282 results about "Software distribution" patented technology

A method and apparatus for providing an automatically upgradeable software application includes targeted advertising based upon demographics and user interaction with the computer. The software application includes a display region used for banner advertising that is downloaded over a network such as the Internet. The software application is accessible from a server via the network and demographic information on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining what advertising will be sent to the user. The software application further targets the advertisements in response to normal user interaction with the computer. Data associated with each advertisement is used by the software application in determining when a particular advertisement is to be displayed. This includes the specification of certain programs that the user may have so that, when the user runs the program (e.g., a spreadsheet program), a relevant advertisement will be displayed (e.g., an advertisement for a stock brokerage). This provides two-tiered, real-time targeting of advertising—both demographically and reactively. The software application includes programming that accesses the server to determine if one or more components of the application need upgrading. If so, the components can be downloaded and installed without further action by the user. A distribution tool is provided for software distribution and upgrading over the network. Also provided is a user profile that is accessible to any computer on the network. Furthermore, multiple users of the same computer can possess Internet web resources and files that are personalized, maintained and organized.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for managing software updates. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and method for facilitating the selection and implementation of software updates while minimizing the bandwidth and processing resources required to select and implement the software updates. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a software update service controls access to software updates stored on servers. In accordance with another aspect, the software update service synchronizes with client machines to identify applicable updates.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for managing software updates. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and method for facilitating the selection and implementation of software updates while minimizing the bandwidth and processing resources required to select and implement the software updates. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a software update service controls access to software updates stored on servers. In accordance with another aspect, the software update service synchronizes with client machines to identify applicable updates.

A terminal apparatus has a reception unit for receiving a data group or a program group distributed from a satellite or a ground distribution system, and an update sequence management unit. The update sequence management unit searches data or a program of the terminal apparatus to be updated and data or a program necessary for updating the data or the program of the terminal apparatus, from the data group or the program group, determines an update sequence of the searched program or data, and updates the program or data of the terminal apparatus in accordance with the determined update sequence.

A method and corresponding equipment by which software (11c) on a first device (11) is virally or otherwise distributed to a second device (12), in which the first device (11) and second device (12) and possibly also a server (16) of the software (11c) exchange information sufficient for the first device (11) to determine whether it includes or stores a version of the software (22c) compatible with the second device (12), and if so, then provides a compatible version, but otherwise exchanges information with the second device sufficient for the second device to obtain a copy from the server (16).

Automated software provisioning based upon a set of role definitions for a user of a configurable device such as a computer or personal digital assistant. The present invention may be realized as an enhancement or extension to currently available software distribution tools which are used to distribute software to remote and local machines, and to permit unattended software installation and maintenance. The invention provides role-based software provisioning which automatically distributes the appropriate software programs and updates to computers that are owned by users based on the role of each user, thereby avoiding the need for intensive manual efforts to determine which computers need what software. The invention may also be interfaced to a License Management system in order to accomplish automatic recovery of unused software licenses, and to obtain permission for installing new licenses, based on user role changes.

Providing a software distribution service via ad hoc peer-to-peer networks involves configuring a first device to offer a peer-to-peer software distribution service that facilitates access to a plurality of programs. The peer-to-peer software distribution service is advertised via the first device using a service discovery protocol of an ad hoc peer-to-peer network. At least one query for a description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service from a target device of the ad hoc peer-to-peer network is received at the first device in response to advertising the peer-to-peer software distribution service. Downloading of a program to the target device is facilitated via the peer-to-peer software distribution service. The program is selected from the plurality of programs and capable of operating on a processor of the target device.

Computer-based methods and systems for performing automated distribution of a software package to one or more target machines in one or more regions of a distributed network of target machines, comprises the following steps. First, a base software package is prepared for each of the one or more regions based on at least one of: (i) policy data indicating which of the one or more regions are candidates for receiving the software package, (ii) dependency information indicating requisites for a service provided by the software package, and (iii) configuration information for each of the candidate regions. The base software package is then distributed to each of the candidate regions of the distributed network. The base software package received at each of the candidate regions is then customized based on at least one of: (i) regional distribution policies, (ii) dependency information specific to one or more roles performed by the target machines in that region, and (iii) individual target machine configuration information. Lastly, the software package customized in each of the candidate regions is distributed to at least one of the target machines in the candidate regions of the distributed network.

Networking as a Service (NaaS) delivers network services using remote appliances controlled by a hosted, multi-tenant management system. The system may include a heartbeating process for communication between a web-based server and appliances, in which the appliances periodically contact the management system on the server. The heartbeating process allows the appliances to maintain a completely up-to-date configuration. Furthermore, heartbeating allows for comprehensive monitoring of appliances and for software distribution. The system may also include means for authenticating appliances, without the need for pre-installed PSKs or certificates.

Distributing software involves providing a software installation package configured to allow installing one or more programs on a computing arrangement. The software installation package is configured as a managed object compliant with the Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) specification. A certificate configured as a second managed object compliant with the OMA DM specification is also provided. One or more programs are installed to a computing arrangement using the software installation package. The one or more programs are bound to the computing arrangement using the certificate. Operation of the one or more programs is enabled based on the binding of the one or more programs to the computing arrangement.

A distributed data storage system and method comprising a highly integrated mass storage controller system permitting distributed management and control of data storage is disclosed. The present invention in some preferred embodiments permits mass storage media to be made available on a network in a fashion to permit global access, while automatically handling many high-level file access and data integrity / security / control functions normally associated with a host operating system. This integration and redistribution of functionality permits spatial diversification of data resources, automatic mirroring of data, fault isolation, data security, and a plethora of other control functions to be integrated into the mass storage device. This integration permits peer-to-peer communication between mass storage devices to both unburden the host data consumers but also isolate the data management functions from the data presentation functions normally associated with host systems. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention as applied to specific preferred system contexts include but are not limited to distributed data storage in a networked environment, brokered data access metering, database access / control, data backup, journaling, checkpointing, and automated software distribution.

Methods, systems and computer program products for management of application programs on a network including a server supporting client stations are provided. The server provides applications on-demand to a user logging in to a client supported by the server. Mobility is provided to the user and hardware portability is provided by establishing a user desktop interface responsive to a login request which presents to the user a desktop screen through a web browser interface which accesses and downloads selected application programs from the server responsive to a request from the user on the user desktop screen at the client. The application program is then provided from the server and executed at the client. The application program may further be customized to conform to the user's preferences and may also provide for license use management by determining license availability before initiating execution of the application program. Finally, software distribution and installation may be provided from a single network management server.

The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a software installation. A graphical user interface is displayed for receiving user input to manage a software installation having multiple software installation tasks. A particular software installation task is initiated in response to the particular software installation task being selected from the multiple software installation tasks. The performance of the particular task is customized based on the selection of the option in response to a selection of an option during execution of the particular software installation task is received. At least one of the multiple software installation tasks may be scheduled and initiated independently from others of the multiple software installation tasks.

A digital content distribution framework is provided. According to one embodiment, a digital content distribution system, such as a software distribution system, includes a credentialing authority, an access control component, and a digital content distribution system interface for each participant in the system. The credentialing authority component is configured to receive encryption keys associated with the participants and assign each of the participants an identity certificate for use during subsequent interactions with components of the digital content distribution system. The access control component is configured to maintain information regarding access rights of the participants to digital content accessible via the digital content distribution system. The digital content distribution system interfaces are capable of being customized for the corresponding participant and are configured to coordinate interactions among the corresponding participant and the components of the digital content distribution system according to predetermined business processes associated with the corresponding participant.

Methods, systems and computer program products are provide for controlling access to software is provided by the software to be controlled being divided into a first encrypted portion and a second unencrypted portion. The second unencrypted portion has access to, and may even incorporate, a first secret value and a software identification associated with a copy of the software. The first encrypted portion is encrypted with a first key value which is based on the first secret value and a second secret value. The second secret value is obtained and the first key value generated from the obtained second secret value and the first secret value. The first encrypted portion of the software may then be decrypted with the first key value. The software may be installed on a data processing system utilizing the decrypted first encrypted portion of the software.

The present invention is directed to a software distribution architecture in which a software vendor provides a software store that is coordinated with the unique requirements of a software purchasing enterprise. Examples of the requirements include the enterprise infrastructure, information technology requirements and / or approval, account billing, and other attributes.

A method is disclosed, in a supervisory process control system environment, for installing supervisory process control software from a central software deployment server. The software distribution method includes the step of first specifying a software component for a supervisory process control application to be deployed to a remote location and a destination for the software component based upon a distributed application configuration. A software component is conditionally transmitted to the remote supervisory control computer, after the determining step, if the software component for the supervisory process control application is not present at the remote location.

A software distribution application (205,250,255) supporting the installation of operating systems on pristine computers (110) is proposed. A new configuration element (210) is added for virtually defining an operating system; the configuration element points to a corresponding image of the operating system on different pristine servers (120). Moreover, the pristine computers can be defined in a target database (220) before they actually exist; each pristine computer subscribes to a reference model (215) specifying the installation of the operating system. A plan (235) is then generated with actions for installing the operating system on the pristine computers. When the plan is submitted for execution, a plug-in module (250,255) associates each pristine computer with the image of the operating system on the respective pristine server. In this way, as soon as a pristine computer is turned on and transmits (458) a remote installation request to the pristine server the associated image is automatically installed (470-483).

A customized distribution, e.g. of Linux software, is built using only packages that satisfy a customer's individual requirements. The packages are verified, at build time, to be interoperable at run-time. Also, the distribution is verified to ensure all package dependencies are included. In cases where no package already exists that meets a user requirements, a new package can be created for this purpose. The packages in the distribution customized for the user can be tracked, so that as updates to the packages are released, the customer can be notified about those updates (without being notified about packages not in the customer's customized distribution). Finally, once the distribution has been built for the user, it can then be offered as a general-purpose distribution for future customers.

A software distribution method (300) and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, each software package (which is used to deploy a desired software product) includes the definition of installation actions and configuration actions; the installation actions are used to load the software product (including its initial configuration), whereas the configuration actions are used to set configuration options of the software product after the installation. The software package can be applied (316-332;346) on each endpoint specifying an installation activity or a configuration activity (involving the execution of the corresponding actions). In this way, it is possible to reconfigure (346) a software product that is already available without its reinstallation; moreover, it is possible to correct (374) configuration errors directly on the endpoint.

The present invention relates to multi-application, secure operating systems for small, secure devices, such as smart card microcontrollers. In particular, the present invention relates to mechanisms for secure runtime upload of applications onto small devices, authorisation mechanisms and the ability for authorised execution of multiple applications on the devices, where an application may be potentially larger than the microcontroller memory size. The mechanism simplifies life-cycle smart card management aspects related to post-issuance application (“applet”) upload and upgrade. Mechanisms to prepare applications (i.e. compiler techniques) using a common set of project files in one compiler toolset, for execution in a dual host & chip processor environment are described. These help automising the programming of the communication interfaces between the host and chip applications. An important motivation for the present invention is to provide a secure co-processor environment for general computer applications in order to counter software piracy, and to allow new models for secure electronic software distribution and software licensing.

A method and a system for dispensing software programs from a networked software dispensing kiosk device or ATM. Software developers can place software for sale within the network thereby causing various remote software ATMs to offer the software. The user causes a display of a list of different categories of software titles available through a remotely located software ATM, e.g., located in a retail market place, or other public place. The user makes a selection from the list and may optionally execute the selected software using an on-screen emulation of the user's device. If the user is satisfied with the execution of the selected software, the user can purchase or rent the selected software using automated vending equipment of the software ATM. Purchased or rented software titles are electronically communicated from the software ATM to the user's portable computer system. The software ATM can also provide backup and archiving services for a portable computer user.

An operations architecture for a netcentric computing system including a server connected with a client. The preferred operations architecture includes a software distribution tool, a configuration and asset management tool, a fault management and recovery management tool, a capacity planning tool, a performance management tool, a license management tool, a remote management tool, a event management tool, a systems monitoring and tuning tool, a security tool, a user administration tool, a production control application set and a help desk tool that support the server and the client in the netcentric computing system.

A software distribution method (300b) and a corresponding system are proposed. In a software distribution application, packages including instructions specifying the actions to be carried out on each target computer for installing or removing selected software products are prepared in a central site; typically, the actions are conditioned to a hardware configuration of the target computer. Each package is transmitted to the target computer, and the corresponding instructions are interpreted so as to enforce the desired software products meeting the current configuration of the target computer. In the solution of the invention, the configuration of the target computer is monitored to detect (337) any hardware upgrade. In response thereto, the target computer generates (339-351) a list of actions for removing software products not meeting the new configuration any longer and a list of action for installing software products now meeting the new configuration. These lists are transmitted (357) to the central site, and they trigger (360) the building of a corresponding delta package. The delta package is then distributed to the target computer so as to ensure that the software products installed on the target computer are always consistent with its hardware configuration.