Patent ID: 6473099
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a networked system that includes a client that stores program instructions, a server, and a network infrastructure having a two-way communication link for providing two-way communication between the client and the server and a satellite link for providing one-way communication to the client, a method for upgrading the program instructions stored at the client, comprising the steps for:determining at the server that an upgrade of the program instructions is available; determining whether the upgrade is mandatory or not mandatory; and at a time when the two-way communication is not established over the two-way communication link, downloading the upgrade of the program instructions to the client via the satellite link, wherein: if the upgrade is mandatory, the program instructions stored at the client are replaced automatically by the upgrade of the program instructions; and if the upgrade is not mandatory, a user of the client is prompted to decide whether to accept the upgrade.