System and method for distributing configuration-dependent software revisions to a computer system

For use with a computer system having a hardware and software configuration subject to change over time, a method of receiving software revisions as a function of said hardware and software configuration, comprising the steps of:

• storing current configuration data in a memory device associated with said computer system, said current configuration data containing a current description of at least a portion of said hardware and software configuration;
• automatically establishing a communications link between said computer system and a remote data source and transmitting said current configuration data to said remote data source;
• in said remote data source, identifying inherent conflicts in said hardware and software configuration;
• in said remote data source, selecting, as a function of said hardware and software configuration, software revisions capable of resolving said inherent conflicts;
• transmitting said software revisions to said computer system to address at least some of said conflicts;
• and
• modifying a software configuration of said computer system in accordance with said software revisions.

A system for automatically distributing configuration-dependent software revisions, comprising:

• a central data source;
• a plurality of remote computer systems, each of said plurality of remote computer systems having an associated system for receiving software revisions from said central data source, said associated system including:
• current configuration data containing a current description of at least a portion of a hardware and software configuration of said associated remote computer system,
• communications circuitry capable of automatically establishing a communications link between said remote computer system and said central data source, transmitting said current configuration data to said central data source and receiving software revisions from said central data source in response thereto, and
• processing circuitry, associated with said remote computer system, that modifies a software configuration of said computer system in accordance with software revisions;
• and
• revision selection circuitry, associated with said central data source, capable of receiving current configuration data from said plurality of remote computer systems, identifying inherent conflicts in said hardware and software configurations of said plurality of remote computer systems, selecting software revisions as a function of said hardware and software configurations and transmitting said software revisions to respective ones of said remote computer systems to address at least some of said conflicts.