Abstract: An update website prioritizes updates available for an application (e.g., a word-processing program or a fault-tolerance program) running on a user computer system. Prioritization is in part a function of usage data gathered on the user computer system by a usage-tracking module of the application. The usage data is transferred to the update site and parameters relevant to prioritization are evaluated. The parameter values are then used for prioritization. The usage data can also be compiled with data from other users to guide further development of the application.

Abstract: A document reader program determines the existence of an updated version of a document file at a network location specified by an original version of the document file. The document reader program then presents the user a choice of rendering the original version or the updated version in human-cognizable form. For example, a user can request help for a host application, which accesses an original version of a help file via the document reader. Instead of displaying information from the original help file, the reader access a network location specified in the original help file, downloads an updated help file and then displays its information to the user. The updated help file can correspond to the local version of the host application or, in another embodiment, the most-recent help file for the most-recent version of the host application.