System and method for providing computer upgrade information

• US 7,117,355 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Upgradedetect Incorporated d/b/a Goldenram
• Inventors: Zomaya, Christ J., Berry, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US10/914,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which provide upgrade information for at least one client computer. The method includes the steps of detecting a current hardware configuration of the client computer, cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered during the detecting step with product specifications contained in a database, identifying an upgrade package for upgrading the client computer, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered during the detecting step and cross-referenced with the product specification database, and recommending use of the upgrade package for upgrading the client computer. The system and method may be used to provide upgrade information for a plurality of networked computers.

Claims

1. A method of providing upgrade information for a client computer comprising the steps of:

detecting a current hardware configuration of the client computer;

cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered during the detecting step with product specifications contained in a database;

identifying an upgrade package for upgrading the client computer, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered during the detecting step and cross-referenced with the product specification database; and

recommending use of the upgrade package for upgrading the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the upgrade is further based at least in part on a target hardware configuration.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the target hardware configuration is selected by a user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the target hardware configuration is automatically generated from a data source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the current hardware configuration of the client computer is performed using software running on the client computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the current hardware configuration of the client computer is performed using software running on a server connected to the client computer via a network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the current hardware configuration is initiated at the request of a user of the client computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is initiated via an active link on a website.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recommending a software upgrade.

10. A method of providing upgrade information for a plurality of networked computers comprising the steps of:

detecting a current hardware configuration of the plurality of networked computers;

cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered during the detecting step for each of the plurality of networked computers with product specifications contained in a database;

identifying an upgrade package for at least some of the plurality of networked computers, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered during the detecting step and cross-referenced with the product specification database; and

recommending use of the upgrade package for at least some of the plurality of networked computers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of identifying the upgrade package is further based at least in part on a target hardware configuration.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the target hardware configuration is selected by a user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the target hardware configuration is automatically generated from a data source.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a single target hardware configuration is established for each of the plurality of networked computers.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of detecting the current hardware configuration is initiated at the request of a user of one of the plurality of networked computers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user is a network administrator.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is initiated via an active link on a website.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of packaging one or more hardware components of the upgrade package, wherein a single package is used for each computer in the plurality of networked computers where upgrading was recommended.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the package is marked to identify the specific computer where upgrading was recommended.

20. A system comprising modules stored on a computer readable medium for providing upgrade information for at least one client computer comprising:

a detect module for detecting a current hardware configuration of the at least one client computer;

a cross-referencing module for cross-referencing at least some of the information gathered by the detect module with product specifications contained in a database;

a compare module for comparing the current hardware configuration to a target hardware configuration to identify an upgrade package for upgrading the at least one client computer, wherein the identification of the upgrade package is based at least partially upon the information gathered by the detect module and cross-referencing module; and

a recommend module for recommending use of the upgrade package for upgrading the at least one client computer.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one client computer comprises a plurality of networked computers.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the detect module, the cross-referencing module, the compare module, and the recommend module are embodied in an executable computer program.