[Patents] Symantec patents on module upgrading

[Fred Mobach fred@mobach.nl]

PILCH Hartmut wrote :

> Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 22:34:39 +0100 (CET)
> From: PILCH Hartmut <phm@a2e.de>
> To: <patents@aful.org>
> Subject: [Patents] Symantec patents on module upgrading
> 
> According to
> 
>         http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/8/16794.html
> 
> Symantec has patented the principle of updating a virus checking program
> by loading extra modules from the Net.
> 
> <<
> 
> Symantec said the patents refer to its "micro-definition architecture"
> system which is integrated into Norton AntiVirus 2001, Norton
> AntiVirus 2000 and Norton AntiVirus 5.0, as well as Symantec's
> corporate anti-virus products. Microdefinitions enable LiveUpdate,
> Symantec's schedulable and automatic update mechanism, to run up to
> four times faster.
> 
> ...
> 
> It's also worth noting that the ability to download files that allow
> incremental patching of existing running software has been available
> for many years on Unix and Linux systems - and what Symantec is doing
> seems only to be "fine-tweaking" this.
> 
> In a statement, Symantec said the patents could also be applied to
> technology involved in the "update general computer readable files,
> which may include data files, program files, database files, graphics
> files, or audio files".

I would love if they insist on this. In that case there is a perfect
sample of prior art.

In 1992 my company has written an application named MDDS, short for
Mobach Data Distribution System. This system works in an heterogenous
environment, the server being a Siemens BS2000 mainframe. The clients
can be any type of computer but must be reachable via a network by 
the mainframe. 

The sources to be distributed can be stored on any system, the server or
the clients. Rulesets are used to determine when and where to pick up
the source file and when and where to deliver them. We developped our
own set of protocols which are tunneled via other protocols like the
NEA family (Siemens), SNA (IBM), TCP/IP (UNIX) and others. Not only data
files can be processed but also command sets, which are executed under
certain conditions.

Notice that I did not claim any form of originality for this
application. I really don't know and I'm really not interested.

In case someone is interested, I'm willing to provide more information.

Off topic, but I deny anyone the right to impose limits on my freedom to
write programs for my computers and the computers of my clients, friends
and so on.

Regards,

Fred
-- 
Fred Mobach - fred@mobach.nl - postmaster@mobach.nl
Systemhouse Mobach bv - The Netherlands - since 1976
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