Method and apparatus for automatically updating software components on end systems over a network

A network comprising:

• a) a server having a request generator, wherein said server generates a server request on a communication channel, and wherein said server request identifies the newest version level of a software component;
• b) an agent, coupled to said communication channel and having an update request generator, wherein said agent receives said server request and generates an update request if said agent requires said newest version of said software component;
• and
• c) wherein said server updates said agent with said newest version level of said software component in response to said update request.

A method of automatically updating software in a network including a server, a first agent and a second agent, comprising the steps of:

• a) generating a multicast server request, wherein said multicast request identifies the newest version levels for a first software component and a second software component;
• b) generating a first agent update request if the first agent needs said newest version of one of said first and second software components;
• c) generating a second agent update request if the second agent needs said newest version of one of said first and second software components;
• and
• d) updating the first and second agents with said newest version levels of said first and second software components in response to said first and second update requests.

A network comprising:

• a) a server having a request generator, wherein said server generates a server request on a communication channel, and wherein said server request identifies the newest version levels of a first software component and a second software component;
• b) a first agent, coupled to said communication channel and having an update request generator, wherein said first agent receives said server request and generates an update request if said first agent requires said newest version of one of said first and second software components;
• c) a second agent, coupled to said communication channel and having an update request generator, wherein said second agent receives said server request and generates an update request if said second agent requires said newest version of one of said first and second software components;
• and
• c) wherein said server updates said first and second agents with said newest version levels of said first and second software components in response to said first and second update requests.

A server for updating software components in agents, the server comprising:

• a request generator for generating server requests on a communication channel, said server requests identifying available versions of software components to a plurality of agents;
• a memory for storing agent update requests generated by any of said agents responding to server requests, wherein said server stores update requests received from said agents, said update requests identifying said available software components required by said responding agents;
• and
• an update mechanism, wherein said server updates said responding agents with said required software components.