System and method for passive detection and context sensitive notification of upgrade availability for computer information
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- checking by a processor, via an input/output device, a network resource to determine whether an upgrade for a software component is available, where the upgrade for the software component is available is identified by a universal resource locator for the network resource in a file in the software component, the file in the software component having been installed on the computer during an installation of the software component;
when the upgrade is available for the software component, recording by the processor, in a data storage device, an indicator indicating that the upgrade is available for the software component;
displaying by the processor, on a display device, a notification that the upgrade is available for the software component;
andupon receiving a request from a user for the installation of the upgrade for the software component, replacing by the processor a recorded resource identification with an identification of a new network resource at which a subsequent upgrade will be made available; and
downloading and installing by the processor the upgrade for the software component.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor upgrade availability for computer information on a user'"'"'s computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user'"'"'s computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user'"'"'s computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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checking by a processor, via an input/output device, a network resource to determine whether an upgrade for a software component is available, where the upgrade for the software component is available is identified by a universal resource locator for the network resource in a file in the software component, the file in the software component having been installed on the computer during an installation of the software component; when the upgrade is available for the software component, recording by the processor, in a data storage device, an indicator indicating that the upgrade is available for the software component; displaying by the processor, on a display device, a notification that the upgrade is available for the software component; and upon receiving a request from a user for the installation of the upgrade for the software component, replacing by the processor a recorded resource identification with an identification of a new network resource at which a subsequent upgrade will be made available; and downloading and installing by the processor the upgrade for the software component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a processor; an input/output device; and a display device; wherein the processor, the display device, and the input/output device are configured to perform operations for; checking a network resource to determine whether an upgrade for a software component is available, where the upgrade for the software component is available is identified by a universal resource locator for the network resource in a file in the software component, the file in the software component having been installed on the computer during an installation of the software component; when an upgrade is available for the software component, recording an indicator indicating that the upgrade is available for the software component; displaying by the processor, on a display device, a notification that the upgrade is available for the software component; and upon receiving a request from a user for the installation of the upgrade for the software component, replacing by the processor a recorded resource identification with an identification of a new network resource at which a subsequent upgrade will be made available; and downloading and installing by the processor the upgrade for the software component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer-readable information storage device having computer-readable program instructions and a software component recorded thereon, said program instructions, when executed by a processor in a computer, cause the processor to:
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check a network resource to determine whether an upgrade for the software component is available, where the upgrade for the software component is available is identified by a universal resource locator for the network resource in a file in the software component, the file in the software component having been installed on the computer during an installation of the software component; when an upgrade is available for the software component, record an indicator indicating that the upgrade is available for the software component; displaying by the processor, on a display device, a notification that the upgrade is available for the software component; and upon receiving a request from a user for the installation of the upgrade for the software component, replacing by the processor a recorded resource identification with an identification of a new network resource at which a subsequent upgrade will be made available; and downloading and installing by the processor the upgrade for the software component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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checking by a processor, via an input/output device, a network resource to determine whether an upgrade for a software component is available; when the upgrade is available for the software component, recording by the processor, in a data storage device, an indicator indicating that the upgrade is available for the software component; displaying by the processor, on a display device, a notification that the upgrade is available for the software component; upon receiving an override request from a user, setting by the processor, a delay time during which a subsequent notification that the upgrade is available is not to be displayed; upon receiving a request from the user for the installation of the upgrade for the software component, replacing by the processor a recorded resource identification with an identification of a new network resource at which a subsequent upgrade will be made available; and downloading and installing by the processor the upgrade for the software component.
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Specification