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It seems like anyone doing automatic software updates is in violation of "Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote compu
by jimfl 16y ago
It seems like anyone doing automatic software updates is in violation of "Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote computer."
When a user accesses the remote update service, an update service computer conducts an automatic inventory of the computer software on the user computer. The data collected from the inventory of the user computer software is then used to make comparisons to database entries from a database on the update service computer. The database entries contain information about computer software available on the update service computer. The comparison is conducted to identify software available from the remote update service that might be appropriate for installation on the user computer (i.e. new computer software, new versions of existing computer software, patches or fixes for existing computer software, new help files, etc.). After the comparison is completed, the update service computer makes the computer software stored at the remote update service computer available to the user.
- _delirium 16y agoThe claims don't make it look too much better, either. Here's claim 21: A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a first computer, the method comprising: establishing communications with a second computer over a network to determine whether computer software not installed on the first computer is available for installation on the first computer; responsive to determining computer software not installed on the first computer is available for installation on the first computer, presenting a list at the first computer displaying the computer software not installed on the first computer and available for installation on the first computer; from the list displaying the computer software not installed on the first computer and available for installation on the first computer, accepting a selection selected at the first computer indicating computer software to be downloaded and installed on the first computer; and to the first computer, downloading the computer software to be downloaded and installed on the first computer. The later claims clarify that upgrades count as well. I could be missing something, but sounds awfully close to a description of Debian's 'aptitude' and 'dselect'?
- jonhohle 16y agoIt seems from these blurbs that the server has more logic than something most distopros have. The typical unix model is to publish an index and have each commuter determine its own updates, rather than having the server determine anything about the client.