Patent ID: 7293115

Claim:
A method for updating application information used by an application installed on a computer system, said method comprising: a) identifying from said application a first information source external to said computer system, said information source comprising information for modifying said application information; b) identifying a communication interface for communicatively coupling said computer system and said information source; c) establishing a communication link to said information source via said communication interface; d) downloading said information for modifying said application information from said information source; and e) providing authorization information for said application, said authorization information for indicating use of said application is authorized on said computer system; wherein said steps a)-e) are performed without executing said application and wherein said steps a)-e) are performed by a boot loader during boot up of said computer system, said boot loader running during computer system startup to initialize and configure computer system hardware, and wherein said steps a)-e) are performed only if said application is itself being booted up during said boot up.