Automated updates of software and systems

• US 20040123283A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Mark S., Miller, Grant D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

These and other objectives are attained with a method and system for updating software applications or systems on a target client. The method comprises the steps of providing the target client with an update manager; and using the update manager to initiate a procedure to compare the level of software or services on the target client with the level of software or services available on a specified server to determine if an update is available on the server for the software or services on the target client. If an update is available, the update is copied from the server to the target client. Preferably, the update manager registers with the server manger to have a specified one or more of the applications or systems updated. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses information that currently exists with the customer and vendor that can make the update process ore automated.

Claims

1. A method of updating software applications or systems on a target client, comprising the steps of:

providing the target client with an update manager;

using the update manager to initiate a procedure to compare the level of software or services on the target client with the level of software or services available on a specified server to determine if an update is available on the server for the software or services on the target client; and

if an update is available, copying the update from the server to the target client.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the update manager registering with the server manger to have a specified one or more of the applications or systems updated.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of maintaining on the server a list identifying, for each of a set of clients, the updates to which the client is entitled.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

the using step includes the step of, if the update manager determines that a particular update is available for one of the applications or services on the target client, the update manager sending to the server a request for said particular update;

in response to receiving said request, the server checking said list to determine if the target client is entitled to said particular update; and

the copying step includes the step of copying the particular update from the server to the target client only if the target client is entitled to said particular update.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

the step of sending to the server a request for said particular update includes the step of, the update manager issuing a certificate authenticating the type of service stored on the target client; and

the copying step includes the step of the server issuing to the target client a ticket for said particular update.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of using the update manager includes the step of using the update manager to check, at defined times, for updates on the server to applications or services on the target client.

7. A system for updating software applications or systems on a target client, comprising:

an update manager located on the target client, and including means to initiate a procedure to compare the level of software or services on the target client with the level of software or services available on a specified server to determine if an update is available on the server for the software or services on the target client; and

means on said server for copying the update from the server to the target client if the update is available.

8. A system according to claim 7, the update manager includes means for registering with the server manger to have a specified one or more of the applications or systems on the target client updated.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the server includes mans for maintaining a list identifying, for each of a set of clients, the updates to which the client is entitled.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein:

if the update manager determines that a particular update is available for one of the applications or services on the target client, the update manager sends to the server a request for said particular update;

in response to receiving said request, the server checks said list to determine if the target client is entitled to said particular update; and

the server copies the particular update from the server to the target client only if the target client is entitled to said particular update.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein:

the update manager issues to the server a certificate authenticating the type of services stored on the target client; and

the means for copying includes means for issuing to the target client a ticket for said particular update.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the update manager includes means to check, at defined times, for updates on the server to applications or services on the target client.

13. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for updating software applications or systems on a target client, said method steps comprising:

using an update manager on the target client to initiate a procedure to compare the level of software or services on the target client with the level of software or services available on a specified server to determine if an update is available on the server for the software or services on the target client; and

if an update is available, copying the update from the server to the target client.

14. A program storage device according to claim 13, wherein said method steps further comprise the step of using the update manager to register with the server to have a specified one or more of the applications or systems updated.

15. A program storage device according to claim 14, wherein said method steps further comprise the step of maintaining on the server a list identifying, for each of a set of clients, the updates to which the client is entitled.

16. A program storage device according to claim 15, wherein:

the using step includes the step of, if the update manager determines that a particular update is available for one of the applications or services on the target client, using the update manager to send to the server a request for said particular update;

in response to receiving said request, the server checking said list to determine if the target client is entitled to said particular update; and

the copying step includes the step of copying the particular update from the server to the target client only if the target client is entitled to said particular update.

17. A program storage device according to claim 16, wherein:

the step of sending to the server a request for said particular update includes the step of, using the update manager to issue a certificate authenticating the type of service stored on the target client; and

the copying step includes the step of using the server to issue to the target client a ticket for said particular update.

18. A program storage device according to claim 13, wherein the step of using the update manager includes the step of using the update manager to check, at defined times, for updates on the server to applications or services on the target client.