Automatic updating of diverse software products on multiple client computer systems by downloading scanning application to client computer and generating software list on client computer

A computer-implemented method of providing relevant information for updating software residing on a client computer, comprising:

• maintaining a service provider computer on a network with the client computer;
• maintaining on the service provider computer a database, the database containing information relating to software updates of diverse software vendors;
• establishing a communication link between the client computer and the service provider computer;
• downloading to the client computer an application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which software products reside on the client computer;
• scanning the client computer with the application;
• as a result of the scan, generating a list of software residing on the client computer for which the service provider has relevant information;
• and
• for at least one product on the list, downloading to the client computer at least a portion of the relevant information that is available to the service provider.

A computer-implemented method of providing additional software products that are relevant to software residing on a client computer, comprising:

• maintaining a service provider site on a network with the client computer, the service provider establishing a contractual relationship with a plurality of software vendors so that the software vendors receive compensation if their software is downloaded to the client computer;
• maintaining on a service provider computer a database, the database containing information relating to software products of diverse software vendors;
• maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which installed software products reside on the client computer;
• establishing a communication link between client computer and the service provider computer;
• downloading the application to the client computer over the communication link;
• scanning the client computer with the application;
• as a result of the scan, generating a first list of software products residing on the client computer;
• comparing the first list with the information in the database to generate a second list, the second list containing software products that are compatible with the software residing on the client computer;
• downloading to the client computer at least one product on the second list;
• and paying the software vendor compensation relating to the download.

A computer-implemented method of providing relevant information for software residing on a client computer, comprising:

• maintaining a service provider site on a network with the client computer;
• maintaining on a service provider computer a database, the database containing information relating to software products of diverse software vendors, the information being obtained by periodically scanning a public network;
• maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which software products reside on the client computer;
• establishing a communication link between client computer and the service provider computer;
• downloading the application to the client computer over the communication link;
• scanning the client computer with the application;
• as a result of the scan, identifying software products residing on the client computer for which the service provider has information;
• and
• for at least one product identified as a result of the scan, downloading to the client computer a portion of the relevant information that is available.

A computer-implemented method of providing at least one software update on a client computer containing a plurality of software products, comprising:

• maintaining on a service provider computer a database containing update information about a plurality of software products, the information including a network address for at least one software vendor server on the network that is separate from the service provider computer and contains at least one software update;
• maintaining on the service provider computer a downloadable application, the application having a function for scanning the client computer to determine which software products reside on the client computer;
• downloading the application to the client computer over a first communication path;
• scanning the client computer with the application;
• downloading a portion of the update information from the database to the client computer;
• as a result of the scan, identifying software products that have been installed on the client computer for which updates are available;
• ending client computer communications with the service provider computer;
• selecting one identified software product to update;
• downloading from the software vendor server to the client computer an update for at least one software product over a second communication path;
• terminating communications between the software vendor server and the client computer;
• and
• installing the software update on the client computer;
• wherein the service provider computer is not required to contain any software updates.

A computer-implemented method of providing software products from a plurality of software vendors to at least one client computer, comprising:

• maintaining a service provider computer on a network with the client computer;
• maintaining on the service provider computer an application that is capable of scanning the client computer and determining which software products would be of interest to a user of the client computer;
• maintaining on the service provider computer a database containing information about users on the network;
• downloading the application to the client computer;
• scanning the client computer with the application;
• determining from the scan of the client computer one or more software products of interest to the user;
• creating a list of the software products of interest to the user;
• storing the list in the database;
• scanning the network for software products of interest to the user;
• notifying the user by an electronic communication of the availability of the software product of interest to the user;
• obtaining from the user an approval to install the software product of interest;
• downloading to the client computer the software product of interest;
• installing on the client computer the software product of interest.