Software updating system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method by which a server assists client computers to install software updates comprising:
- maintaining an update catalog on the server and pushing the update catalog from the server to the client computers via a network, wherein the update catalog includes update information identifying available updates;
generating audit data on the client computers based on queries made to operating systems of client computers and queries to the update catalog sent to the client computers, wherein the audit data is generated according to a data structure, comprising;
a first data field containing data indicating a file within the client'"'"'s file configuration;
a second data field containing data indicating if an update is applicable to the file indicated in the first data field;
a third data field containing data indicating when existence of the update to the file was detected in the update catalog;
a fourth data field containing data indicating when the update to the file was authorized; and
a fifth data field containing data indicating when the update to the file was applied;
receiving, at the server, the audit data, wherein the audit data is analyzed and approved updates selected;
distributing the approved updates to the client computers; and
installing the approved updates on the client computers, wherein the installing comprises;
executing a scan tool on each client, wherein the scan tool provides a just-in-time assessment of software on the client and thereby supersedes the audit data and determines if a status of files on the client has changed; and
intersecting results of the just-in-time assessment with approved updates distributed to the client, and installing updates that are both approved by the server and indicated by the just-in-time assessment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a server/client system, configured to update client software, generates audit data by analyzing a client'"'"'s file configuration with respect to rules within an update catalog. The audit data is then moved to the server, where updates indicated by the audit data may be approved. The approved updates are then distributed from the server to the client for installation.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method by which a server assists client computers to install software updates comprising:
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maintaining an update catalog on the server and pushing the update catalog from the server to the client computers via a network, wherein the update catalog includes update information identifying available updates; generating audit data on the client computers based on queries made to operating systems of client computers and queries to the update catalog sent to the client computers, wherein the audit data is generated according to a data structure, comprising; a first data field containing data indicating a file within the client'"'"'s file configuration; a second data field containing data indicating if an update is applicable to the file indicated in the first data field; a third data field containing data indicating when existence of the update to the file was detected in the update catalog; a fourth data field containing data indicating when the update to the file was authorized; and a fifth data field containing data indicating when the update to the file was applied; receiving, at the server, the audit data, wherein the audit data is analyzed and approved updates selected; distributing the approved updates to the client computers; and installing the approved updates on the client computers, wherein the installing comprises; executing a scan tool on each client, wherein the scan tool provides a just-in-time assessment of software on the client and thereby supersedes the audit data and determines if a status of files on the client has changed; and intersecting results of the just-in-time assessment with approved updates distributed to the client, and installing updates that are both approved by the server and indicated by the just-in-time assessment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method by which one or more servers assists client computers to install software updates comprising:
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pushing an update catalog from the server to the clients via a network, wherein the update catalog includes update information identifying available updates, including indicia of files to which the available updates apply, wherein the update information can be compared by the clients to inventory thereof to identify updates individually applicable to the clients; receiving, from the clients, audit data identifying candidate updates individually applicable to the respective clients, the audit data having been generated by automated tools at the clients that perform audits of the clients by comparing inventory of the client computers against the update information in the catalog, wherein the audit data is generated according to a data structure, comprising; a first data field containing data indicating a file within the client'"'"'s file configuration; a second data field containing data indicating if an update is applicable to the file indicated in the first data field; a third data field containing data indicating when existence of the update to the file was detected in the update catalog; a fourth data field containing data indicating when the update to the file was authorized; and a fifth data field containing data indicating when the update to the file was applied; determining, at the one or more servers, based on the audit data from the clients, which candidate updates to push to which of the clients; and pushing to the clients installable updates that correspond to the determined candidate updates, where one or more updates sent to a client correspond to one or more candidate updates identified by that client and determined for installation by the one or more servers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification