throbber
United States Patent (19)
`Nakagawa et al.
`
`54 SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION AND
`MAINTENANCE SYSTEMAND METHOD
`
`75 Inventors: Toru Nakagawa; Yuji Takada, both of
`Kawasaki, Japan
`s
`73 Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Kanagawa, Japan
`
`21 Appl. No.: 517,133
`22 Filed:
`Aug. 21, 1995
`O
`O
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63 Continuation-in-
`63 alSNEn in-part of Ser. No. 385,460, Feb. 8, 1995,
`O
`O
`30
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Feb. 8, 1995
`JP
`Japan .................................. O6-O147O6
`Feb. 8, 1995
`JP
`Japan ...
`... 06-014710
`Aug. 17, 1995
`JP
`Japan ....................................
`51
`Int. CI.
`51) Int. Cl. ...................................................... G06F 17/30
`52 U.S. Cl. ................................. 707/203; 707/3; 707/10;
`395/200.33; 395/200.51
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 395/608, 610,
`395/619,500, 200.09, 700, 200.33, 200.51;
`364/401, 300; 707/203, 10, 3
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4.558.413
`12/1985 Schmidt et al. ........................ 364/300
`2- - -2
`5,247,683 9/1993 Holmes et al. ......................... 395/700
`
`USOO583.5911A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,835,911
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`5,390,314 2/1995 Swanson ................................. 395/500
`5,526,257 6/1996 Lerner ..................................... 364/401
`5,544,320 8/1996 Konrad ............................... 395/200.09
`Primary Examiner Thomas G. Black
`Assistant Examiner-Cheryl Lewis
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Staas & Halsey
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A number of sets of Software may be systematically distrib
`uted and maintained via a network connecting many vendors
`and users of client/server Software. A client program in a
`user computer detects when Software Subject to maintenance
`is activated and transmits an inquirV over the network to th
`quiry
`e netWOrk to the
`software vendor's computer for information on the current
`version of the Software. The Server program compares data
`in the inquiry with data relating to the latest version of the
`Software and returnS update instruction information and
`updated Software if appropriate. The client program auto
`matically updates the Software to the latest version accord
`ing to the update instruction information when it is received.
`The client program can also Send inquires at predetermined
`times, or in response to a user command. The inquiry can
`include a request for purchase information in which case the
`server checks qualifications of the user, processes the
`inquiry according to Vendor management data and returns
`the requested Software, if appropriate. Other inquiries can
`also be made in response to user commands or
`automatically, e.g., to obtain information on the most recent
`version and transmission of data from client to Server in
`response to an abnormal termination of client Software.
`
`94 Claims, 24 Drawing Sheets
`
`USER COMPUTER
`
`- (
`
`ATACTIVATION
`OFOBJECT
`SOFWARE
`
`
`
`USER - A
`NSTRUC
`USER
`COMPUTER
`
`EXTRACTING
`INFORMATION
`
`UPDATE
`MANAGEMEN
`
`
`
`-------------------------
`
`NCURY
`SOFTWARE
`CURRENT CONFIGURATION
`INFORMATION
`FAUTINFORMATION
`
`
`
`SISNEN cast
`
`
`
`ENVIRONMENT, ETC.
`COMPUTATER
`OF VENDOR
`
`UPDATENSTRUCTION
`INFORMATION
`UPDATEVERSION
`OF SOFTWARE
`
`NETWORK
`
`FAULT
`NFORMATION
`
`F“ --------- ... GENERATING ...
`: DEVELOPER:
`PES - UPDATE - ANSWERING
`-----------
`;
`: INSTRUCTION
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -: )
`DEVELOPMENT
`
`MAINTENANCE
`
`!----------
`
`INFORMATION r"
`... --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`
`
`t
`
`OBJECSOFTWARE LIBRARY
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 1 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 1
`
`1-1
`
`
`
`USER COMPUTER
`
`a ATACTIVATION
`OF OBJECT
`SOFTWARE
`
`EXTRACTING
`INFORMATION
`
`UPDATE
`MANAGEMENT
`
`1-n
`
`
`
`USER
`INSTRUC
`USER
`TION
`COMPUTER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INQUERY
`OBJECTSOFTWARE
`
`E. Siano
`
`INFORMATION
`FAULT INFORMATION
`INSTRUCTION, CAUSE,
`ENVIRONMENT, ETC.
`COMPUTATER
`OF VENDOR
`
`
`
`FAULT
`INFORMATION
`---------------!---|--
`DEVELOPER:
`hy- a r
`DEVELOPMENTI
`MANTENANCE
`
`UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`INFORMATION
`UPDATE VERSION
`
`OF SOFTWARE
`
`GENERATING:
`UPDATE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OBJECTSOFTWARE LIBRARY
`
`
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 2 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 2
`
`USER COMPUTER
`USER U2 SU2
`USER U1 SU1
`PLURAL SETS OF S1.Vi.S2V. . .PLURAL SETS OF
`OBJECT SOFTWARE
`OBJECTSOFTWARE
`USER MANAGEMENT DATA
`USER
`USER DENTIFICATION INFOR-
`MANAGEMENT
`MATION, SOFTWARE MANAGE-
`DATA
`MENT INFORMATION, VARIOUS
`PROCEDURES, ETC.
`
`USER /
`VENDOR
`COMPUTER
`
`USER /
`VENDOR
`
`GENERATING
`TRANSMISSION
`MESSAGE
`
`SOFTWARE
`RECEPTION
`STORAGE -CONFIRMATION
`INSTALATION,
`6 SENSE
`
`COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`
`12
`
`SUMMARY INOURY SUMMARY INFORMATION - - - - - - -
`NEW PURCHASE REGUEST
`NEW SUPPLY
`-------
`UPDATE INQUIRY FAULT UPDATE INFORMATION,
`INFORMATION, ETC.
`ETC.
`VENDOR COMPUTER
`
`
`
`13
`
`VENDORW1
`
`RECEIVING,
`CONFIRMATION OF
`SENDER
`QUALIFICATION
`
`GENERATING ANSWER
`MESSAGE,
`NEW SUPPLY SOFTWARE,
`UPDATE INFORMATION, ETC.
`
`VENDOR MANAGEMENT DATA
`VENDOR IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION,
`SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION,
`CUSTOMER INFORMATION, VARIOUS
`PROCEDURES, ETC.
`SOFTWARE
`LIBRARY
`
`VENDOR
`MANAGEMENT
`
`SOFTWARE
`LIBRARY
`S2, VS2. V.
`. . .
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 3 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 3
`
`(USERA)
`
`USER COMPUTER
`
`21-1
`
`(USERB)
`
`21-2
`
`USER COMPUTER
`
`SOFTWARE (OLD VERSION)
`
`SOFTWARE (LATEST VERSION)
`
`EXTRACTING
`CONFIGURATION
`INFORMATION
`
`UPDATE
`MANAGEMENT
`-CP
`
`
`
`EXTRACTING
`FAULT
`INFORMATION
`
`CLENT PROGRAM
`
`CLIENT PROGRAM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(AUTOMATIC
`(AUTOMATIC ANSWER)
`(AUTOMATIC INQUIRY)
`LRRENT
`CUPEAENORM2N
`RER25N)
`CONFIGURATION YOUPDATESOFTWARE FAULT INFORMATION
`INFORMATION
`Mi, Mn
`
`ST NETWORK
`(VENDoa
`II -
`VENDOR COMPUTER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SOFTWARE LIBRARY
`(OLD MODULES)
`
`(UPDATED (ADDED
`MODULES) MODULES
`
`FAULT
`INFORMATION --------------
`II: DEVELOPER:
`DEVELOPMENT/..............:
`MAINTENANCE
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 4 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ENTERING INSTRUCTION
`BYUSER TO ACTIVATE
`OBJECT SOFTWARES
`
`FIG. 4
`
`S2
`
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY
`ACTIVATING CLIENT
`PROGRAM
`
`EXTRACTING CURRENT
`CONFIGURATION OF
`SOFTWARES
`
`
`
`SENDING INFORMATION OF
`CURRENT CONFIGURATION
`TO SERVER PROGRAM
`THROUGH NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S5
`RECEIVING UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`INFORMATION (AND SOFTWARE OF
`UPDATED VERSION) FROM SERVER
`PROGRAM THROUGH NETWORK
`
`
`
`UPDATING SOFTWARES ACCORDING
`TO UPDATE INSTRUCTION INFOR
`MATION IF UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`IS RECEIVED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`- - - - - - - as arr- - - - a
`
`>
`
`SERVER
`PROCESS;
`
`
`
`COMPLING AND LINKING UPDATE
`UPDATED SOFTWARES (FUPDATED
`AND NECESSARY)
`
`
`
`STARTING EXECUTION OF
`(UPDATED) SOFTWARES
`ACCORDING TO USER
`NSTRUCTION
`
`SUSPENDING CLIENT PROGRAM
`
`
`
`
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 5 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`S11
`STARTING SERVER PROGRAM
`AND SETAT STANDBY STATE
`
`INQUIRY
`
`RECEIVING INFORMATION OF
`-- USERSCURRENTCONFIGURATION
`FROM CLIENT PROGRAM THROUGH
`NETWORK
`
`COMPARING INFORMATION OF USER'S
`CURRENT CONFIGURATION WITH
`OBJECT SOFTWARE LIBRARY AND
`GENERATE UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`INFORMATION
`
`RETURNING UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`INFORMATION (AND NECESSARY
`UPDATED SOFTWARE) TO CLIENT
`PROGRAM THROUGH NETWORK
`
`RETURNING TO STANDBY STATE
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 6 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`
`
`S21
`EXECUTING INSTRUCTION
`BY DAEMON PROGRAMTO
`ACTIVATE CLIENT PROGRAM
`FOR SOFTWARES
`
`FIG. 6
`
`S2
`
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY
`ACTIVATING CLIENT
`PROGRAM
`
`
`
`EXTRACTING CURRENT
`CONFIGURATION OF
`SOFTWARES
`
`SENDING INFORMATION OF
`CURRENT CONFIGURATION
`TO SERVER PROGRAM
`THROUGH NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S5
`RECEIVING UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`INFORMATION (AND SOFTWARE OF
`UPDATED VERSION) FROM SERVER
`PROGRAM THROUGH NETWORK
`
`UPDATING SOFTWARES ACCORDING
`TOUPDATE INSTRUCTION INFOR
`MATION IF UPDATE INSTRUCTION
`IS RECEIVED
`
`COMPLING AND LINKING
`UPDATED SOFTWARE (IFUPDATED
`AND NECESSARY)
`
`
`
`S22
`TERMINATING DAEMON
`PROGRAM
`
`S8
`<- SUSPENDING CLIENT PROGRAM
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 7 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 7
`
`(USERA)
`
`COMPUTER OF USERA
`
`26-1
`
`(USERB)
`COMPUTER OF USERB
`
`26-2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PLURAL FILES
`
`Ma. 1
`
`Mii. 1
`
`Mm.
`
`PLURAL FILES
`
`Ma. 1
`
`Mi. 2
`
`Mm. Mn.
`
`EXTRACTING UPDATE
`CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
`INFORMATION
`/ CP
`
`EXTRACTING
`FAULT
`NFORMATION
`
`CLIENT PROGRAM
`
`CLENT PROGRAM
`
`(AUTOMATIC INQUIRY)
`CURRENT
`CONFIGURATION
`INFORMATION
`Ma. 1, Mi. 1, Mm. 1
`
`(AUTOMATIC ANSWER)
`UPDATE INFORMATION
`DELETE Mi. 1
`ADD Mi. 2, Mn. 1
`UPDATE SOFTWARE
`Mi. 2, Mn. 1
`
`(AUTOMATIC
`REPORTING)
`FAULT INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`ST NETWORK
`(VENDOR)
`II -
`VENDOR COMPUTER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OBJECT SOFTWARE LIBRARY PLURAL FILES
`
`M1. 1, Mi. 1 (OLD VERSION),
`Mm. 1, Mn. 1 (NEW VERSION)
`M. 2 (NEW VERSION)
`
`
`
`FAULT
`INFORMATION I.--------------
`
`- - - - - - - - IDEVELOPER:
`- - - - - - - - d- - - - - - -
`
`DEVELOPMENT/--------------
`MAINTENANCE
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 8 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`(USER COMPUTER / 3
`(USERU)
`(OBJECTSOFTWARES
`(USER MANAGEMENT
`DATAUD
`
`(CLIENT PROGRAMCP
`
`32
`
`33
`
`NEW PURCHASE y
`REOUEST
`
`(NETWORK
`
`FAULT
`UPDATE ,
`INFORMATION
`INQUIRY
`UPDATE
`SOFTWARE
`INFORMATION
`SUPPLY
`COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`
`y
`
`35
`
`NEW PURCHASE
`REGUEST
`
`(VENDOR COMPUTER)
`(SERVER PROGRAMCP)
`
`?h UPDATE
`UPDATE INQUIRY
`FAULT INFORMATION MINFORMATION
`SOFTWARE SUPPLY
`
`(VENDOR MANAGEMENT
`DATA VD)
`(OBJECTSOFTWARE
`LIBRARYSL)
`
`(VENDOR)
`
`
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 9 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 9 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`
`BHWML+OS HOONHA)
`
`(IS WHWHQIT
`
`(dS WWH9OHd
`
`HEAHES)
`
`
`
`XHONA LEN
`
`
`
`
`
`O?A (HOGNEN/HESn) 0?n
`
`
`
`2-88(HEL^dWOO HOCINHA/HESn)
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 10 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 10
`
`DISTRIBUTION/
`MAINTENANCE
`REQUEST
`(SENDING) f
`
`DISTRIBUTION/
`MAINTENANCE
`(RECEIVING)
`
`
`
`(CLIENT
`PROGRAMCP);
`USERMANAGEMENT DATA
`(USER
`MANAGEMENT USER DENTIFICATION INFORMATION
`DATA)
`: SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
`VENDORDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
`SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION INFORMATION
`MESSAGE PROCESSMETHOD
`SPECIFICATION INFORMATION
`SENDING PROCEDURES VENDOR
`CONFIRMATION PROCEDURE
`RECEIVING PROCEDURES
`
`(OBJECT
`SOFTWARE SU)
`
`SPECIFIED VERSION OF
`OBJECTSOFTWARE
`
`- a - - - m - - - - - - - - - - - w m r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`. . . (USER U1)
`
`(USER U1)
`(USER COMPUTER)
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 11 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 11 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG 11
`
`DISTRIBUTION/
`MAINTENANCE
`REQUEST
`
`(RCEvie) f
`
`DISTRIBUTION/
`MAINTENANCE
`(ANSWERING)
`
`
`
`VENDOR
`MAGE
`DATA
`
`(SERVER :
`PROGRAMSP) :
`VENDOR MANAGEMENT DATA
`(VENDOR
`MANAGEMENT VENDORIDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
`DATA)
`SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
`|SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION INFORMATION
`USERIDENTIFICATION INFORMATIONDATABASE
`FAULT INFORMATION
`MESSAGE PROCESSMETHOD SPECIFICATION
`INFORMATION
`USER QUALIFICATION CONFIRMATION
`PROCEDURE
`RECEIVING PROCEDURES
`ANSWERING PROCEDURES
`
`(VENDOR
`SOFTWARE
`VENDOR SOFTWARE LIBRARY
`LIBRARYSL) is EURAVERSIONS"
`SL1.V :
`SL1.V
`SL1.V"
`(VENDOR V1)
`(VENDOR COMPUTER)
`
`0 0
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 12 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 12 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 12
`
`(CLIENT
`PROGRAM (CP) - S3
`STANDBY STATE
`
`(USER PROCEDURE
`(UP)
`
`ACTIVATING
`2>
`
`S32
`ACTIVATING BY USER OR OBJECT
`SOFTWARE, OR RECEIVING MESSAGE
`THROUGH NETWORK
`S33
`ANALYZING COMMAND (USERNAME,
`COMMAND NAME, AND SOFTWARENAME)
`PERFORMING SUBSEQUENT PROCESSES
`FOR THE SPECIFIED USER
`ACTIVATED BY USER
`
`S34
`
`ACTIVATOR
`
`RECEIVING THROUGH
`NETWORK
`
`ACTIVATED
`BYUSER
`SOFTWARE
`
`(INQUIRYIREQUEST P.
`EDITING PROCEDURE)
`
`
`
`
`
`EDITING MESSAGE
`FOR THE SPECIFIED
`COMMAND IN
`INTERACTIVE MODE
`
`SUMMARY INQUIRY NEW
`INSTALLATION REQUEST
`NEW SERVICE REGUEST
`UPDATE INOURY FAULT
`INFORMATIONETC,
`(RETRIEVING AND
`CONFIGURING
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`S36
`AUTOMATICALLY
`EDITING MESSAGE
`FOR THE SPECIFIED
`COMMAND
`
`S37
`SENDING
`<<- SENDING INQUIRYIREQUEST MESSAGE
`S38
`RECORDING THE MESSAGE AND
`RETURNING TO STANDBY STATE
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 13 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 13 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 13
`
`RECEIVING
`THROUGH
`NETWORK
`
`S39
`CONFIRMING STANDBY FOR
`ANSWER AND CONFIRMING
`SENDER
`
`
`
`S40
`NWOKING ANSWER
`RECEIVING PROCEDURE
`FOR RECEIVED COMMAND
`
`
`
`S41
`(IFREQUIRED)
`SENDING GENERATING AND SENDING
`<< | ANSWER PROCESS RESULT
`ACKNOWLEDGMENT
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`S42
`RECORDING ANSWER
`RECEIVING PROCESS AND
`RETURNING TO STANDBY
`STATE IN S31
`
`P2
`(VENDOR CONFIRMATION
`PROCEDURE)
`VENDOR CONFIRMATION
`PROCESS
`
`P3
`(ANSWER RECEIVING
`PROCEDURE)
`INSTALLING INITIALLY
`PURCHASED SOFTWARE
`INSTALLING UPDATA
`DATA DISPLAYING AND
`STORING WARNING/
`NOTICE MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 14 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 15 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 15 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`@TONIHEMSNVIÐNIAEORH)
`
`(SEHINGEOOdd
`
`99S
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`€)N|HEMSNW
`
`
`
`
`
`H0WSSEW HEMSNW SN|CINES | —>->
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 16 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 16 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 16
`
`(USER COMPUTER)
`
`(NETWORK) (VENDOR COMPUTER)
`
`GENERATING AND SENDING
`OBJECT SOFTWARE
`DISTRIBUTION/MAINTENANCE
`REQUEST MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVING DISTRIBUTION/
`MAINTENANCE REGUEST
`MESSAGE
`
`A
`
`GENERATING AND SENDING
`OBJECT SOFTWARE
`DISTRIBUTION/MAINTENANCE
`ANSWER MESSAGE BY
`REFERRING TOWENDOR
`SOFTWARE LIBRARY
`
`PERFORMING DISTRIBUTING/
`MAINTAINING PROCESS FOR
`OBJECT SOFTWARE
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 17 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 17 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`(USER COMPUTER)
`CLIENT PROGRAM (CP)
`
`FIG. 17
`(NETWORK) (VENDOR COMPUTER)
`SERVER PROGRAM (SP)
`
`GENERATING AND SENDING
`OBJECT SOFTWARE
`DISTRIBUTION/MAINTENANCE
`REQUEST MESSAGE BY
`REFERRING USER MANAGEMENT
`DATA (INCLUDING USER
`SPECIFIED PROCEDURES)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`t
`
`RECEIVING DISTRIBUTION/
`MAINTENANCE REGUEST
`MESSAGE
`
`A
`
`GENERATING AND SENDING
`OBJECTSOFTWARE
`DISTRIBUTION/MAINTENANCE
`ANSWER MESSAGE BY
`REFERBINGOMECORSONARE
`LIBRARY ANDyENDORMANAGEMENT
`DATA (INCLUDING VENDOR
`SPECIFIED PROCEDURE)
`CK Kik
`---------
`
`S65
`RECEIVING ANSWER MESSAGE
`
`
`
`PERFORMING DISTRIBUTING/
`MAINTAINING PROCESS FOR
`OBJECT SOFTWARE
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 18 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 18 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG. 18
`
`71 USER COMPUTER 72
`
`73
`
`OBJECT
`SOFTWARE
`MANAGEMENT
`DATA FOR
`USERS UD
`CLIENT
`PROGRAMCP
`REQUEST OF |
`NEW PURCHASE
`
`REQUEST OF
`NEW PURCHASE
`
`|
`FAULTREPORT
`UPDATE
`R E.
`NEW SUPPLY
`NFORMATION
`CDevon D
`
`UPDATE INQUIRY |
`|
`FAULT
`REPORT
`
`NEW SUPPLY
`
`UPDATE
`NFORMATION
`
`
`
`SERVER
`PROGRAMSP
`MANAGEMENT
`DATA FOR
`VENDORSVD
`
`SOFTWARE
`LIBRARY SL
`
`74
`
`VENDOR COMPUTER
`
`75
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 19 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 19 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`F.G. 19
`
`USER COMPUTER
`USERU
`OBJECT
`SOFTWARES1. V
`
`MANAGEMENT
`DATA FOR USERS
`UD
`
`USER PROCESS
`PROCEDURESUP
`
`CLENT
`PROGRAMCP
`
`
`
`USER U2
`
`USERWENDOR
`COMPUTER
`USER AND VENDOR
`OBJECT
`SOFWARE SOFTWARE
`S. V"
`LIBRARY
`SL(S3)
`
`UD
`
`SERVER
`CLIENT
`PROGRAM PROGRAM
`SP
`
`SUMMARY NOURY SUMMARY
`NEW PURCHASE RECQUEST y INFORMATION
`UPDATE INQUIRY | NEW SUPPLY
`FAULT INFORMATION ETC.
`UPDATE INFORMATION ETC.
`4.
`83
`
`
`
`VENDOR
`COMPUTER
`SERVER
`
`........." |
`!.
`RECEPTION - ANSWER
`
`SERVER
`PROGRAM
`SP
`
`SOFTWARE LIBRARY
`SL(S1)
`s.v. S1. V: St. V": . . .
