Patent US5960189A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5960189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic computer upgrading
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1998-05-11
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2018-05-11
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
2026-10-31 08:30
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: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations of: determining whether an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program; and when an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program, automatically assembling, by computer, information about whether or not the at least one upgradeable computer program should be upgraded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations of: determining whether an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program; and when an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program, automatically assembling, by computer, information about whether or not the at least one upgradeable computer program should be upgraded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the operation of automatically assembling information comprises assembling information that assists a computer system user in determining whether or not to upgrade the at least one upgradeable computer program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system comprises a server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation 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
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically determining the importance of said upgrade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically providing information to a computer system user to determine the importance of the upgrade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the operation of determining whether an upgrade is available comprises: determining which upgradeable computer programs are included on the computer system; storing information identifying the version of each of the upgradeable computer programs; and determining if any a replacement is available for any of the upgradeable computer programs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operations of: causing an old version of the at least one upgradeable computer program to be saved to the storage device; and causing the at least one upgradeable computer program to be updated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation causing the old version to be restored.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the software further executes instructions which cause the at least one upgradeable computer program to be upgraded.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the computer program is upgraded by retrieving an upgrade from a CD-ROM.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the computer program is upgraded by retrieving an upgrade from an on-line service.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically assembling information comprises retrieving information about the upgrade from an on-line service.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the step of automatically assembling information comprises retrieving information about the upgrade from a bulletin board service.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations of: determining whether an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program; retrieving upgrade information from an on-line service; and when an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program, automatically assembling, by computer, information that assists a computer system user in determining whether or not to upgrade the at least one upgradeable computer program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations of: determining whether an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program; retrieving upgrade information from an on-line service; and when an upgrade is available for the at least one upgradeable computer program, automatically assembling, by computer, information that assists a computer system user in determining whether or not to upgrade the at least one upgradeable computer program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the software further executes instructions which cause the at least one upgradeable computer program to be upgraded.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the computer program is upgraded by retrieving an upgrade from the on-line service.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the computer system comprises a server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 or not the computer system should be upgraded; and storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 or not the computer system should be upgraded; and storing on a storage medium information identifying features of a replacement version relative to another version.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically determining the importance of the replacement version.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically installing the replacement version.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of automatically installing upgrades of sufficient importance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including a number of upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 31
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including a number of upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 32
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 33
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 34
Dependent Claim
124 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 35
Dependent Claim
124 words
A computer system comprising: a storage device including one or more upgradeable computer programs stored therein; the computer system executing software to facilitate updating of at least one upgradeable computer program of the upgradeable computer programs stored in the storage device, the software executing instructions performing the operations 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 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 28 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation 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 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the software further executes instructions performing the operation of maintaining information about a plurality of resources available on the local computer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 30 wherein the information includes the name and version number of each piece of software on the local computer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the new version is downloaded from an on-line service.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the on-line service comprises a bulletin board service.
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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) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |