Patent ID: 7496960
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A real-time virus tracking and display system for use with a distributed computer network, the system comprising: a plurality of potentially infected client end-user computers, said end-user computers being distributed over said distributed computer network; a first anti-virus scanning server executing software from a first vendor and a second anti-virus scanning server executing software from a second vendor, each accessible via the distributed computer network, said first anti-virus scanning server and said second anti-virus scanning server each including an anti-virus scanning program, whereby client users contact the first scanning server or the second scanning server to facilitate virus scanning of the client end-user computers by downloading said anti-virus scanning program; a scan log which is sent back to at least one of the first anti-virus scanning server and the second anti-virus scanning server over said distributed computer network from each client user, the scan log containing a virus name and a location of the end-user computer, wherein only location data is related to the identity of the end-user computer; a virus-tracking server for receiving the scan log information from said client end-user computers in real-time via the first anti-virus scanning server from the first vendor and the second anti-virus scanning server from the second vendor, wherein the virus-tracking server is operable with a plurality of anti-virus scanning servers and anti-virus scanning programs; a database server associated with the virus-tracking server for processing the scan log information into virus-tracking information; and at least one virus tracking display mode accessible by a tracking user from the virus tracking server, the display mode providing real-time updates of said virus tracking information pertaining to the scan logs, wherein the anti-virus scanning program residing at the client end-user computers generates one or more maps displaying the real-time updates, and wherein the one or more maps are generated and displayed at the client end-user computers include a view menu, a track menu, a select menu, and a time period menu and a display block showing worldwide virus infection rates and wherein the anti-virus scanning program generates a virus count graph showing static counts of prevalent viruses worldwide during a predetermined time frame.