Method and system for identifying and obtaining computer software from a remote computer

A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising:

• determining whether computer software is available for installation on the computer over the network;
• responsive to determining that the computer software is available for installation on the computer, presenting a list at the computer displaying the computer software not installed on the computer and available for installation on the computer;
• from the list displaying the computer software not installed on the computer and available for installation on the computer, accepting a selection selected at the computer indicating computer software to be downloaded to the computer;
• and
• to the computer, downloading the computer software to be downloaded to the computer.

A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising:

• determining from communications over the network, whether computer software is available over the network for installation on the computer but not installed on the computer;
• responsive to determining that the computer software is available but not installed on the computer, presenting a list at the computer displaying the computer software available but not installed on the computer;
• from the list displaying the computer software available but not installed on the computer, accepting a selection selected at the computer indicating computer software to be downloaded and installed on the computer;
• and
• to the computer, downloading and installing the computer software to be downloaded and installed to the computer.

A method for acquiring software over a network for a computer in communication over the network, the method comprising the following computer-executed actions:

• determining via the network that software is available over the network for installation at the computer but not installed on the computer;
• as a result of the determining, presenting a user interface at the computer, wherein the user interface is operable to accept user input to initiate acquisition of the software;
• and
• responsive to user input at the computer via the user interface, acquiring the software over the network.

A computer-implemented method of acquiring computer software for a computer over a network, the method comprising the following computer-executed actions:

• acquiring permission from a user at the computer to download software;
• via the network, determining computer software is available for download over the network but not installed on the computer;
• and
• responsive to determining computer software is available for download over the network but not installed, downloading without further user interaction the computer software available for download but not installed.