KR20030006140A - Apparatus and method for updating software installed in personal computer through network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention particularly relates to an apparatus and method for diagnosing the state of various software installed in a personal computer located at a remote location and connected via a network, and downloading and installing the latest version of the software to a personal computer automatically or under user control. will be.

In the software update apparatus for a personal computer via a network according to the present invention, the memory device stores a plurality of personal computer software, personal computer search software and update software, and the personal computer search software is downloaded to the personal computer and retrieved from the update software. A search software download module for retrieving version information of the software installed in the personal computer according to the control signal and uploading the updated software to the update software, wherein the update software downloads the personal computer search software stored in the memory device to the personal computer; Automatic update module that receives version information about predetermined software items from personal computer search software, creates version comparison information and provides it to users through the network, selects the software to be downloaded, and downloads the selected software to the personal computer. ; And a menu update module for selecting software to be downloaded by providing information on a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user through a network in a menu manner, and downloading the selected software to the personal computer.

Description

Apparatus and method for updating software installed in personal computer through network}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for updating various software installed in a personal computer. In particular, the present invention diagnoses the state of various software installed in a personal computer located at a remote location and connected via a network, and automatically or automatically under the control of a user. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for downloading and installing the same on a personal computer.

With the proliferation of computers, most homes have at least one personal computer, and offices are using personal computers interconnected by local area networks.

However, many users who purchase and use a personal computer are not familiar with the type of various devices constituting the computer they purchased and the name, manufacturer, and version of the device driver that drives the device, and operate on the personal computer. Sometimes you don't know the exact version of the application software. Meanwhile, as development competition for software installed and operated on a personal computer is heated, the life cycle of the developed software is shortened. Accordingly, general users do not know well where the abnormality occurs in their personal computer, and do not know whether the application software they use is the latest version.

Therefore, a problem occurs in a specific device installed in a personal computer, or in order to replace a device driver or application software used by a user with a new version, a user needs to visit an after-service expert familiar with the personal computer. . Also, even if you are familiar with the structure and operation of your personal computer, in order to receive a new version of device driver or application software, you can purchase the software from the software provider or access the website of the software provider through the Internet. Download the software. However, when there are a large number of device drivers and application software installed and operated in a personal computer, it is very cumbersome for the user to download the software by accessing a separate software provider.

The present invention was created to solve the above problems, and is provided with personal computer software including various device drivers and various application software installed and operated in a personal computer, and connected through a network without intervention by a user's expert knowledge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a software update device and method for a personal computer via a network that checks the software installation environment of the personal computer and updates it with the latest version of the software.

1 conceptually illustrates an environment in which a software update apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a plurality of personal computers via a network.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the software update apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an internal configuration of the update software shown in FIG.

4 shows the configuration of the personal computer shown in FIG.

Figure 5a illustrates the flow of data between the software update device and the personal computer during the personal computer software update process by the automatic update method according to the present invention.

Figure 5b shows the flow of data between the software update device and the personal computer during the personal computer software update process according to the menu update method according to the present invention.

6A to 6F illustrate HTML screens provided by a software update apparatus in a soft update process through a network according to the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, the software update device for a personal computer via a network according to the present invention comprises a memory device; A central processing unit connected to the memory device; And a network interface for controlling data flow through the network, wherein the memory device stores a plurality of personal computer software, personal computer search software, and update software, and the personal computer search software is downloaded to the personal computer. While operating by controlling the central processing unit provided in the personal computer, the version information of the software installed in the personal computer is retrieved and uploaded to the update software according to the search control signal from the update software, and the update software is the central processing unit. A search software download module configured to download the personal computer search software stored in the memory device to the personal computer while operating in a controlled manner; Received version information about predetermined software items from the personal computer search software, and generates version comparison information comparing the received version information and version information of a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user. An automatic update module for selecting software to be downloaded by providing it through a network, and extracting the selected software from the memory device and downloading the selected software to the personal computer through the network; By providing information on a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user through a network, the software to be downloaded is selected, the selected software is extracted from the memory device and downloaded to the personal computer through the network. And a menu update module.

In order to achieve the above another object, the software update method of a personal computer via a network according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) downloading the personal computer search software stored in the memory device of the software update device to the personal computer; (b) receiving first user selection information on an update method from a user through the network; (c) When the first user selection information indicates an automatic update method, the search control signal is transmitted to the downloaded personal computer search software to receive version information about predetermined software items, and to receive the received version information. Generates version comparison information compared to version information of a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device and provides the user via a network to select a software to be downloaded, and extracts the selected software from the memory device to the network via the network. Downloading to a personal computer; And (d) when the first user selection information indicates a menu updating method, selecting software to be downloaded by providing information on a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user through a network in a menu manner. Extracting the selected software from the memory device and downloading the selected software to the personal computer through the network.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

According to Fig. 1, the software update device 1 according to the present invention is connected to each personal computer 3 via a network 2.

The network 2 defined in the present invention means a series of nodes or connection points connected to each other by a communication line. The network 2 may be connected to other networks and may include sub-networks. The network 2 is classified into a bus shape, a shape, a ring shape, etc. according to a shape or a configuration, and according to the spatial distance of nodes, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), etc. Classified as In addition, the network 2 is classified into a Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) network, a System Network Architecture (SNA) network, and the like according to a data transmission technology type, and according to a conventional connection method, a dial-up network, a switching network, It is classified into a dedicated network, a virtual access network, and the like, and is classified into an optical fiber network, a coaxial cable network, and a copper wire network according to the type of physical link. In the present invention, the network 2 may include all of the above types, but since it is preferable to use the Internet, which is a computer communication network connecting the world using the TCP / IP protocol, the following description will be made based on this. .

2, an embodiment of a software update device 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one central processing unit (CPU) 10, a memory device 14, an input device 21, an output device 22. And a computer system 5 including a network interface 23. The components of the computer system are interconnected by at least one bus structure 24.

The illustrated central processing unit 10 operates an arithmetic / logical operation unit (ALU) 11 that performs arithmetic and logical operations, a register set 12 that temporarily stores data and instructions, and the operation of the computer system 5. It is provided with a control device 13 for controlling. Since the central processing unit 10 used in the present invention is not limited to a specific structure manufactured by a specific manufacturer, any type of processor having a basic configuration as described above is possible.

The memory device 14 includes a high speed main memory 15 and an auxiliary memory 16 used for long term storage of data. The main memory 15 is composed of a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM) semiconductor chip, and the auxiliary memory 16 is a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a flash memory, and an electric, magnetic, optical Or an apparatus for storing data using another recording medium. In addition, the main memory 15 may include a video display memory (not shown) for displaying an image through the display device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the memory device 14 may include various replaceable components with various storage capacities.

The input device 21 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a physical transducer (eg, a microphone), and the like, and the output device 22 may include a display, a printer, a physical transducer (eg, a speaker), and the like.

In addition, the network interface 23 may be a device such as an Ethernet card that transmits and receives data through the Internet, a serial / parallel port for connecting to an external system located at a short distance, a universal serial bus (USB) port, or an IEEE1394 port. It can be implemented in combination.

Computer system 5 is provided with an operating system 17 and at least one application program 18, 19, 20. The operating system 17 is a set of software that controls the operation of the computer system 5 and the allocation of resources, and the application program uses a set of computer resources available through the operating system 17 to perform tasks required by the user. Software. All of these are stored in the illustrated memory device 14. As a result, the software update device 1 of the personal computer via the network according to the present invention is a computer system 1 having an operating system 17 and one or more application software 18 installed and operated on the computer system 1. 19, 20).

According to FIG. 2, memory device 14 stores personal computer search software 18, update software 19, and a plurality of personal computer software 20.

The personal computer search software 18 is downloaded to the personal computer 3 of FIG. 1 by the update software 19, and installed in the personal computer 3 according to the search control signal from the update software 19. For example, software that retrieves information related to a device driver or application software (for example, software name, software version information, etc.) and uploads the information to the update software 124. The software is manufactured in the form of an OLE custom control (OCX). It is preferable. Here, the OCX is an object linking and embedding (OLE) custom control, and means a special-purpose program that can be created for use in an application running on Microsoft Windows. OCX provides functions to handle window resizing and scrollbar movement. OLE is designed to support compound documents with various types of information such as texts, pictures, sounds, and videos. The personal computer search software 18, which is produced in the form of OCX, is updated by the personal computer (Update). It is stored in the auxiliary memory 16 so that it can be downloaded to 3).

The update software 19 is stored in the auxiliary memory 16 when the computer system 5 is turned off. The update software 19 is loaded in the main memory 15 when the computer system 5 is turned on. It works by controlling). 3, the update software 19 includes a user registration module 19a, a search software download module 19b, an automatic update module 19c, and a menu update module 19d.

The user registration module 19a receives user registration information such as a user identifier (ID), a password, an address, a phone number, an e-mail address, etc. from the user via the network 2, and provides a user information database (shown in the auxiliary memory 16). To be registered as a member.

The search software download module 19b is driven when duly registered as a member by the user registration module 19a, draws out the personal computer search software 18 stored in the memory device 14, and accesses it via the network 2. To the personal computer 3 that has been created.

