Patent ID: 8762521

Claim:
A computer implemented method of distinguishing, in a network, between collective downloads of items of software and non-collective, user-initiated downloads of items of software, the method comprising: retrieving download statistics from a data source, the download statistics indicative of download activity in the network, wherein the download statistics include information indicative of time of each download, location within the network of each download, and the item of the software downloaded in each download; determining, based on the download statistic, the number of computers on the network which have received a copy of a particular item of software within a predetermined time window; determining a total number of computers active on the computer network; calculating a threshold number based on a predetermined percentage of the determined total number of computers active on the computer network; comparing said number of computers which have received the copy of the particular item with the threshold number; and if said number of computers is less than said threshold number, indicating that the particular item of software has been distributed to the computers by a non-collective user-initiated download, wherein the network comprises a portal configured to automatically make item of software available to a user on request by the user, and wherein the method further comprises automatically making the particular item of software available via the portal, if there has been an indication that the item of software has been distributed to the computers by a non-collective, user-initiated download.