Software and hardware component audit and inventory management system
First Claim
1. An inventory agent for use in a target device accessible to a data network, the inventory agent comprising:
- a receiver for receiving an inventory-commence message from a client computer through the data network;
a detector for detecting inventory associated with the target device; and
a transmitter for transmitting to a host unit through the data network an inventory-data message including inventory data associated with the target device.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for computer device component audit and inventory management operates in a data network and includes an inventory agent installed on a target computer device for detecting and compiling software and hardware inventory data associated with the target device. An inventory-commence message is deployed through an electronic message handling system, operable on the data network, which requests inventory data from the inventory agent which then compiles the inventory data into executable language statements for incorporation into a host database accessible by a client. Multiple reports may be generated regarding the inventory data. Fees may not be charged for aggregate inventory data. The system provides a client with the ability to remotely request, compile, analyze and report inventory data from target devices that do not necessarily have access to the data network at the time of the inventory request.
47 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An inventory agent for use in a target device accessible to a data network, the inventory agent comprising:
-
a receiver for receiving an inventory-commence message from a client computer through the data network;
a detector for detecting inventory associated with the target device; and
a transmitter for transmitting to a host unit through the data network an inventory-data message including inventory data associated with the target device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A host unit, for use in a host computer, for use in a component audit and inventory management system accessible to a data network, the host computer comprising a computer processor, memory, and user interface, the host unit comprising:
-
a transmitter for transmitting, via the data network, an inventory-commence message to a client computer, the inventory-commence message for activating an inventory agent installed on a target device; and
a receiver for receiving, via the data network, an inventory-data message from the inventory agent, the inventory-data message including inventory data associated with the target device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A computer program product comprising a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein for detecting and compiling inventory data associated with a target device comprising:
-
code for receiving an inventory-commence message from a client computer through a data network;
code for detecting inventory associated with the target device; and
code for transmitting to a host unit through the data network an inventory-data message including inventory data associated with the target device.
-
-
17. A system for remote component audit and inventory management for operation in a data network comprising:
-
a host unit for use in a host computer, the host computer comprising a processor, memory, and user interface;
a client computer for requesting inventory information;
a target device characterized as a source of inventory data; and
an inventory agent for installation on the target device and for receiving an inventory-commence message via the data network from the client computer and for detecting inventory data associated with the target device and for sending an inventory-data message including the inventory data via the data network to the host unit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method for component audit and inventory management for operation in a data network comprising the steps of:
-
sending, by a client computer to a target device via the data network, an inventory-commence message capable of activating an inventory agent installed within the target device;
detecting, by the inventory agent, inventory data associated with the target device; and
delivering, by the inventory agent to a host unit via the data network, an inventory-data message including the inventory data associated with the target device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method for component audit and inventory management for operation in a target device accessible to a data network comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an inventory-commence message from a client computer through the data network;
detecting inventory associated with the target device; and
transmitting to a host unit through the data network an inventory-data message including inventory data associated with the target device.
-
Specification