Remote computer capabilities querying and certification
First Claim
1. A method of querying a client computer by a server over a communication network to determine whether said client computer has sufficient performance capability in order to utilize an on-line service, comprising:
- allowing a query program to be downloaded to said client computer, said query program, upon execution, querying said client computer for at least one performance parameter;
transmitting said at least one performance parameter to said server;
determining whether said client computer has a sufficient performance capability to utilize said on-line service based on said at least one performance parameter; and
storing a certification file in said client computer only if said client computer is determined to have said sufficient performance capability, said certification file being accessible by said server.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote client computer performance/compatibility querying and certification system allows a server to remotely gather performance/capability information from a client computer, such as its processor class or family, display resolution capability, installed software components, peripheral devices, or the type and version of its operating system, and determine whether it is capable of accessing and utilizing an on-line service via a communication network. The performance/capability information is gathered using a querying program downloaded from the server and running on the client computer. The querying program queries the system/component registry of the client computer'"'"'s operating system using, e.g., one or more application program interface function calls. The gathered performance/capability information is used to, e.g., pre-certify the client computer before utilizing the on-line service, determine whether the user desires to purchase software on-line, and/or provide an expert technician information regarding the client computer'"'"'s installed software/hardware components during an on-line technical support session.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of querying a client computer by a server over a communication network to determine whether said client computer has sufficient performance capability in order to utilize an on-line service, comprising:
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allowing a query program to be downloaded to said client computer, said query program, upon execution, querying said client computer for at least one performance parameter; transmitting said at least one performance parameter to said server; determining whether said client computer has a sufficient performance capability to utilize said on-line service based on said at least one performance parameter; and storing a certification file in said client computer only if said client computer is determined to have said sufficient performance capability, said certification file being accessible by said server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method of querying a client computer by a server over a communication network to determine whether said client computer has sufficient performance capability in order to utilize an on-line service, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:
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allowing a query program to be downloaded to said client computer, said query program, upon execution, querying said client computer for at least one performance parameter; transmitting said at least one performance parameter to said server; determining whether said client computer has a sufficient performance capability to utilize said on-line service based on said at least one performance parameter; and storing a certification file in said client computer only if said client computer is determined to have said sufficient performance capability, said certification file being accessible by said server. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for remotely querying a client computer by a server over a communication network, comprising:
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a communication network; and a server configured to allow a query program to be downloaded to said client computer, said query program, upon execution, querying said client computer for at least one performance parameter, said server further configured to receive said at least one performance parameter from said querying program, to determine whether said client computer has a sufficient performance capability to utilize an on-line service based on said at least one performance parameter, and to store a certification file in said client computer only if said client computer is determined to have said sufficient performance capability, said certification file being accessible by said server. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification