Method and system for providing automated updating and upgrading of antivirus applications using a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for providing an updated antivirus file to a client computer, comprising the steps of:
- storing the updated antivirus file on a central antivirus server;
retrieving, from an antivirus update database associated with the central antivirus server, information about a current antivirus file installed on the client computer; and
transferring the updated antivirus file from said central antivirus server to the client computer over the Internet using push technology, if it is determined from the retrieved information that the updated antivirus file supersedes the current antivirus file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for updating antivirus files on a computer using push technology is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, updated virus signature files or other updated antivirus information is loaded onto a central antivirus server, while local push agent software is installed on the client computer. When the user of the client computer is connected to the Internet, the push agent software operates in the background to receive updated antivirus files from the central antivirus server across the Internet, in a manner which is substantially transparent to the user. In another preferred embodiment, antivirus files on a plurality of client computers on a corporate computer network are automatically updated using push technology and automated network installation scripts. A service computer associated with the plurality of client computers receives one or batches of antivirus updates from a central antivirus server across the Internet using push technology. An automatic installation script is executed to install the antivirus updates on the client computers of the corporate computer network with a minimum of involvement from a corporate system administrator or, optionally, no involvement from the corporate system administrator.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing an updated antivirus file to a client computer, comprising the steps of:
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storing the updated antivirus file on a central antivirus server;
retrieving, from an antivirus update database associated with the central antivirus server, information about a current antivirus file installed on the client computer; and
transferring the updated antivirus file from said central antivirus server to the client computer over the Internet using push technology, if it is determined from the retrieved information that the updated antivirus file supersedes the current antivirus file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for providing an updated antivirus file to a client computer for use by antivirus application software on the client computer, comprising the steps of:
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storing the updated antivirus file on a central antivirus server;
transmitting the updated antivirus file from said central antivirus server to a push administration computer connected to the Internet, said push administration computer being capable of transmitting antivirus update files to said client computer using push technology, said push administration computer also being adapted for transmitting non-antivirus file information to the client computer;
retrieving, from an antivirus update database associated with one of the central antivirus server and the push administration computer, information about a current antivirus file installed on the client computer; and
transferring the updated antivirus file from said push administration computer to the client computer over the Internet using push technology, if it is determined from the retrieved information that the updated antivirus file supersedes the current antivirus file. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing updated antivirus files to a plurality of client computers on a local area network, the client computers being supported by a common service computer on the local area network, the common service computer being operated by a system administrator, the method for providing allowing for minimal affirmative involvement by the system administrator in updating antivirus files on the plurality of client computers, the method for providing comprising the steps of:
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storing the updated antivirus files on a central antivirus server;
transmitting the updated antivirus files from said central antivirus server to a push administration computer connected to the Internet;
transmitting the updated antivirus files from said push administration computer to said service computer using push technology; and
obtaining, from a network antivirus database, information about current antivirus files installed on each client computer; and
executing an automatic installation script at said service computer for automatically installing updated antivirus information on said plurality of client computers across the local area network, if it is determined from the retrieved information that the updated antivirus files supersede the current antivirus files on each corresponding client computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
an identifier for each of the plurality of client computers;
a first field for storing an identifier of the operating system used by each of the plurality of client computers;
a second field for storing the identity of the last updated antivirus file received by each of said plurality of computers; and
wherein said service computer transmits information from said network antivirus database to said push administration computer prior to receiving the updated antivirus files.
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14. The method of claim 12, wherein the network antivirus database comprises:
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an identifier for the local area network;
an identifier for each of the plurality of client computers on the local area network;
a first field for storing an identifier of the operating system used by each of the plurality of client computers on the local area network;
a second field for storing the identity of the last updated antivirus file received by each of said plurality of computers on the local area network.
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15. In a computer network comprising a wide area packet switched network, a first computer coupled to the packet switched network, and a second computer intermittently coupled to the packet-switched network, a method for providing an updated antivirus file from the first computer to the second computer in a manner which is transparent to a user of the second computer, comprising the steps of:
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at the first computer, executing a first program for detecting when said second computer is connected to said packet switched network;
when the second computer is connected to the packet-switched network, transmitting a first signal from the second computer to the first computer indicating that the second computer is connected to the packet-switched network;
retrieving at the first computer, from an antivirus update database, information about a current antivirus file installed on the second computer to determine whether said second computer has received the most recently updated antivirus file; and
if, based on said retrieved information, said second computer has not received the most recently updated antivirus file, transmitting said most recently updated antivirus file from the first computer to the second computer across the packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for providing antivirus files to a plurality of client computers connected to a first network, the client computers being connected to a common service computer also connected to said first network, the method for providing comprising:
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installing a first set of antivirus files on each of said plurality of client computers;
storing a second set of antivirus files on a central antivirus server, at least one of said second set of antivirus files comprising an updated version of at least one of said antivirus files in said first set;
transmitting the second set of antivirus files from said central antivirus server to a push administration computer connected to the internet;
maintaining in an antivirus update database associated with one of the central antivirus server and the push administration computer, information reflective of which antivirus files are to be updated on each of said plurality of client computers, and when each of said antivirus files on each of the computers was last updated;
transmitting the second set of antivirus files from said push administration computer to said service computer using push technology; and
executing an installation script at said service computer to automatically install said second set of antivirus files on said plurality of client computers across said first network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for providing antivirus files to a client computer connected to the internet via an internet service provider, the method for providing comprising:
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installing a first set of antivirus files on said client computer;
storing a second set of antivirus files on a central antivirus server, at least one of said second set of antivirus files comprising an updated version of at least one of said antivirus files in said first set;
transmitting the second set of antivirus files from said central antivirus server to a push administration computer connected to the internet;
maintaining in an antivirus update database associated with one of the central antivirus server and the push administration computer, information reflective of which antivirus files are to be updated on the client computer, and when each of said antivirus files on said client computer was last updated;
transmitting the second set of antivirus files from said push administration computer to said client computer using push technology; and
automatically installing said second set of antivirus files on said client computer. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for providing antivirus files to a client computer connected to the internet, the method comprising:
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installing a first set of antivirus files on said client computer;
storing a second set of antivirus files on a central antivirus server, at least one of said second set of antivirus files comprising an updated version of at least one of said antivirus files in said first set;
transmitting the second set of antivirus files from said central antivirus server to a push administration computer connected to the internet;
maintaining in an antivirus update database not associated with the client computer, information reflective of which antivirus files are to be updated on the client computer, and when each of said antivirus files on said client computer was last updated;
transmitting the second set of antivirus files from said push administration computer to said client computer using push technology; and
automatically installing said second set of antivirus files on said client computer if, based on information retrieved from said antivirus update database, the second set of antivirus files supersedes said first set of antivirus files. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification