Abstract: Methods and apparatus for permitting a host system such as a general-purpose computer to communicate over a network with a remote peer where the host system does not provide native network protocol support for protocols required by the network elements, such as a remote router or bridge. Such protocol support is provided by spoofing modules that emulate a network protocol negotiation between the host system and the remote router and perform packet header translation between the headers supported by the host system (e.g., PPP), and the headers supported by the network, such as RFC 1483.

Abstract: A system for updating a non-volatile programmable memory in a device in a computing system with little or no user intervention. During initialization, a device driver is initialized. During initialization, the device driver checks the device version and compares the device version with an expected, updated device version. If the device needs to be updated to operate with the device driver, a memory image of the non-volatile memory in the updated device version is downloaded, or programmed into the non-volatile memory of the device. Before the device version is checked, the user may be queried as to whether to proceed with the upgrade. If the user responds in the negative, the upgrade may be performed using a graphical user interface (GUI) configuration application. The GUI configuration application checks the device version and updates the non-volatile memory with the update device version.

Abstract: A system and method for retrieving and assigning a unique media access control (MAC) address to a network adapter card in a computer system that uses the network adapter card to connect to a data network. The computer system includes a communications application for invoking a network connection to a remote server. The remote server includes a MAC address list that stores MAC addresses that have been assigned to network adapter cards according to serial numbers. The remote server includes a web page that requests the user to enter a serial number. The remote server uses the serial number to search for a MAC address in the MAC address list. When the remote server finds the serial number, it stores the corresponding MAC address in a file and sends the file name to the user. The user then requests the remote server to download the file by file name, or by FTP URL. The computer system receives the file and an update program reads the MAC address from the file and sends the MAC address to the network adapter card.

Abstract: A technique for automatically updating software, including but not limited to application programs, residing on, e.g., a client computer. Specifically, an update script is stored on a network server for each software product to be updated and, where appropriate, for each different country or locale in which that product will be installed. At a scheduled time, the client computer automatically, through an executing updating application: establishes a network connection to the server; constructs a file name for a file containing an appropriate update script; and then downloads that file from the server. The script contains appropriate update information, including whether the update is to occur through a web site or through the script, and if the latter, listings of operating system (O/S) specific and O/S-independent product update files.