`
`a
`
`r a a r- an
`
`as
`
`r ar- a - - - - -
`
`- - - - - - - -
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 20 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 21 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 22 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 23 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 23 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`FIG, 23
`(USER PROCESS PROCEDURE (UP)
`
`S7
`(CLIENT - PROGRAM (CP)
`INVOCATION CPIS INVOKED WITH COMMAND
`-
`ENTERED BY USER OF USER
`SOFTWARE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERACTIVELY OR AUTO
`MATICALLY EDITING INQUIRY/
`REOUEST MESSAGE FOR
`ENTERED COMMAND
`
`SENDING AND REGISTERING
`NOURY/REOUEST MESSAGE
`TOVENDORSP
`(STANDBY):
`S74
`RECEIVING ANSWER MESSAGE
`FROM VENDORSP
`
`VERIFYING SENDER (VENDOR)
`
`
`
`iSEER,
`MESSAGE
`:
`: SUMMARY INQUIRY
`:
`REQUEST OF NEW PURCHASE
`REQUEST OF NEW SERVICES
`UPDATE INQUIRY
`FAULTREPORT, ETC.
`SENDING
`--------------
`-DDDDDDDDD: VENDOR
`(NETWORK)
`iSE
`BECEPTION: "SF)"
`<<<x<x<x<=
`VENDOR
`F-VERIFICATION PROCEDURE- P2
`s (
`
`S76
`PES EEEEEE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S77
`GENERATING AND SENDING
`VERIFICATION MESSAGE OF
`PROCESS RESULT (IF
`VERIFICATION IS REQUESTED)
`
`F-PROCESS PROCEDURE----
`ANALYZING MESSAGE,
`STORING INFORMATION,
`NSTALLING IF
`APPROPRIATE,
`UPDATING UD
`SENDING
`TOSP : NEWINSTALLATION
`ee> UPDATEINSTALLATION
`NOTICE MESSAGE,
`WARNING MESSAGE, ETC.
`
`
`
`CONTROL
`TRANSFER
`<<E
`
`
`
`REGISTERING ANSWER,
`TRANSFERRING CONTROL
`AND ENTERING SLEEP MODE
`
`
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 24 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 24 of 24
`
`5,835,911
`
`SERVER PROGRAM (SP))
`STANDBY STATE
`
`FIG. 24
`S81
`
`VENDOR PROCEDURE
`PROCESS (VP))
`
`S82
`RECEIVING
`FROM CP RECEIVING MESSAGE FROM
`CD
`CLIENT PROGRAM
`S83
`
`ANALYZING USER
`INFORMATION AND
`CALLINGUSER
`OUALIFICATION
`VERIFICATION
`PROCEDURE
`
`
`
`
`
`S94
`NO
`OUALIFICATION
`
`YES
`
`
`
`
`
`CALLING RECEPTION/ANSWER
`PROCESS PROCEDURES
`-
`
`S86
`ANSWER
`TOCP SENDINGAYERESSAGE
`DD
`S87
`LEAVING RECEPTION/ANSWER
`RECORDS AND RETURNING TO
`STANDBY STATE
`
`
`
`USER DENTIFICATION
`
`
`
`VERIFYING AND TESTING USER
`INFORMATIONUSINGVD TO
`DETERMINEACCESS
`OUALIFICATION OF USER
`
`UNOUALIFICATIONUSER
`----PROCESS PROCEDURE ----------
`
`P2
`
`CONFIGURING MESSAGES OF
`REFUSAL WARNING,
`OUALIFICATION ACOUSTON
`METHOD
`
`P13
`RECEIVING/SENDING
`PROCESS PROCEDURES.---
`ANALYZING RECEIVED MESSAGE
`SEARCHING INFORMATION FROM
`VD, GENERATING ANSWER
`MESSAGE
`TYPES OF ANSWER MESSAGES:
`SUMMARY INFORMATION ANSWER
`NEWSOFTWARE SUPPLY
`NEW SERVICE SUPPLY
`RETURNING UPDATED SOFTWARE
`INFORMATION
`NOTICE MESSAGE
`WARNING MESSAGE, ETC.
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - arr - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 25 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`1
`SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION AND
`MAINTENANCE SYSTEMAND METHOD
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`This application is a continuation-in-part application of
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/385,460 filed an Feb. 8,
`1995, now abandoned.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a software distribution
`and maintenance System and method with which a Software
`vendor can provide a number of users with Software over a
`network, and update and maintain the Software at requests of
`the users, and with which the users obtain a lot of Software
`from plural Software vendors over the network and can use
`the latest versions of the Software over the network.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The well-known prior art to distribute and obtain software
`update information is as follows.
`(a) Method of Distributing Software using Portable Media
`To Sell and distribute computer Software to users, the
`Software is normally Stored in portable media Such as
`magnetic tapes, floppy disks, etc.
