Patent ID: 6073214
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system having a software-receiving computer in communication with a remote software-providing computer over a network, the software-providing computer having access to a database identifying software remotely available to the software-receiving computer, wherein at least one item in the database identifies software installable on the software-receiving computer, a computer implemented method for identifying computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer, the method comprising, at the software-providing computer:retrieving over the network from the software-receiving computer to the software-providing computer an inventory identifying at least certain computer software already installed on the software-receiving computer;comparing the inventory of computer software retrieved from the software-receiving computer with the database to identify a set of computer software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer;preparing a report indicating the set of software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer;sending the report indicating the set of software available for installation on the software-receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer to the software-receiving computer over the network;receiving at the software-providing computer a user software selection out of the set of software available for installation on the software receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer, wherein the user software selection out of the set of software available for installation on the software receiving computer and not already installed on the software-receiving computer is selected by a user at the software-receiving computer responsive to the report; andtransferring, to the software-receiving computer, software indicated by the user software selection.