Asynchronous software update
First Claim
1. In a server, a method of operation comprising:
- accepting check in by a client computer at a first point in time to determine if the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated; and
providing the client computer with an update task list listing one or more tasks to be performed by the client computer asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software, if it is determined that the client computer'"'"'s software is to be updated.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A server is equipped with a distributor/updater to accept periodic check in by client computers to determine if the client computers'"'"' software needs to be updated. The distributor/updater is designed to provide each client computer, determined to require update, with a task list listing a number of tasks to be asynchronously performed at a later point or later points in time by the client computer to update the client computer'"'"'s software. The tasks may include asynchronous subsequent requests of the server or third party servers for software parts. The tasks also include installation tasks to be performed upon obtaining the required software parts. The client computer is also equipped with a complementary distributor/updater to perform the periodic check-in and to schedule the update tasks accordingly. In one embodiment, the server'"'"'s distributor/updater is also designed to be able to regulate its own workload, optionally asking parts requesting clients to retry later.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a server, a method of operation comprising:
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accepting check in by a client computer at a first point in time to determine if the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated; and providing the client computer with an update task list listing one or more tasks to be performed by the client computer asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software, if it is determined that the client computer'"'"'s software is to be updated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a client computer, a method of operation comprising:
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periodically checking in with a server to determine if the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated; receiving from the server an update task list listing one or more tasks to be performed by the client computer asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software, upon determining the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated; and performing said one or more tasks asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to accept check in by a client computer at a first point in time to determine if the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated, and to provide the client computer with an update task list listing one or more tasks to be performed by the client computer asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software, if it is determined that the client computer'"'"'s software is to be updated; and at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A client computer comprising:
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storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to periodically check in with a server to determine if the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated, to receive from the server an update task list listing one or more tasks to be performed by the client computer asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software, upon determining the client computer'"'"'s software needs to be updated, and to perform said one or more tasks asynchronously at a later point or later points in time to update the client computer'"'"'s software; and at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification