US6192518B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for distributing software over network links via electronic mail
Assignee: Channel Ip BV
•
Filing: 1998-01-22
•
Granted: 2001-02-20
•
Expires: 2018-01-22
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for distributing a software application residing on a network, from a source computer coupled to the network, to a remote computer via electronic mail. At the source computer, the present invention identifies the software installation components that reside on the source computer. These software installation components are used to install the software application. The identified software installation components are compared to the remote computer's software installation components. This comparison determines which software installation components are missing from the remote computer. To provide the files required for installation of the software application, the present invention transfers the missing software installation components from the source computer to the remote computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Edward Neal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; G06F8/658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for distributing a software application residing on a network from a source computer coupled to the network to one or more remote computers, comprising the steps of: at the source computer, identifying one or more software installation components, wherein the software installation components are used to install the software application; comparing the identified software installation components to each of the remote computer's software installation components, wherein the comparison determines which of the identified software installation components are absent from each remote computer; sending the absent software installation components from the source computer to each remote computer that lacks the absent software installation components; maintaining a description of the identified software installation components on each remote computer; comparing periodically the description of the identified software installation components to each remote computer's software installation components wherein this periodic comparison identifies one or mere changes made to each remote computer's software installation components and identifies the absent software installation components; requesting the software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer; and re-sending the requested software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer to each remote computer, after changes have been made to the software installation components of each remote computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for distributing a software application residing on a network from a source computer coupled to the network to one or more remote computers, comprising the steps of: at the source computer, identifying one or more software installation components, wherein the software installation components are used to install the software application; comparing the identified software installation components to each of the remote computer's software installation components, wherein the comparison determines which of the identified software installation components are absent from each remote computer; sending the absent software installation components from the source computer to each remote computer that lacks the absent software installation components; maintaining a description of the identified software installation components on each remote computer; comparing periodically the description of the identified software installation components to each remote computer's software installation components wherein this periodic comparison identifies one or mere changes made to each remote computer's software installation components and identifies the absent software installation components; requesting the software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer; and re-sending the requested software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer to each remote computer, after changes have been made to the software installation components of each remote computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending step comprises sending the software installation components via an electronic mail system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending step comprises sending the software installation components via a modem connected to the network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the identified software installation components can be represented as a snapshot or a textual list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of dividing the software installation components into at least two packages when the identified software installation components comprise one or more file images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one remote computer is a laptop computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one remote computer is a personal digital assistant.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for distributing a software application residing on a network, from a source computer coupled to the network, to one or more remote computers that are not coupled to the network, comprising: (a) a computer; (b) means, performed by the computer for identifying one or more software installation components that reside on the source computer, wherein the software installation components are used to install the software application; (c) means, performed by the computer for comparing the identified software installation components to each of the remote computer's software installation components, wherein the comparison determines which of the identified software installation components are absent from each remote computer; (d) means, performed by the computer for sending the absent software installation components from the source computer to each remote computer that lacks the absent software installation components; (e) means, for maintaining a description of the identified software installation components on each remote computer; (f) means, performed by each remote computer for comparing periodically the description of the identified software installation components to each remote computer's software installation components, wherein this periodic comparison identifies one or more changes made to each remote computer's software installation components and identifies the absent software installation components; (g) means, performed by each remote computer for requesting the software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer; and (h) means, for re-sending the requested software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer to each remote computer, after changes have been made to the software installation components of each remote computer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for distributing a software application residing on a network, from a source computer coupled to the network, to one or more remote computers that are not coupled to the network, comprising: (a) a computer; (b) means, performed by the computer for identifying one or more software installation components that reside on the source computer, wherein the software installation components are used to install the software application; (c) means, performed by the computer for comparing the identified software installation components to each of the remote computer's software installation components, wherein the comparison determines which of the identified software installation components are absent from each remote computer; (d) means, performed by the computer for sending the absent software installation components from the source computer to each remote computer that lacks the absent software installation components; (e) means, for maintaining a description of the identified software installation components on each remote computer; (f) means, performed by each remote computer for comparing periodically the description of the identified software installation components to each remote computer's software installation components, wherein this periodic comparison identifies one or more changes made to each remote computer's software installation components and identifies the absent software installation components; (g) means, performed by each remote computer for requesting the software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer; and (h) means, for re-sending the requested software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer to each remote computer, after changes have been made to the software installation components of each remote computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
252 words
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for distributing a software application residing on a network, from a source computer coupled to the network, to one or more remote computers that are not coupled to the network, the method comprising the steps of: at the source computer, identifying one or more software installation components that reside on the source computer, wherein the software installation components are used to install the software application; comparing the identified software installation components to each of the remote computer's software installation components, wherein the comparison determines which of the identified software installation components are absent from each remote computer; sending the identified absent software installation components from the source computer to each remote computer that lacks the absent software installation components; maintaining a description of the identified software installation components on each remote computer; comparing periodically the description of the identified software installation components to each remote computer's software installation components wherein this periodic comparison identifies one or mere changes made to each remote computer's software installation components and identifies the absent software installation components; requesting the software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer; and re-sending the requested software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer to each remote computer, after changes have been made to the software installation components of each remote computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
252 words
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for distributing a software application residing on a network, from a source computer coupled to the network, to one or more remote computers that are not coupled to the network, the method comprising the steps of: at the source computer, identifying one or more software installation components that reside on the source computer, wherein the software installation components are used to install the software application; comparing the identified software installation components to each of the remote computer's software installation components, wherein the comparison determines which of the identified software installation components are absent from each remote computer; sending the identified absent software installation components from the source computer to each remote computer that lacks the absent software installation components; maintaining a description of the identified software installation components on each remote computer; comparing periodically the description of the identified software installation components to each remote computer's software installation components wherein this periodic comparison identifies one or mere changes made to each remote computer's software installation components and identifies the absent software installation components; requesting the software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer; and re-sending the requested software installation components absent from each remote computer from the source computer to each remote computer, after changes have been made to the software installation components of each remote computer.
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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) | 2004-02-20 | 2004-08-21 | 2005-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-20 | 2008-08-21 | 2009-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-20 | 2012-08-21 | 2013-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |