Software inventory control system

• US 6,332,217 B1
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HearMe (Palktalk.com)
• Original Assignee: HearMe (Palktalk.com)
• Inventors: Hastings, Lawrence C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Das, Chameli C.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/712, 395/333, 717/3, 717/11, 707/203, 707/1, 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A method for addressing problems of computer remote software configuration management is provided wherein a computer program executes a scripting language in order to examine the software installed on a computer. In the event the script determines that software needs to be downloaded, installed or configured, it causes programs to be executed to perform these functions. Such a program enables a user to consistently get correct software installed with the correct configuration for the system, thus reducing demands for technical support and the costs associated therewith.

Claims

1. A method for checking system configuratiotis on a terminal for current updated software, the method comprising:

implementing a shell around a scripting language to provide a system configuration script;

accessing the system configuration script on the terminal from an other computer coupled to the terminal via a network;

signaling the system configuration script from the other computer to examine whether a system configuration in the plurality of system configurations contains versions of software that require updating; and

reconfiguring the system configuration with updated software if the system configuration contains versions of software that require updating.

2. The method of claim 1, including using the system configuration script to determine if a file content on the terminal is outdate, and updating the content of the file if the content of the file is outdate.

3. The method of claim 1, including using the system configuration script to determine if a registry on the terminal is out-of-date, and updating the registry if the registry is out-of-date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein reconfiguring the system configuration by installing updated versions of software if the system configuration has identified incompatible versions of software upon examination of one or more executable files on the terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, including using the system configuration script to perform functions including:

determinig if a name of a file on the terminal is out of date and updating the file on the terminal; and

determining if a registry on the terminal is out of date and updating the registry on the terminal.

6. A system or checking system configurations on a terminal, the system comprising:

means for implementing a shell around a scripting language to provide a system configuration script;

means for accessing the system configuration script on the terminal from an other computer coupled to the terminal via a network;

means for signaling the system configuration script to check a system configuration in the plurality of system configurations for versions of out of date software that require updating, and;

means for reconfiguring the system configuration with consistent updated software when versions of out of date software are detected .