Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-12
2001-08-28
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
C717S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282709
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to software and more particularly to updating software.
BACKGROUND ART
Software application programs that utilize increased graphics have become more prevalent. For example, video games and business software often utilize an increasing amount of two dimensional (2-D) and three dimensional (3-D) graphics. In order to support the increased graphics component of these programs, the user's video display driver software has become increasingly more complex.
However, as the graphics component of software applications increases, the user's display driver software is often unable to support the increased graphics and becomes obsolete. In order to run the more complex graphic applications, the display driver software must be replaced or updated.
Software vendors often release updated versions of existing software in order to support new features or fix bugs in the software. For example, a manufacturer of display driver software may release a new version of their display driver that supports more complex 2-D and 3-D graphics applications. However, users are often unaware of new versions of software that may be available. Hence, existing users may have to rely on the particular software vendor contacting the users directly to notify them of the updated software.
Alternatively, many vendors release information regarding new software revisions, and often the actual revisions, via an on-line mechanism such as a Website on the Internet. A drawback with such on-line releases is that many users are unaware of the information available from a vendor's Website. Another drawback with releasing software updates from Websites is that they assume a fairly sophisticated user. First, the user must be able to find the vendor's Website and then be able to identify the particular version of the program that is currently running on the personal computer (PC). Next, the user must be able to determine whether the software on the PC is “down rev”, i.e. an older version of the program than currently available. Finally, the user must be able to navigate through an often complex series of steps to download and install the software on the PC's hard drive. The problem with such an approach is that many users are unsophisticated and are unable to perform these steps. A further problem is that many users are unwilling to download any software onto the hard disk for fear that the new software will cause the system to crash.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There exists a need for a mechanism that allows user to conveniently determine whether software currently running on a computer is up-to-date.
There is also a need for a mechanism that provides a simple way in which software updates and new software can be downloaded to a user's computer.
These and other needs are met by the present invention, where a method and apparatus for checking/updating software is provided. In accordance with the invention, a graphical user interface (GUI) provides a computer user a simple way to determine whether the computer has the most recent version of a particular software component. The user then has the choice to download and install any new software versions via the GUI.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method for checking software programs stored on a computer system is provided. The method includes downloading a file that contains a list of software components from a remote server. The method also includes selecting at least one of the software components from the list of software components. The method further includes checking the selected software component(s) to determine whether the selected software component is the same version of software stored on the computer system.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable medium that includes stored sequences of instructions that are executed by a processor. The instructions cause the processor to download a file containing a list of software components from a remote server. The instructions also cause the processor to check a selected software component to determine whether the selected software component is the same version of software stored on the computer system.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description. The embodiments shown and described provide illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
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Berzins. Software Merge. Sermantics of Combining Changes to Programs. ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems. vol. 16, No. 6. pp. 1875-1903, Nov. 1994.
Morris Charles F.
Reha Mark Keith
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
Powell Mark R.
Vodopia John F.
Zhen Wei
LandOfFree
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