Patent ID: 7093246

Claim:
A method for a client computer to obtain an update to a computer program, said method comprising the steps of: a user of the client computer registering with a remote update service, and in response, said client computer obtaining a certificate for said update service, said certificate identifying said user; sending said certificate to a server, and in response, said server determining& based in part on the user identified in the certificate, a specific computer program for which said user is entitled to receive updates if any, said server identifying an update to said computer program, and said server sending to said client computer a notification of said update; based in part on said notification, said client computer requesting a ticket for said update, and in response, said server initiating sending of said ticket to said client computer, said ticket identifying said update; said client computer sending a request for said update, said request including said ticket; and in response to said request including said ticket, downloading said update to said client computer.