Abstract: Installation information of a software component is received. The software component is software. The installation information includes an installation state for the software component, an identifier for the software component, a vendor of the software component, and a calendar date of the installation. The installation information is stored in a pseudo-permanent database. The record of the installation information in the pseudo-permanent database will survive the uninstallation of the software component. An update to the installation information is received in response to the installation state of the software component changing. The update includes modified installation information and a calendar date of when the installation information changed. The updated installation information is stored in the pseudo-permanent database.

Abstract: In an approach for providing adaptive software inventory scan frequencies and schedules, a processor receives information from an initial scan of a set of software inventory scans, wherein the information includes at least one of: running processes, file system entries, registry entries, and software catalog evaluations. A processor analyzes the information from the initial scan. A processor predicts an outcome for future software inventory scans based on the analysis of the information, wherein the prediction includes a scanning frequency and a scanning schedule.

Abstract: Identification of unmatched registry entries may be provided, by scanning a file system, discovering software, collecting first attribute values of the discovered software, receiving a plurality of filtering rules including a method and an attribute. The attribute may comprise a software-specific condition. The method may further comprise collecting native registry entries comprising second attribute values indicated by said attributes of at least one of said rule, and comparing said first attribute values of said discovered software with related ones of said second attribute values of said collected native registry entries. Then, the native registry entries may be grouped into two groups. The first group represents matched registry entries and the second group represents unmatched registry entries. The unmatched registry entries may be identified as unequivocal entries for further software discovery.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for software discovery in an environment with heterogeneous machine groups may be provided. A group comprising computing systems that have similar software program installations is defined. A first scan procedure is performed by scanning each computing system of the group using a first software signature catalogue to identify installed programs. Software signatures of identified installed programs are added to a base installation software catalogue. A second scan procedure is performed by scanning the group of computing systems using the base installation software catalogue to identify installed software programs.

Abstract: Software asset management (SAM) for virtual environments performing the following operations: (i) collecting a set of virtual machine (VM) descriptor(s) sets, where each VM descriptor(s) set corresponds to one of the following: a VM appliance or a sealed VM image; (ii) for each VM descriptor(s) set of the set of VM descriptor(s) set(s), determining whether there is a match to an entry in a VM descriptor set/software application mapping data set; and (iii) for each VM descriptor(s) set of the set of VM descriptor(s) set(s), on condition that there is a match, determining an identity of a set of software application(s) in the VM appliance or sealed VM image corresponding to the VM descriptor(s) set based on the respectively matching entry in the VM descriptor/software mapping data set.

Abstract: A software asset management method comprising storing URL data for each of a first plurality of software entities, obtaining, by means of a first browser plug-in, first data indicative of a URL from which a browser has obtained content, comparing, for at least one of the first plurality of software entities, the URL data of the respective software entity with the first data, and communicating the first data to a first computer other than a computer hosting the browser subject to a first condition that, for each of the first plurality of software entities, the comparing reveals that the first data does not match the URL data of the respective software entity.

Abstract: A method and a related system for identifying unmatched registry entries may be provided. The method may comprise scanning a file system and discovering software based on a file signature, collecting first attributes of the discovered software, collecting native registry entries, and comparing the first attributes against second attributes of the collected registry entries based on a filtering rule. Thereby, the registry entries may be grouped into two groups. One group may represent matched registry entries and the other group may represent unmatched registry entries. The unmatched registry entries may be identified as unequivocal entries for further software discovery.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for software discovery in an environment with heterogeneous machine groups may be provided. A group comprising computing systems that have similar software program installations is defined. A first scan procedure is performed by scanning each computing system of the group using a first software signature catalogue to identify installed programs. Software signatures of identified installed programs are added to a base installation software catalogue. A second scan procedure is performed by scanning the group of computing systems using the base installation software catalogue to identify installed software programs.

Abstract: A computer system for automatically creating a software catalog content that includes a plurality of software components associated with a computing system is provided. The computer system may include creating a population comprising a plurality of potential software signatures associated with the plurality of software components. The computer system may include ranking the population based on a highest ratio value. The computer system may include selecting a set of parent software signatures based on the ranking. The computer system may include creating a new population of potential software signatures based on the selected set of parent software signatures. The computer system may include performing recombination on the new population of potential software signatures.

Abstract: A method for automatically creating a software catalog content that includes a plurality of software components associated with a computing system is provided. The method may include creating a population comprising a plurality of potential software signatures associated with the plurality of software components. The method may include ranking the population comprising the potential software signatures based on a highest ratio value. The method may include selecting a set of parent software signatures based on the ranking. Additionally, the method may include creating a new population of potential software signatures based on the selected set of parent software signatures. The method may include performing recombination on the new population of potential software signatures.

Abstract: A method for automatically creating a software catalog content that includes a plurality of software components associated with a computing system is provided. The method may include creating a population comprising a plurality of potential software signatures associated with the plurality of software components. The method may include ranking the population comprising the potential software signatures based on a highest ratio value. The method may include selecting a set of parent software signatures based on the ranking. Additionally, the method may include creating a new population of potential software signatures based on the selected set of parent software signatures. The method may include performing recombination on the new population of potential software signatures.

Abstract: An artificial neural network is used to manage software bundling. During a training phase, the artificial neural network is trained using previously bundled software components having known values for identification attributes and known software bundle asociations. Once trained, the artifical neural network can be used to identify the proper software bundles for newly discovered sofware components. In this process, a newly discovered software component having known values for the identification attributes is identified. An input vector is derived from the known values. The input vector is loaded into input neurons of the artificial neural network. A yielded output vector is then obtained from an output neuron of the artificial neural network. Based on the composition of the output vector, the software bundle associated with this newly discovered software component is determined.

Abstract: An artificial neural network is used to manage software bundling. During a training phase, the artificial neural network is trained using previously bundled software components having known values for identification attributes and known software bundle asociations. Once trained, the artifical neural network can be used to identify the proper software bundles for newly discovered sofware components. In this process, a newly discovered software component having known values for the identification attributes is identified. An input vector is derived from the known values. The input vector is loaded into input neurons of the artificial neural network. A yielded output vector is then obtained from an output neuron of the artificial neural network. Based on the composition of the output vector, the software bundle associated with this newly discovered software component is determined.

Abstract: A computer system for automatically creating a software catalog content that includes a plurality of software components associated with a computing system is provided. The computer system may include creating a population comprising a plurality of potential software signatures associated with the plurality of software components. The computer system may include ranking the population based on a highest ratio value. The computer system may include selecting a set of parent software signatures based on the ranking. The computer system may include creating a new population of potential software signatures based on the selected set of parent software signatures. The computer system may include performing recombination on the new population of potential software signatures.

Abstract: A method for performing software discovery by an installer controller is provided and may include detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer. A Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server may be queried for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer. The installer controller executes the software installer upon receiving on the returned approval status; aggregates a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updates a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known.

Abstract: A method for performing software discovery by an installer controller is provided and may include detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer. A Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server may be queried for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer. The installer controller executes the software installer upon receiving on the returned approval status; aggregates a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updates a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known.

Abstract: A method for performing software discovery by an installer controller is provided and may include detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer. A Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server may be queried for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer. The installer controller executes the software installer upon receiving on the returned approval status; aggregates a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updates a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known.

Abstract: A method for performing software discovery by an installer controller is provided and may include detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer. A Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server may be queried for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer. The installer controller executes the software installer upon receiving on the returned approval status; aggregates a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updates a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known.

Abstract: A software asset management method comprising storing URL data for each of a first plurality of software entities, obtaining, by means of a first browser plug-in, first data indicative of a URL from which a browser has obtained content, comparing, for at least one of the first plurality of software entities, the URL data of the respective software entity with the first data, and communicating the first data to a first computer other than a computer hosting the browser subject to a first condition that, for each of the first plurality of software entities, the comparing reveals that the first data does not match the URL data of the respective software entity.