The update software 19 according to the present invention selects a desired software update method from the user by providing the personal computer 3 with an HTML document that presents various software update methods (for example, an automatic update method and a menu update method). Receive. The automatic update method is a method of updating by performing a search on a predetermined series of items of hardware and / or software installed in the personal computer 3, and the menu updating method is personal computer software stored in the memory device 14. This is a method of updating the software selected by the user by providing the user with information about the fields in a menu manner.

In the automatic update method, any one of the automatic update module 19c and the personal computer search software 18 downloaded to the personal computer 3 should store the search target items. The automatic update module 19c transmits a search control signal to the personal computer search software 18 to perform a search on the predetermined items, and the predetermined hardware and the search result information from the personal computer search software 18 as search result information. Receive information related to the software. Thereafter, the automatic update module 19c generates version comparison information by comparing version information among the information related to the transferred software with version information of corresponding software among the plurality of personal computer software 20 stored in the memory device 14. Then, the generated version comparison information and the information related to the delivered hardware are configured in an HTML document and provided to the user of the personal computer 3 through the network 2. Then, when the user checks the version comparison information and selects the software to be downloaded, the automatic update module 19c withdraws the software selected by the user from the memory device 14 to the personal computer 3 via the network 2. Download.

The menu update module 19d configures a hierarchical menu as an HTML document for selecting one or more softwares to be searched from a user among a plurality of personal computer softwares stored in the memory device 14 by a personal computer via the network 2. Provide to the user of (3). When the user selects specific software, the menu update module 19d extracts the selected software from the memory device 14 and downloads it to the personal computer 3 via the network 2.

According to FIG. 4, the personal computer 3 shown in FIG. 1 includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) 30, a memory device 34, an input device 41, an output device 42 and a network interface ( 43). The components of the personal computer 3 are interconnected by at least one bus structure 44.

The function of each component 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44 of the personal computer 3 shown in FIG. 4 is the software update device shown in FIG. Since one embodiment of each corresponds to each component 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 of the computer system 5 implemented, repeated description thereof will be omitted.

However, the personal computer 3 is provided with a web browser 38 capable of accessing the Internet through the network interface 43 and searching for materials on the World Wide Web (www). In addition, when the personal computer 3 connects to the software update device 1 via the network 2 and is normally registered with the user, the personal computer search software 16 stored in the auxiliary memory 16 of the computer system 5. Is downloaded to the personal computer 3. The personal computer search software 39, which is also downloaded to the personal computer, is installed in the auxiliary memory 36 of the personal computer 3, loaded on the main memory 35, and performed. On the other hand, the secondary memory 36 of the personal computer 3 is equipped with one or more personal computer softwares 40 that perform tasks required by the user using computer resources available through the operating system 17.

Hereinafter, a software update process of a personal computer via a network according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

According to Figure 5a, the personal computer software update process by the automatic update method is as follows.

First, a user connects to a software update device (hereinafter referred to as "server") 1 on the World Wide Web using a web browser 38 installed on the personal computer 3 (step S100). In this case, the user may enter the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the server 1 in the web browser 38, use a predetermined search engine, or access the server 1 through a hyperlink on another web page. . When the personal computer 3 is connected to the server 1, the server 1 provides the personal computer 3 with the initial screen of the homepage as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6A (step S110).

Therefore, the user can register a user on the homepage of the server 1 displayed on the personal computer 3. When the user is registered as a normal member, the server 1 draws out the personal computer search software 18 stored in the memory device 14 and downloads it to the personal computer 3. The personal computer search software 18 downloaded to the personal computer 3 is installed in the auxiliary memory 36 of the personal computer, loaded into the main memory 35 and maintained in an executable state. Here, in the case of a user who is already registered, the login process may be performed by inputting the registered member identifier and password without a separate user registration process (step S120).

When the user is normally logged in, the user may select the "Live Update" item in FIG. 6A and select the automatic update method by selecting "System Search" in the screen illustrated in FIG. 6B (step S130). When the automatic update method is selected, the server 1 transmits a search control signal to the personal computer search software 18 operating on the personal computer 3 to perform a search on predetermined hardware and / or software items. (S140 step).

Thereafter, the personal computer search software 18 performs a search according to the search control signal, and transmits the information related to the predetermined hardware and / or software to the server 1 as the result information (step S150). The server 1 generates version comparison information by comparing the version information among the information related to the transmitted software with the version information of the corresponding software among the plurality of personal computer software 20 stored in the memory device 14, The version comparison information and the information related to the delivered hardware are composed of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) documents and provided to the user of the personal computer 3 through the network 2 (step S160). 6C exemplarily shows an HTML document transmitted from the server 1 to the personal computer 3 in step S160.

When the user checks the version comparison information and selects the software to be downloaded (S170), the server 1 withdraws the software selected by the user from the memory device 14 and downloads it to the personal computer 3 via the network 2. (S180). 6D exemplarily shows an HTML document delivered by the server 1 to the personal computer 3 after step S180.

According to Figure 5b, the personal computer software update process by the menu update method is as follows.

First, a user connects to a software update device (hereinafter referred to as "server") 1 on the World Wide Web using a web browser 38 installed on the personal computer 3 (step S200). In this case, the user may enter the URL of the server 1 in the web browser 38, use a predetermined search engine, or access the server 1 through a hyperlink on another web page. When the personal computer 3 is connected to the server 1, the server 1 provides the personal computer 3 with the initial screen of the homepage as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6A (step S210).

Therefore, the user can register a user on the homepage of the server 1 displayed on the personal computer 3. When the user is registered as a normal member, the server 1 draws out the personal computer search software 18 stored in the memory device 14 and downloads it to the personal computer 3. The personal computer search software 18 downloaded to the personal computer 3 is installed in the auxiliary memory 36 of the personal computer, loaded into the main memory 35 and maintained in an executable state. Here, in the case of a user who is already registered, the login process may be performed by inputting the registered member identifier and password without a separate user registration process (S220).

When the user logs in normally, the user may select a menu update method by selecting “Find PC model” or “Find card” on the screen illustrated in FIG. 6B (step S230). In the menu update method, a PC manufacturer selection method and a card selection method are provided, and the server 1 provides the user with an HTML screen as illustrated in FIG. 6E or 6F for each of these methods (step S240). The user can select a desired PC manufacturer or a card in the menu method and select the submenu or the corresponding software (step S250). When the software to be updated by the user is selected in this way, the server 1 withdraws the software selected by the user from the memory device 14 and downloads it to the personal computer 3 via the network 2 (step S260). ).

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the present invention, when a user of a personal computer experiences a problem with a specific device installed in his or her computer, or if a user wants to replace a device driver or application software with a new version, the after-service specialist You can update all the software in your personal computer to the latest version or the product without any problems without having to download the software individually by visiting the homepage operated by the software provider.

Claims (5)

A device for updating software installed on a personal computer connected via a network, Memory device; A central processing unit connected to the memory device; And A network interface for controlling data flow through the network; The memory device stores a plurality of personal computer software, personal computer search software and update software, The personal computer search software is downloaded to the personal computer and operates by controlling the central processing unit provided in the personal computer while searching for the version information of the software installed in the personal computer according to the search control signal from the update software. Upload to, The update software is operated by controlling the central processing unit, the search software download module for downloading the personal computer search software stored in the memory device to the personal computer; Received version information about predetermined software items from the personal computer search software, and generates version comparison information comparing the received version information and version information of a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user. An automatic update module for selecting software to be downloaded by providing it through a network, and extracting the selected software from the memory device and downloading the selected software to the personal computer through the network; By providing information on a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user through a network, the software to be downloaded is selected, the selected software is extracted from the memory device and downloaded to the personal computer through the network. Software update apparatus for a personal computer via a network, comprising a menu update module. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device A software update device for a personal computer via a network, characterized in that the software is the latest version of various device drivers and application software installed and operated in the personal computer. The method of claim 1, wherein the update software Further comprising a user registration module for receiving registration information from the user through the network to register the processing, When the user is registered by the user registration module, the search software download module is driven, characterized in that the software update device for a personal computer via a network. In the method of updating the software installed on the personal computer connected to the network via the software update device, (a) downloading the personal computer searching software stored in the memory device of the software update device to the personal computer; (b) receiving first user selection information on an update method from a user through the network; (c) When the first user selection information indicates an automatic update method, the search control signal is transmitted to the downloaded personal computer search software to receive version information about predetermined software items, and to receive the received version information. Generates version comparison information compared to version information of a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device and provides the user via a network to select a software to be downloaded, and extracts the selected software from the memory device to the network via the network. Downloading to a personal computer; And (d) when the first user selection information indicates a menu updating method, the software to be downloaded is selected by providing information about a plurality of personal computer software stored in the memory device to the user through a network in a menu manner, and And extracting the software from the memory device and downloading the software to the personal computer through the network. The method according to claim 4, wherein before step (a) (e) receiving registration information from a user through the network, and further including registering. Step (a) is the software update method of a personal computer via a network, characterized in that only proceeds when the user is registered normally by the step (e).