Methods and systems for transferring data over a network

A method of distributing a telecommunications software upgrade to a plurality of user computer systems having a telecommunications software application installed thereon, the method comprising:

• (a) determining via a software distribution computer system that a software upgrade is to be performed relative to the telecommunications software application installed on the plurality of user computer systems, the telecommunications software application configured to provide telecommunications related services;
• (b) determining via the software distribution computer system whether the telecommunications software upgrade is to be a forced upgrade or a recommended upgrade for a first user based at least in part on the installed telecommunication software application on a computer system of the first user or a first parameter related to the first user, the first parameter relating to a level of telecommunications processing services that the first user subscribes to;
• (c) if the upgrade with respect to the first user is a recommended upgrade:
• providing directions via the computer system of the first user directing the first user regarding how to provide an instruction to cause the recommended software upgrade to be performed;
• determining if the recommended software upgrade instruction has been received from the first user, and
• if the recommended software upgrade instruction has not been received from the first user, denying the first user access to at least a first telecommunication service;
• (d) determining via the software distribution computer system whether the software upgrade is to be a forced upgrade or a recommended upgrade for a second user based at least in part on the installed telecommunication software application on a computer system of the second user or a second parameter related to the second user, wherein the second parameter relates to a level of telecommunications processing services that the second user subscribes to;
• (e) if the upgrade with respect to the second user is a recommended upgrade:
• providing directions to the computer system of the second user directing the second user regarding how to provide an instruction to cause the recommended software upgrade to be performed;
• determining if the recommended software upgrade instruction has been received from the second user;
• and
• causing, at least in part, the telecommunications software upgrade to be performed with respect to the first user based at least in part on determinations made in (a), (b) and (c) unless the upgrade for the first user is a recommended upgrade and the recommended software upgrade instruction has not been received from the first user;
• causing, at least in part, the telecommunications software upgrade to be performed with respect to the second user based at least in part on determinations made in (a), (d), and (e).

A software distribution computer system comprising:

• a computing device;
• instructions stored in non-transitory computer readable memory, that when executed, are configured to perform operations comprising:
• (a) determining that a software upgrade is to be performed relative to a telecommunications software application installed on a plurality of user computer systems, the telecommunications software application configured to provide telecommunications related services;
• (b) determining whether the telecommunications software upgrade is to be a forced upgrade or a recommended upgrade for a first user based at least in part on a the installed telecommunication software application on a computer system of the first user or first parameter related to the first user, the first parameter relating to a level of telecommunications processing services that the first user subscribes to;
• (c) if the upgrade with respect to the first user is a recommended upgrade:
• providing directions via the computer system of the first user directing the first user regarding how to provide an instruction to cause the recommended software upgrade to be performed;
• determining if the recommended software upgrade instruction has been received from the first user, and
• if the recommended software upgrade instruction has not been received from the first user, denying the first user access to at least a first telecommunication service;
• (d) determining via the software distribution computer system whether the software upgrade is to be a forced upgrade or a recommended upgrade for a second user based at least in part on the installed telecommunication software application on a computer system of the second user or a second parameter related to the second user, wherein the second parameter relates to a level of telecommunications processing services that the second user subscribes to;
• (e) if the upgrade with respect to the second user is a recommended upgrade:
• providing directions to the computer system of the second user directing the second user regarding how to provide an instruction to cause the recommended software upgrade to be performed;
• determining if the recommended software upgrade instruction has been received from the second user;
• and
• causing, at least in part, the telecommunications software upgrade to be performed with respect to the first user based at least in part on determinations made in (a), (b) and (c) unless the upgrade is a recommended upgrade for the first user and the recommended software upgrade instruction has not been received from the first user;
• causing, at least in part, the telecommunications software upgrade to be performed with respect to the second user based at least in part on determinations made in (a), (d), and (e).