James R Steinmetz

US Patent:

59057793, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Jul 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/111820

Inventors:

James D. Steinmetz - Orland Park IL

Assignee:

Rockwell Science Center - Thousand Oaks CA

International Classification:

H04M11/00;3/42

US Classification:

379 9301

Abstract:

An automatic software update system (10) includes a first computer (12) at a first site and a second computer (14) at a second site remote from the first site. The first computer (12) includes, for example, a modem (16) for automatically initiating a dial-up connection with the second computer (14) and suitable programming for automatically providing the second computer with an identification relating to the first computer (12) via the dial-up connection. The second computer (14) also includes, for example, a modem (18) for receiving the identification relating to the first computer (12), and suitable programming for automatically selecting from a database (24) information (28) for the first computer (12) based on the identification. The modem (18) of the second computer (14) is further operable for supplying the selected information (28) to the first computer (12).