A method of updating computer software includes downloading software update information through a network, such as the Internet, to a user's computer. The download is preferably done periodically and automatically. If available, a criticality check program identified in the software update information is then automatically downloaded and executed to determine the configuration of the user's computer. The criticality and applicability of available software updates are evaluated by the criticality...

A system for updating a control coefficient to a target value during a prescribed number of periodic incremental update increments. The system divides the desired change in the value of the coefficient by the number of update increments. Specifically, the number of increments by the number of increments is limited to powers of two, so that the division can be accomplished simply by demarking the change in value according to the portion of number of increments, thereby separating the change into ...

A process of accessing data in a database, inputting the accessed data to a form, using the form with the accessed data by a first user, monitoring the database to detect changes to the accessed data by a second user while the form is being used by the first user, updating the accessed data in the form while being used by the first user in accordance with rules corresponding to the detected changes, and displaying update status of the accessed data in accordance with the updating. The update sta...

A system includes a processor, a memory including a basic input/output system (BIOS) in flash memory that includes digital signature verification, and a BIOS update installation process, and a medium containing a BIOS update file. The BIOS update file includes a signed data portion having a volume header, signed data and executable update code to configure the signed data with data in an unsigned data portion, and a digital signature.

A method of automatically sending a pertinent software update to a user of an executable software application is disclosed. The method includes storing a plurality of software updates for the software application and ranking the pertinence of the individual software updates. At least one pertinent software update is selected from the plurality of software updates based on the ranking of the pertinence of the software update and automatically sent to the user.

Computer method and apparatus for communicating information between a plurality of client computers by means of a communications network. A data server computer coupled to the network communicates data from the data server computer to one or more of a plurality of client computers in response to a request for data by a client computer in the form of a hypertext transfer protocol update request. The data server computer sends the data made available from the data server computer in response to a ...

There are provided a backup version page table in a storage for providing a correspondence between the pages of a database and the slots in a database storage medium in which the contents of pages to be recovered, if necessary, are stored; a current version page table for providing a correspondence between pages updated by a transaction and slots in the database storage medium wherein the updated contents of the pages are stored; and a journal file for recording various system journals; wherein ...

In a disclosed method that facilitates collaborative file updating, data is accepted from one of a plurality of users and stored. The data represents an initial version of the file and designates one or more recipients of the initial version. Then, for each one of sequentially updated versions of the file, data representing a difference between the updated version of the file and an immediately previous version of the file is accepted from a user. The data also designates one or more recipients ...

A modular BIOS update mechanism provides a standardized method to update options ROMs and to provide video and processor microcode upgrades in a computer system without requiring a complete replacement of the system BIOS. The MBU mechanism provides several advantages. First, new features and BIOS bugs from earlier release may be delivered to an installed base of end-user systems even if direct OEM support cannot be identified. Also, BIOS components may be provided as a validated set of revisions...

A system and method for dynamically updating software on one or more installation media for installation on at least one destination machine. The invention obtains update content from one or more update media and merges the update content with the software on the installation media prior to installing the software on the destination machine. The software to be installed includes application programs and operating system software.