US Patent Issued for Internet-Based Installation of Software and Settings

On October 21, 2003, the US Patent Office issued a patent to Bluecurrent Inc, a small Texas-based company, for its invention covering a method and system of installing a new computer's applications, settings and other information from a source computer using the Internet.   The invention under patent is aimed to compete with software-management systems offered by companies such as Microsoft Corp and Computer Associates International Inc. The patent describes the downloading of information resident on a source computer, including information regarding the computer (including software) and the user's preferences to remote storage through the Internet.   Subsequently, the information previously stored can be accessed via the World Wide Web from a new computer and directly used to install the user's prior applications, settings and preferences on the new computer. Whether Bluecurrent will take a cue from the storm of controversy surrounding the Eolas patent and Microsoft (see the report in E-TIPS Vol. 2, No. 11, November 6, 2003), remains to be seen. For another report on this, see: http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB106677936791434300,00.html. The patent may be accessed at the US Patent Office website at: http://makeashorterlink.com/?E2AF32A66. Summary by: Peter Wang