the client computer accessible over the network by the service provider computer; maintaining on the service provider computer a database, the database containing references to network locations where information relating to software from a plurality of software vendors can be obtained; maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application being capable of performing a scan of the client computer to identify one or more software products residing on the client computer; establishing a communication link between client computer and the service provider computer over the network; downloading the application to the client computer over the communication link; scanning the client computer with the application; as a result of the scan, generating a list of software residing on the client computer for which the service provider has information; and for at least one product on the list, downloading to the client computer at least a portion of the information for that product that is available to the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method of providing relevant information for updating software residing on a client computer, comprising:
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maintaining a service provider computer on a network with the client computer; maintaining on the service provider computer a database, the database containing information relating to software updates of diverse software vendors; establishing a communication link between the client computer and the service provider computer; downloading to the client computer an application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which software products reside on the client computer; scanning the client computer with the application; as a result of the scan, generating a list of software residing on the client computer for which the service provider has relevant information; and for at least one product on the list, downloading to the client computer at least a portion of the relevant information that is available to the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-implemented method of providing additional software products that are relevant to software residing on a client computer, comprising:
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maintaining a service provider site on a network with the client computer, the service provider establishing a contractual relationship with a plurality of software vendors so that the software vendors receive compensation if their software is downloaded to the client computer; maintaining on a service provider computer a database, the database containing information relating to software products of diverse software vendors; maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which installed software products reside on the client computer; establishing a communication link between client computer and the service provider computer; downloading the application to the client computer over the communication link; scanning the client computer with the application; as a result of the scan, generating a first list of software products residing on the client computer; comparing the first list with the information in the database to generate a second list, the second list containing software products that are compatible with the software residing on the client computer; downloading to the client computer at least one product on the second list; and
paying the software vendor compensation relating to the download. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-implemented method of providing relevant information for software residing on a client computer, comprising:
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maintaining a service provider site on a network with the client computer; maintaining on a service provider computer a database, the database containing information relating to software products of diverse software vendors, the information being obtained by periodically scanning a public network; maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which software products reside on the client computer; establishing a communication link between client computer and the service provider computer; downloading the application to the client computer over the communication link; scanning the client computer with the application; as a result of the scan, identifying software products residing on the client computer for which the service provider has information; and for at least one product identified as a result of the scan, downloading to the client computer a portion of the relevant information that is available. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-implemented method of providing at least one software update on a client computer containing a plurality of software products, comprising:
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maintaining on a service provider computer a database containing update information about a plurality of software products, the information including a network address for at least one software vendor server on the network that is separate from the service provider computer and contains at least one software update; maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which software products reside on the client computer; downloading the application to the client computer over a first communication path; scanning the client computer with the application; downloading a portion of the update information from the database to the client computer; as a result of the scan, identifying software products that have been installed on the client computer for which updates are available; ending client computer communications with the service provider computer; selecting one identified software product to update; downloading from the software vendor server to the client computer an update for at least one software product over a second communication path; terminating communications between the software vendor server and the client computer; and installing the software update on the client computer; wherein the service provider computer is not required to contain any software updates. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A computer-implemented method of providing software products from a plurality of software vendors to at least one client computer, comprising:
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maintaining a service provider computer on a network with the client computer; maintaining on the service provider computer an application that is capable of scanning the client computer and determining which software products would be of interest to a user of the client computer; maintaining on the service provider computer a database containing information about users on the network; downloading the application to the client computer; scanning the client computer with the application; determining from the scan of the client computer one or more software products of interest to the user; creating a list of the software products of interest to the user; storing the list in the database; scanning the network for software products of interest to the user; notifying the user by an electronic communication of the availability of the software product of interest to the user; obtaining from the user an approval to install the software product of interest; downloading to the client computer the software product of interest; installing on the client computer the software product of interest. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification