Program-update priotization according to program-usage tracking

• US 20050091651A1
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Campbell, Bruce Neil, Curtis, James Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

An update website prioritizes updates available for an application (e.g., a word-processing program or a fault-tolerance program) running on a user computer system. Prioritization is in part a function of usage data gathered on the user computer system by a usage-tracking module of the application. The usage data is transferred to the update site and parameters relevant to prioritization are evaluated. The parameter values are then used for prioritization. The usage data can also be compiled with data from other users to guide further development of the application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

launching an application;

tracking usage of said application so as to generate usage data;

accessing an update site;

transferring said usage data to said update site;

prioritizing updates at least in part as a function of said usage data.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising presenting said list of updates to a user.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said user selects one or more of said updates for said application.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said selected ones of said updates are installed so as to modify said application.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein further development of said application is directed in part as a function of said usage data.

6. A software program set on computer readable media, said software program set comprising:

a usage data evaluator for evaluating raw usage data received from a user computer system regarding a version of a software application installed thereon, said usage data evaluator providing evaluated usage data; and

an update prioritizer for prioritizing updates available for said version at least in part as a function of said evaluated usage data.

7. A software program set as recited in claim 6 further comprising a web interface for presenting said prioritized list to a user of said user computer system.

8. A software program set as recited in claim 6 wherein said web interface presents said available updates in a list and specifies, for at least some of said updates, advantages over said version of said application.

9. A software program set as recited in claim 6 further comprising a usage-tracking module installed on said user computer system.

10. A software program set as recited in claim 9 wherein said usage-tracking module is integrated with said version of said application.