`In this case, it is necessary to provide additional Services
`Such as correcting bugs, adding functions, and Supplying
`new versions.
`If the additional services are to be installed in the users
`computer Systems, the vendors have to visit the users
`offices, or the users must install necessary Services by
`themselves.
`(b) Method of Distributing Software over a Network from a
`Vendor
`Recently, Software is transmitted over a communications
`network to users. Information required to correct bugs, add
`functions, and Supply new versions can also be provided for
`users from vendors over a network. If a vendor is informed
`of a user address, then the Vendor can decide to transmit
`necessary information to the user.
`When computer Software is actually updated in user
`computer, the software should be re-installed by the user
`according to the Software update information and instruc
`tions from the vendor of the Software.
`(c) Method of Users Obtaining Software over a Network
`Recently, a user can obtain a Software over a network,
`when required, by accessing a Software library which is
`Stored in a vendor (or an agent) computer file (download).
`Likewise obtained at a request of a user is the information
`about correcting bugs, adding functions, and Supplying new
`versions. The vendor only has to manage the library. The
`obtained Software is installed, updated, and managed in the
`user computer at the user's responsibility.
`In this case, the Software used to obtain a necessary
`Software over a network is quite Separate from the necessary
`Software, and therefore is not used to update the necessary
`Software. The user has to decide which Software/information
`is to be obtained and is responsible for the access operations.
`(d) Linking and Processing Distributed Software over a
`Network
`Software should be appropriately converted in an execut
`able format normally by compiling and linking Source
`programs. Usually, the Source programs are Stored in a user
`computer and then compiled and linked when necessary.
`However, the Source programs can be Stored in another
`computer (that is, the vendor computer). In this case, the
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,835,911
`
`2
`user accesses the Vendor computer from the user computer
`over a network, then either (1) compiles and links the Source
`programs in the vendor computer to download the resultant
`programs or (2) downloads the Source programs and then
`compiles and links them in the user computer, thereby
`converting the Software into an executable format.
`This method fundamentally belongs to the above
`described method (c), but is an easier method of executing
`Software.
`In this method, the user recognizes that the Source pro
`grams are Stored in another computer, and then clearly
`Specifies necessary modules and files (for example, specifies
`the name of a file with its version number) to transfer and
`link the programs. The entire proceSS is performed at the
`user's responsibility.
`Described below are the prior arts partially similar to the
`above described technology but different in purpose, object,
`and method.
`(e) Automatic Download
`This method is used for an electronic notice board. In this
`method, a large amount of news information is Stored in a
`central computer, etc., and a terminal computer can access
`the central computer through the network periodically at
`intervals and automatically read new information in a speci
`fied category if newly stored (download).
`In this case, the central computer is regarded as a vendor
`computer, and the terminal computer is regarded as a user
`computer. Object information is news, Software (so-called
`freeware), etc.
`The software which is automatically downloaded is stored
`as ordinary data, and does not directly update or manage the
`Software currently used in the user computer. That is, the
`above described automatic download System does not man
`age the Software currently used by a user.
`(f) Mirroring
`A mirroring process is used to acceSS new/updated data
`and obtain the latest information among a plurality of central
`computers, etc. which Store and provide a large amount of
`document data, etc.
`A central computer is a primary Storage center of infor
`mation of a specific category. Stored information is copied
`to other plural central computers (Secondary storage centers)
`for disclosing the Stored information.
`To attain this, the Secondary Storage centers periodically
`access the primary Storage center, and detect and read newly
`stored/updated information only. This method is different
`from the above described automatic downloading method
`(e) in obtaining information in plural categories by Switch
`ing for each category the functions of the primary Storage
`center and the Secondary Storage centers among the central
`computers in a network.
`In this method, the information eXchanged among the
`central computers (including Software) is handled as ordi
`nary data. That is, the Software currently used by a user is not
`directly updated or managed through mirroring.
`(g) Remote Maintenance over a Network
`If a fault occurs in a user computer, a Software (or
`hardware) vendor directly operates user Software through a
`network at a user's request (or through automatic commu
`nications over the network) to detect the reason for the fault
`and recover from the fault.
`This proceSS is normally performed as a Service individu
`ally provided by a vendor engineer to recover from a
`Software fault.
`That is, the proceSS is different from an automatic Supply
`of maintenance and update Services by automatic Software
`for a number of users.
`
`Ebay Exhibit 1005, Page 26 of 88
`Ebay, Inc. v. Lexos Media IP, LLC
`IPR2024-00337
`
`

`

`3
`
`5,835,911
`
`(h) Client/Server Method
`The client/server method, in which information is com
`municated between the client and Server Software and a
`client operates Server Software, is well known and has been
`used to realize the above listed technologies (b)-(f). No
`Systems, however, have been developed So far with this
`method to automatically update Software already distributed
`to a user, by Simply updating the Software in the vendor
`computer.
`Generally, computer Software has been designed as an
`advanced, complicated, and large-scale product with wide
`variation, and is used by the increasing number of users in
`various fields.
`Under Such conditions, optimally maintaining, managing,
`updating, and improving user computer Software is a big
`consuming job to Vendors and users.
`Nevertheless, according to the above listed conventional
`methods, the Software update information is distributed
`individually by a vendor to a user as in the cases of (a) and
`(b), or is obtained by the user as in the cases of (c) and (d).
`It is determined individually either by a vendor or by a user
`which version or part of Software is transmitted and
`obtained, and the Software is manually installed or
`re-installed. These manual operations cause many inconve
`niences and problems.
`From a viewpoint of Vendors, Since Software is Supplied
`to a large number of users on a variety of time Schedule and
`is independently managed by users, it brings forth various
`problems when the software should be optimally maintained
`and managed.
`That is, the following problems are caused in the above
`listed prior art technologies.
`<Problem 1 > Since a great number of users obtain and use
`Software with different configurations according to different
`Schedules, it is very difficult for vendors to correctly recog
`nize the configuration of the Software of each user.
`<Problem 2> Although a bug is detected and the vendor
`Software is corrected in a vendor computer, the Software in
`a user computer cannot be corrected immediately. Therefore,
`the user faces inconvenience until the incomplete Software is
`corrected in a user computer.
`<Problem 3> It takes a long time to provide all users with
`new Services Such as extended functions, new versions, etc.
`<Problem 4> Since actual users of Software cannot be
`Sufficiently recognized by a vendor in many cases, the
`vendor cannot send necessary information promptly to the
`users. This problem grows as the users increase in number
`and in variation, especially for commercially distributed
`Software.
`<Problem 5> Since a large cost is required when a vendor
`has to visit a user to install Software, it is practically
`impossible to install the Software in many cases. Whereas
`not all services provided by the vendor for the software can
`be realized when the user is made responsible to install the
`Software.
`From a viewpoint of users, a quick and proper Service
`cannot be given by the vendor, and a time-consuming
`proceSS is required onto the user to install, update, or manage
`the software. Thus, the software cannot be sufficiently
`utilized.
`<Problem 62 Sufficient knowledge and time consuming
`work are required to optimally install Software depending on
`the hardware/software environment of each user and to
`manage the versions of the installed Software, thereby per
`mitting only skilled engineer to perform the required pro
`CCSSCS.
`<Problem 7> If software contains bugs, an object job cannot
`be performed properly or Smoothly in a user computer, and
`
`4
`the user must obtain a bug-corrected version from the
`vendor and install it with taking a long time for the process.
`<Problem 8> Even when new functions are added or new
`versions are developed by the vendor, they are not signifi
`cant until the users can obtain and re-install them Success
`fully. obviously, long processes and time are required to
`obtain and re-install them.
`<Problem 9: Users are often ignorant of the information of
`bug correction, function addition, new version development,
`etc. pertaining their Software and are using the old Software
`as being incomplete.
`<Problem 10> It is troublesome for a user to frequently
`receive information from the software vendor about bug
`correction, additional functions, etc. and to have to install
`additional technologies.
`Summing up the above listed problems, they are caused
`by manual processes performed by Software vendors or
`users in distributing/obtaining Software update information
`(and updated Software) and updating the Software in the
`users computers (re-installing the Software).
`A comparatively simple System to Solve these problems
`can be a System of automatically updating an object Software
`in a computer of each user to the latest version by use of a
`client/server method A Single object program is managed by
`client programs in a number of user computers and is
`Supported by a server program which manages the Software
`library of the object software in a vendor computer.
`However, Such a System cannot be Successfully designed
`without solving the following various problems of wide
`purpose and wide-variation Software of late.
`<Problem 11> A number of users refer to wide variation. For
`example, (1) various computers, (2) various Software envi
`ronments in user computers, (3) various electronic skill
`levels of users, (4) various skill levels and purposes of use
`for an object Software, (5) various uses of user computers
`(for office use, personal use, etc.), and the like.
`Considering the above listed variation, client programs
`must have Sufficient variety in the process to manage Soft
`ware in user computers. Software vendors and Server pro
`grams in Vendor computers should properly recognize the
`above listed variation at users.
`<Problem 12> The variation pertaining to a number of
`Software affects the distribution and management of the
`Software.
`There are various type

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