Software and method that enables selection of one of a plurality of online service providers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for updating software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
- upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station;
in response to polling the remote source for the availability of an update, receiving a notification from the remote source of the availability of an update;
in response to the notification indicating that an update is available, requesting confirmation to obtain the update; and
obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network in response to confirmation to obtain the update.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Software stored on a computer-readable storage medium at a user station provides a plurality of functions including an online service selector function that enables a user at the user station to select any one of a plurality of available online service providers, and a communications function that establishes a communication link between the user station and the selected one of the available online service providers. Corresponding methods for operating a user station are also described.
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Citations
72 Claims
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1. A method for updating software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station;
in response to polling the remote source for the availability of an update, receiving a notification from the remote source of the availability of an update;in response to the notification indicating that an update is available, requesting confirmation to obtain the update; and obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network in response to confirmation to obtain the update. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for updating software installed on a user station by obtaining updates from a remote source via a communications network including the Internet, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the user station polling the remote source to check for the availability of an update for the software installed on the user station, wherein the polling is performed transparently to at least one software entity running at the user station; in response to polling the remote source for the availability of an update, receiving a notification from the remote source of the availability of an update; in response to the notification indicating that an update is available, requesting confirmation to obtain the update; obtaining the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to confirmation to obtain the update; requesting confirmation to install the obtained update; and installing the obtained update in response to confirmation to install the obtained update. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for updating software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; in response to polling the remote source for the availability of an update, receiving a notification from the remote source of the availability of an update; in response to the notification indicating that an update is available, requesting confirmation to obtain the update; obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network in response to confirmation to obtain the update; requesting confirmation to install the obtained update; and installing the obtained update in response to confirmation to install the update. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for updating software installed on a user station using a self-updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the self-updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the self-updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; in response to polling the remote source for the availability of an update, receiving a notification from the remote source of the availability of an update; in response to the notification indicating that an update is available, requesting confirmation to obtain the update; obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network in response to confirmation to obtain the update; and enabling updating of the self-updating software entity without requiring confirmation to update the self-updating software entity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for updating software installed on a user station using a self-updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the self-updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the self-updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; in response to polling the remote source for the availability of an update, receiving a notification from the remote source of the availability of an update; in response to the notification indicating that an update is available, requesting confirmation to obtain the update; obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network in response to confirmation to obtain the update; requesting confirmation to install the obtained update; installing the obtained update in response to confirmation to install the update; and enabling updating of the self-updating software entity without requiring confirmation to update the self-updating software entity. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for updating software installed on a user station by obtaining updates from a remote source via a communications network including the Internet, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the user station polling the remote source to check for the availability of an update, wherein the polling is performed transparently to at least one software entity running at the user station; in response to the update being available, obtaining the update from the remote source via the communications network; and installing the obtained update. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for updating software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; in response to the update being available, obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network; requesting confirmation to install the obtained update; and installing the obtained update in response to confirmation to install the obtained update. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for updating software installed on a user station using a self-updating software entity located at the user station, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, the self-updating software entity at the user station polling a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station, wherein the self-updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; in response to the update being available, obtaining the update from the remote source via a communications network; requesting confirmation to install the obtained update; installing the obtained update in response to confirmation to install the obtained update; and enabling the updating of the self-updating software entity without requiring confirmation to update the self-updating software entity. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for updating software installed on a user station by installing updates received from remote sources via a communications network including the Internet, comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, polling at least one of the remote sources to check for the availability of an update; in response to the update being available, seeking input to obtain the update; communicating with at least one of the remote sources to receive the update in response to the input; requesting confirmation to install the received update; and installing the received update, based on a condition. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for enabling the updating software entity to poll a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; second program code for enabling the updating software entity to notify the user station of the availability of the update in response to the update being available; third program code for enabling the updating software entity to request confirmation from the user station to obtain the update; and fourth program code for enabling the updating software entity to obtain the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to the user station confirmation. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station by obtaining updates from a remote source via a communications network including the Internet, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for polling the remote source to check for the availability of an update for the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the polling is performed transparently to at least one software entity running at the user station; second program code for notifying a user of the availability of the update in response to the update being available; third program code for requesting confirmation from the user to obtain the update; fourth program code for obtaining the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to the user confirmation to obtain the update; fifth program code for requesting confirmation from the user to install the obtained update; and sixth program code for installing the obtained update in response to the user confirmation to install the obtained update. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for enabling the updating software entity to poll a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; second program code for enabling the updating software entity to notify a user of the availability of the update in response to the update being available; third program code for enabling the updating software entity to request confirmation from the user to obtain the update; fourth program code for enabling the updating software entity to obtain the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to user confirmation to obtain the update; fifth program code for enabling the updating software entity to request confirmation from the user to install the obtained update; and sixth program code for enabling the updating software entity to install the obtained update in response to the user confirmation to install the update. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station using a self-updating software entity located at the user station, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to poll a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the self-updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; second program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to notify a user of the availability of the update in response to the update being available; third program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to request confirmation from the user to obtain the update; fourth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to obtain the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to user confirmation to obtain the update; and fifth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to update without requiring user confirmation to update the self-updating software entity. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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61. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station using a self-updating software entity located at the user station, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to poll a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the self-updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; second program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to notify a user of the availability of the update in response to the update being available; third program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to request confirmation from the user to obtain the update; fourth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to obtain the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to the user confirmation to obtain the update; fifth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to request confirmation from the user to install the obtained update; sixth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to install the obtained update in response to the user confirmation to install the update; and seventh program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to update without requiring user station confirmation to update the self-updating software entity. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station by obtaining updates from a remote source via a communications network including the Internet, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for polling the remote source to check the availability of an update for the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the polling is performed transparently to the user station; second program code for obtaining the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to the update being available; and third program code for installing the obtained update in response to user station confirmation. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station using an updating software entity located at the user station, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for enabling the updating software entity to poll a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; second program code for enabling the updating software entity to obtain the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to the update being available; third program code for enabling the updating software entity to request confirmation from a user to install the obtained update; and fourth program code for enabling the updating software entity to install the obtained update in response to the user confirmation. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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69. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station using a self-updating software entity located at the user station, the computer program logic comprising:
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first program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to poll a remote source to check for the availability of an update for at least one of multiple software entities included in the software installed on the user station upon the occurrence of a scheduled time, wherein the self-updating software entity is running in the background at the user station while at least one of the other software entities is running in the foreground at the user station; second program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to obtain the update from the remote source via the communications network in response to the update being available; third program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to request confirmation from a user to install the obtained update; fourth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to install the obtained update in response to the user confirmation; and fifth program code for enabling the self-updating software entity to update without requiring user confirmation to update the self-updating software entity. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71)
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72. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling an update to software installed on a user station by installing updates received from remote sources via a communications network including the Internet, the computer program logic comprising:
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upon occurrence of a scheduled time, first program code for polling at least one of the remote sources to check for the availability of an update for software installed on the user station; second program code for notifying a user of the availability of an update, and to seek input from the user to obtain the update; third program code for communicating with at least one of the remote sources to receive the update in response to the user input; fourth program code for requesting confirmation from the user to install the received update; and fifth program code for installing the received update, based on a condition.
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Specification