Method and apparatus for determining the state of a computing device

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining a state of a computing device are provided. At least one unique code associated with at least one file resident on the computing device is determined, the at least one unique code representative of a state of the at least one file. At least one unique reference code associated with at least one update file is determined, the at least one update file for updating the at least one file. The at least one unique reference code is representative of an expected state of the at least one file. The state of the computing device is determined to be in an expected state if the at least one unique code matches the at least one unique reference code, and in an unexpected state if the at least one unique code does not match the at least one unique reference code.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 comparing, at a processor, a first identifier associated with a file at a computing device with a second identifier associated with a reference file identical to a given file that at least one update file is intended to update; and,   when the first identifier matches the second identifier, then updating the file at the computing device using the at least one update file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing each of first identifiers of associated files at the computing device with respective second identifiers of associated reference files identical to respective given files that respective update files are intended to update;   and updating only the associated files where a match occurs between an associated first identifier and a given second identifier. Using one or more of the respective update files associated with the given second identifier.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, at the processor, one or more of the first identifier and the second identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is an element of a computing apparatus remote to the computing device, and the method further comprises: requesting state data from the computing device; and, determining the first identifier from the state data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the second identifier by processing software update data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising requesting software update data from a remote computing entity; and, determining the second identifier by processing the software update data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating the first identifier by applying a hash algorithm to the file; and generating the second identifier by applying the hash algorithm to the reference file. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updating comprises compiling a message for instructing the computing device to request the at least one update file from at least one remote computing entity; and transmitting the message to the computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising triggering remedial action when a match does not occur between the first identifier and the second identifier, the remedial action comprising one or more of:
 notifying a user of the computing device; and   transmitting the first identifier to a remote computing entity to request at least one additional software update there from, the at least one additional software update associated with at least one additional reference identifier which matches the first identifier.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: when the first identifier does not match the second identifier, then preventing the updating. 
     
     
         11 . A computing apparatus comprising,
 a processor and a communication interface, the processor enabled to:
 compare a first identifier associated with a file at a computing device with a second identifier associated with a reference file identical to a given file that at least one update file is intended to update; and, 
   when the first identifier matches the second identifier, then update the file at the computing device using the at least one update file.   
     
     
         12 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to:
 compare each of first identifiers of associated files at the computing device with respective second identifiers of associated reference files identical to respective given files that respective update files are intended to update;   and update only the associated files where a match occurs between an associated first identifier and a given second identifier. Using one or more of the respective update files associated with the given second identifier.   
     
     
         13 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to determine one or more of the first identifier and the second identifier. 
     
     
         14 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to request state data from the computing device; and, determine the first identifier from the state data. 
     
     
         15 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to determine the second identifier by processing software update data. 
     
     
         16 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to request software update data from a remote computing entity; and, determine the second identifier by processing the software update data. 
     
     
         17 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to generate the first identifier by applying a hash algorithm to the file; and generate the second identifier by applying the hash algorithm to the reference file. 
     
     
         18 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to update the file at the computing device by compiling a message for instructing the computing device to request the at least one update file from at least one remote computing entity; and transmitting the message to the computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to triggering remedial action when a match does not occur between the first identifier and the second identifier, the remedial action comprising one or more of:
 notifying a user of the computing device; and   transmitting the first identifier to a remote computing entity to request at least one additional software update there from, the at least one additional software update associated with at least one additional reference identifier which matches the first identifier.   
     
     
         20 . The computing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further enabled to: when the first identifier does not match the second identifier, then prevent the update of the file.