Patent Document ID: 7814473
Application ID: 10975978
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for applying patches to a plurality of targets, the method comprising: receiving, at a patch management device, information identifying a plurality of targets to which patches may be applied; receiving, at the patch management device, usage information from each of the plurality of targets, usage information from a target indicative of: whether each of one or more features available on the target is being used on the target, and an amount of usage on the target for each of the one or more features; storing the usage information from each of the plurality of targets in a database associated with the patch management device; receiving, at the patch management device, one or more patches that may be applied to the plurality of targets, the one or more patches configured to fix or update at least one feature that may be available on at least one target in the plurality of targets; receiving, at the patch management device, a set of one or more applicability requirements that must be met for each patch in the one or more patches in order for the patch management device to apply the patch, at least one applicability requirement in the set of applicability requirements defining: when usage information combined from multiple targets is satisfied in order for the patch management device to apply a patch specified by the at least one applicability requirement, or when usage information combined from multiple features is satisfied in order for the patch management device to apply the patch specified by the at least one applicability requirement; determining, with one or more processors associated with the patch management device, whether at least one feature specified by the at least one applicability requirement is being used on multiple targets by a first combined amount that satisfies the at least one applicability requirement based on the stored usage information for each of the plurality of targets or whether multiple features are being used on at least one target by a second combined amount that satisfies the at least one applicability requirement based on the stored usage information for each of the plurality of targets; and automatically causing, with the one or more processors associated with the patch management device, the patch associated with the at least one applicability requirement to be selectively applied to: multiple targets in the plurality of targets when at least one feature specified by the at least one applicability requirement is being used on the multiple targets by the first combined amount that satisfies the at least one applicability requirement, or at least one target when multiple features are being used on the at least one target by the second combined amount that satisfies the at least one applicability requirement.