US5809287A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic computer upgrading
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1996-12-17
•
Granted: 1998-09-15
•
Expires: 2016-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Stupek, Jr.
- 👤 David Scott Shaffer
- 👤 Curtis R. Jones
- 👤 Steve Davis
- 👤 William D. Justice, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; G06F8/658; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource, comprising digitally storing, on a portable medium, the later version of the resource and upgrade information which identifies the later version, describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, identifies the location of the resource on the portable medium, provides instructions for installation of the resource, describes reasons for the later version, indicates the type of change from a prior version to a later version, and indicates the importance of the change from a prior version to the later version, digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade, and automatically performing the upgrade.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource, comprising digitally storing, on a portable medium, the later version of the resource and upgrade information which identifies the later version, describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, identifies the location of the resource on the portable medium, provides instructions for installation of the resource, describes reasons for the later version, indicates the type of change from a prior version to a later version, and indicates the importance of the change from a prior version to the later version, digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade, and automatically performing the upgrade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-implemented method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; and when an upgrade is available for a resource, automatically assembling, by computer, information about whether or not the computer system should be upgraded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-implemented method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; and when an upgrade is available for a resource, automatically assembling, by computer, information about whether or not the computer system should be upgraded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 including the steps of storing information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version of a resource and storing instructions for automatically installing the replacement version.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of automatically determining the importance of said upgrade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of automatically determining the importance of said replacement version.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of automatically providing information to the computer system user to determine the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of storing on said medium, instructions for automatically installing the replacement version.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of storing on said medium, information about the importance of features of said replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the computer system comprises a server.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining whether an upgrade is available comprises: determining which resources are included on the computer system, storing information identifying the version of each of the resources; and determining if any a replacement is available for any of the resources.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of providing information about resource replacements for computer systems comprising the steps of storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version, and storing on a storage medium instructions for automatically installing said replacement version.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of providing information about resource replacements for computer systems comprising the steps of storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version, and storing on a storage medium instructions for automatically installing said replacement version.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 including the step of storing, on said storage medium, information about the importance of said features of said replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 including the step of digitally storing on said storage medium information that identifies the replacement version and describes features of the replacement version relative to other versions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16 including the step of storing on said storage medium at least one copy of a replacement version of a resource.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for providing information about upgrades for resources on computer systems, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting information to a computer for determining by computer whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; assembling information identifying features of a replacement version of the computer system resource relative to another version; and transmitting said information to said computer system to enable said system to assemble information about whether said resource should be upgraded.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for providing information about upgrades for resources on computer systems, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting information to a computer for determining by computer whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; assembling information identifying features of a replacement version of the computer system resource relative to another version; and transmitting said information to said computer system to enable said system to assemble information about whether said resource should be upgraded.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said information is transmitted by telephone lines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20 including the steps of storing information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version of a resource and storing instructions for automatically installing the replacement version.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of automatically determining the importance of said upgrade.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 including the step of automatically determining the importance of said replacement version.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of automatically providing information to the computer system user to determine the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 including the step of storing on said medium, instructions for automatically installing the replacement version.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 27 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 28 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 28 including the step of storing on said medium, information about the importance of features of said replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of transmitting said upgrade to said computer system over the telephone lines.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling by computer information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling by computer information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 including the step of automatically determining the importance of the replacement version.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 34 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 including the step of storing instructions for automatically installing the replacement version.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling by computer information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically determining the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling by computer information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically determining the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 38 including the step of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling, by computer, information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically providing information to a computer system user to determine the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling, by computer, information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically providing information to a computer system user to determine the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling, by computer, information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for facilitating computer resource updating, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an upgrade is available for a computer system resource; when an upgrade is available for a resource, assembling, by computer, information about whether the computer system should be upgraded; and automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for updating a resource at a local computer, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a resource to be updated at the local computer; assembling, by computer, information identifying features of a replacement version of the resource relative to another version, saving an old version of the computer resource to a storage medium at the local computer; coupling the computer to a remote computer; and updating the resource from the old version to a new version by downloading the new version from the remote computer to the local computer.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for updating a resource at a local computer, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a resource to be updated at the local computer; assembling, by computer, information identifying features of a replacement version of the resource relative to another version, saving an old version of the computer resource to a storage medium at the local computer; coupling the computer to a remote computer; and updating the resource from the old version to a new version by downloading the new version from the remote computer to the local computer.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 42 and further comprising the step of downgrading the computer resource from the new version back to the old version, the old version being accessed from the storage medium at the local computer.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 42 and further comprising the step of maintaining information about a plurality of resources available on the local computer.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the information includes the name and version number of each piece of software on the local computer.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the new version is downloaded from an on-line service.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 46 wherein the on-line service comprises a bulletin board service.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for automatically updating software on a computer, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining information about each of a plurality of resources within the computer, the information including the name and version number of a plurality of pieces of software; storing information about an upgrade available for at least one of the plurality of resources; informing a user of the computer about the availability of the upgrade; informing the user of the reasons for the upgrade; providing an option of storing an old version of the resource to a storage medium at the computer; retrieving the upgrade from a remote location; and installing the upgrade.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for automatically updating software on a computer, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining information about each of a plurality of resources within the computer, the information including the name and version number of a plurality of pieces of software; storing information about an upgrade available for at least one of the plurality of resources; informing a user of the computer about the availability of the upgrade; informing the user of the reasons for the upgrade; providing an option of storing an old version of the resource to a storage medium at the computer; retrieving the upgrade from a remote location; and installing the upgrade.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 48 and further comprising the step of allowing the user to decide whether to install the upgrade.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the step of installing the upgrade is done automatically.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the step of installing the upgrade is done manually.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 48 and further comprising the step of determining a time to perform the step of installing the upgrade and then waiting until that time before beginning the step of installing the upgrade.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the step of retrieving the upgrade from a remote location comprises retrieving the upgrade from an on-line service.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 53 wherein on-line service comprises a bulletin board service.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
186 words
Computer software for automatically updating software on a computer, the computer software comprising: a set of computer instructions stored in a software storage medium for maintaining information about each of a plurality of resources within the computer, the information including the name and version number of a plurality of pieces of software; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for storing information about an upgrade available for at least one of the plurality of resources; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for informing a user of the computer about the availability of the upgrade; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for informing the user of the reasons for the upgrade; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for optionally storing an old version of the resource to a storage medium at the computer; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for retrieving the upgrade from an on-line service; and a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for installing the upgrade.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
186 words
Computer software for automatically updating software on a computer, the computer software comprising: a set of computer instructions stored in a software storage medium for maintaining information about each of a plurality of resources within the computer, the information including the name and version number of a plurality of pieces of software; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for storing information about an upgrade available for at least one of the plurality of resources; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for informing a user of the computer about the availability of the upgrade; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for informing the user of the reasons for the upgrade; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for optionally storing an old version of the resource to a storage medium at the computer; a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for retrieving the upgrade from an on-line service; and a set of computer instructions stored in the software storage medium for installing the upgrade.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |