Patent · US Expired

Automatic computer upgrading

US5809287A · kind A · utility

191Cited by
9References
55Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 17, 1996
Grant dateSep 15, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 17, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99952
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.