Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring – Reconfiguring
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-04-17
Harrell, Robert B. (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
Reconfiguring
C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219698
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to information distribution. More particularly, the present invention relates to information distribution using remote notification and is especially suitable for distributing new software upgrades via a network, such as the Internet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Software applications operating on a user's computing device become outdated as new versions of the software are developed. Software distributors face the challenge of notifying existing users that an upgrade to a software application is available and convincing the users to obtain and install the upgrade.
First, software application users typically have little motivation to initiate contact with software distributors to obtain upgrades. Further, software distributors often lose contact with users of software applications which have been previously distributed. This loss of contact prevents distributors from easily offering upgrades, as well as new products, to users of previously distributed software applications who may have an interest in the new product offerings. Further, even if they are notified of an upgrade or other product, users face the inconvenience of having to obtain and load the upgrade or new software product. Recently, many software applications have become available through electronic distribution, particularly over the Internet. In the typical case of software distributed over the Internet, the distributor maintains the software applications on a server at the distributor's web site. Information relating to the ordering and downloading of the software applications from the web site is available on the distributor's Internet web site, e.g. their download page.
A potential user can access the distributor's web site via the Internet using, for example, a personal computer or other computing device at the potential user's home, office or other site. The distributor's web page is customarily downloaded to the potential user's computing device and can be manipulated by the potential user to order one or more desired software applications. These applications are then automatically downloaded off the distributor's web server to the user's site and installed on the user's computing device.
Although the Internet has, in some ways, made the ordering and distribution of software applications more efficient, it has not made it easier for distributors to maintain contact with current users of software applications or to notify and convince such users to order and install upgrades or to consider the purchase of new product offerings. In fact, because the point of distribution has become a web site rather than a store front, it has, to some extent, become even more difficult to maintain contact with current users. Distributors can attempt to maintain contact with current users by using communication channels such as the telephone, postal mail and Internet E-mail. However, these channels of communications tend to be expensive, inefficient and/or poorly targeted.
Thus, a need remains for way in which to inexpensively, efficiently and in a well targeted manner (i) maintain contact with existing users of software applications, (ii) notify existing users of software applications of the availability of software upgrades and new product offerings, and (iii) make it convenient for existing users of software applications to obtain and install software upgrades and new products.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a technique for maintaining contact with existing users of software applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique for notifying existing users of software applications of the availability of software upgrades.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a technique for offering new products or conveying new information in a well targeted manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a technique for facilitating the convenient obtention and installation of software upgrades and new products.
It is an additional object of the present invention to perform the above objects inexpensively and efficiently.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure, including the following detailed description, as well as by practice of the invention. While the invention is described below with reference to a preferred embodiment(s), it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein and with respect to which the invention could be of significant utility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, communications between multiple processing systems, such as clients and servers interconnected by a network, are maintained by storing a software application having first and second sets of instructions at one or more of the processing systems. The instructions can be stored on any suitable memory device. The first set of instructions include programming capable of directing the applicable system processor to perform a desired task.
Responsive to the programing being initialized by the processor of a first processing system to perform the desired task, the processor, in accordance with the second set of instructions, generates a first signal representing information, such as an identification of the current version of the first set of instructions stored at the first processing system. Initialization of the programming may, for example, occur when the programming is first loaded from the applicable memory device, or at some other point in the operation of the first processing system relating to performance of the desired task.
The first signal is transmitted to a second of the processing systems, e.g. a network server from which the programming was initially downloaded. The transmission of the information represented by the first signal links the first and second processing systems. The second processing system can now communicate with the first processing system for the purposes of upgrading the first set of instructions, offering new products and/or providing other information.
It will be recognized that the processing systems may, for example, be personal or network computers, workstations, mini-computers, main frame computers and/or other networked devices as well as any combination thereof. The first set of instructions, could be an application program previously distributed via the network, e.g. downloaded to the first processing system by the second processing system, although this is not necessarily the case. The network can be a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) or any other type of network, including the Internet.
According to other aspects of the invention, responsive to the first signal, the second processing system automatically transmits a second signal to the first processing system. The second signal is indicative of the information available on the second processing system or another of the processing systems. The second signal may include the information itself, which can be of virtually any type. In a preferred implementation, the second signal includes information associated with an upgrade of the first set of instructions, such as a textual description of features of a new version of these instruments, and/or an indicator, such as an icon type symbol, indicating that some other type of information is available, e.g. information regarding a new product etc.
A display, which can be of any type, is typically provided at the first processing system to facilitate the display of the new upgrade description and the indicator of the availability of other types of information. The descripti
Iannucci Robert A.
Weikart Christopher M.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds P.C.
Harrell Robert B.
Vu Thong
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