System and method for distributing configuration-dependent software revisions to a computer system

Patent 5867714 Issued on February 2, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 31, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

NCR Corporation

Application

No. 740584 filed on 10/31/1996

US Classes:

717/172, Including distribution of software (e.g., push-down, pull-down)707/10, Distributed or remote access707/104.1, Application of database or data structure (e.g., distributed, multimedia, image)707/201, Coherency (e.g., same view to multiple users)707/203, Version management713/1, DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM INITIALIZATION OR CONFIGURATION (E.G., INITIALIZING, SET UP, CONFIGURATION, OR RESETTING)713/100, RECONFIGURATION (E.G., CHANGING SYSTEM SETTING)717/170Plural version management

Examiners

Primary: Wachsman, Hal

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Munck; William A.

International Classes

G06F 009/445
183.03
183.07
183.13
183.14
183.2
184.01
828
830

Abstract

There is disclosed a system for detecting and avoiding faults stemming from conflicts in hardware and/or software configurations in a computer system. The system comprises communications circuitry that, from time to time, automatically transmits at least part of the current hardware and software configuration data of the computer system to a remote data source capable of identifying inherent conflicts in the hardware and software configuration. The remote data source then transmits to the computer system software revisions that are capable of resolving the inherent conflicts. After the communications circuitry receives the software revisions, processing circuitry in the computer system modifies the current software configuration according to the received software revisions.