Opportunity analysis system and method for updating a computer inventory

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for conducting an opportunity analysis for updating a computer inventory. Initially, a client computer inventory associated with a client computer is generated based on a scan. Next, an opportunity analysis is performed to identify update opportunities for the client computer inventory. In use, the opportunity analysis involves rules of a rule knowledge base.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method, comprising: 
 generating a client computer inventory associated with a client computer based on a scan of the client computer; and    performing an opportunity analysis to identify update opportunities for the client computer inventory;    said performing the opportunity analysis utilizing rules of a rule knowledge base.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scan includes scanning for software files.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scan includes scanning for an operating system.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scan includes scanning for hardware peripherals.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scan includes scanning for hardware components.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rule knowledge base includes a rule file defining an opportunity and a condition for an item in the inventory for the opportunity.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the condition includes a predefined value selected from the group consisting of absent, present, optional, and value of a measurable characteristic of the item in the inventory.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , and further comprising displaying at least one aspect of the update opportunities to a user of the client computer.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rules of the rule knowledge base involve a user profile associated with the client computer.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rules of the rule knowledge base involve a configuration environment of the client computer.  
     
     
         11 . A computer program product, comprising: 
 computer code for generating a client computer inventory associated with a client computer based on a scan of the client computer; and    computer code for performing an opportunity analysis to identify update opportunities for the client computer inventory, the opportunity analysis utilizing rules of a rule knowledge base.    
     
     
         12 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the scan includes scanning for software files.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the scan includes scanning for an operating system.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the scan includes scanning for hardware peripherals.  
     
     
         15 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the scan includes scanning for hardware components.  
     
     
         16 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the rule knowledge base includes a rule file defining an opportunity and a condition for an item in the inventory for the opportunity.  
     
     
         17 . The computer program product according to  claim 16 , wherein the condition includes a predefined value selected from the group consisting of absent, present, optional, and value of a measurable characteristic of the item in the inventory.  
     
     
         18 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the rules of the rule knowledge base involve a user profile associated with the client computer.  
     
     
         19 . The computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein the rules of the rule knowledge base involve a configuration environment of the client computer.  
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising: 
 scanning a client computer;    generating a client computer inventory based on the scanning;    performing an opportunity analysis to identify update opportunities for the client computer inventory utilizing rules of a rule knowledge base;    displaying at least one aspect of the update opportunities to a user of the client computer; and    updating the client computer inventory based on the update opportunities;    wherein the rules of the rule knowledge base involve at least one of a user profile and a configuration environment associated with the client computer.