Techniques for providing software patches to a computer system

• US 8,726,260 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vanover, Michael T., Cheston, Richard W., Cromer, Daryl, Locker, Howard, Springfield, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Ziaul A
• Application Number:
  US11/944,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A technique for providing a software patch to an associated computer system includes receiving, at a wireless communication device, a communication. Next, it is determined, at the wireless communication device, whether the communication is associated with a software patch available for the associated computer system. When the communication is associated with the software patch, a notification is sent from the wireless communication device to the associated computer system that the software patch is available.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving at a computer system a notification informing the availability of a software patch for said computer system, wherein said notification is sent from a server to said computer system via a mobile telephone;

in response to the receipt of said notification, determining by said computer system, whether or not said notification includes said software patch intended for said computer system;

in response to a determination that said notification does include said software patch, transferring said software patch from said mobile telephone to said associated computer system via a wireless interface, wherein said computer system and said mobile telephone are distinct;

in response to a determination that said notification does not include said software patch, accessing said server by said computer system to download said software patch from said server to said computer system; and

updating corresponding software within said computer system with said downloaded software patch, wherein said downloaded software patch is for updating software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless interface is BLUETOOTH standard compliant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said software patch is for updating an operating system.