Abstract: A system and method of installing a software patch on a selected electronic device using a graphical user interface is disclosed. The user utilizes a graphical user interface (GUI) to select a patch to install and selects an electronic device, the “target” device, upon which to install the patch. Patch dependencies on the target device are programmatically determined and checked to ensure that software required for the patch is present on the target device. The installation of the patch is then performed. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention also enables the removal of a patch from a targeted device following a determination of which applications on the target device are dependant upon the patch, and subsequent user authorization of the removal operation.

Abstract: A client-server system for downloading a data file from a server to a client with real time verification. The system including a server. The server including a data file, and a verification file. The verification file containing first error detection data associated with the data file. The system also including a client which communicates with the server through a network. The client including a download manager for downloading the data file from the server to the client. When the download manager downloads at least a portion of the data file, the download manager generates second error detection data associated with the data file and compares the first and second error detection data to determine if errors occurred in the data file.

Abstract: A system for use by a computer to determine which network addresses are being used by other computers or other devices in a network includes an address inquiry message packet generator module configured to enable the computer to transmit address inquiry message packets over a network in one or more iterations. Each address inquiry message packet includes a network address. The address inquiry message packet generator module is configured to enable the computer to transmit address inquiry message packets for a selected number of network addresses during each iteration. An iteration control module is configured to control the timing of successive iterations of transmission of address inquiry message packets by the computer in relation to reception by the computer of response message packets responding to the address inquiry message packets.

Abstract: A client-server system for downloading a data file from a server to a client with real time verification. The system including a server. The server including a data file, and a verification file. The verification file containing first error detection data associated with the data file. The system also including a client which communicates with the server through a network. The client including a download manager for downloading the data file from the server to the client. When the download manager downloads at least a portion of the data file, the download manager generates second error detection data associated with the data file and compares the first and second error detection data to determine if errors occurred in the data file.

Abstract: A system and method of installing a software patch on a selected electronic device using a graphical user interface is disclosed. The user utilizes a graphical user interface (GUI) to select a patch to install and selects an electronic device, the “target” device, upon which to install the patch. Patch dependencies on the target device are programmatically determined and checked to ensure that software required for the patch is present on the target device. The installation of the patch is then performed. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention also enables the removal of a patch from a targeted device following a determination of which applications on the target device are dependant upon the patch, and subsequent user authorization of the removal operation.

Abstract: A system and method of simultaneously installing a software patch or patches on multiple electronic devices is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a method of simultaneously installing a software patch on multiple electronic devices. The user selects the target devices upon which to install a patch or patches. One of the target devices is selected as a “reference device”. The other target devices are validated against the reference device to ensure uniformity of attributes prior to attempting the patch installation. The validation process compares the architecture, operating system (OS) and target application attribute of the target devices to those on the reference device. After the reference device has been validated, patch dependencies on the reference device are programmatically checked to ensure that software required for the patch is present on the reference device (which has the same software found on the other validated devices).