Centralized Software Metadata Synchronization for Network Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Installing and uninstalling software on large networks is a complex task due to the need for maintaining up-to-date software to ensure network security, as existing methods lack efficient tools for facilitating these processes across multiple computers.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that accesses network management systems to collect and compare metadata of software instances across networks, storing this metadata in a database to enable automatic installation or uninstallation of software, utilizing a server to synchronize and manage software updates across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software installation is performed manually on each network computer, then installation control and security can be maintained, but the complexity and time required for software deployment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between network computers and software sources. The server collects metadata from multiple networks, compares software versions, and automatically generates installation commands. This intermediary system reduces the complexity of manual software management while maintaining security through centralized control and verification of software updates across the network.
2Reliability
If software is updated frequently across the network to maintain security, then network security is improved, but the time and resources required for updates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and storing metadata about software installations across multiple networks in advance. The server compares this metadata to identify software that needs updating before actual installation is required. This preliminary metadata collection and comparison enables faster, more efficient software updates while maintaining security, as the update needs are identified and prepared beforehand rather than reacting to security threats in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses metadata copying and comparison across networks to identify software update requirements. Instead of manually checking each computer, the system copies metadata information between networks, compares it centrally on the server, and uses this copied information to determine which software needs updating. This copying approach significantly reduces the time required for software update management while maintaining security standards.
3Reliability
If metadata from multiple networks is collected and compared, then software synchronization and security are improved, but the data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges metadata from multiple networks into a centralized database on the server. By combining metadata collection, storage, and comparison functions into a single centralized system, the patent simplifies the overall data processing architecture. The server consolidates software information from various networks, performs unified comparison operations, and generates coordinated installation commands, thereby improving software synchronization across networks while managing data processing complexity through centralization rather than distributed processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Software is installed and/or un-installed in networks. Each of a plurality of networks has a network management system storing metadata comprising at least the identities and command lines of software installed using installation systems of the management systems. On each network the network management system of the network is accessed to obtaining the metadata of items of software run on the network. That metadata is sent to a server which serves all the networks. At the server, a comparison is done to compare the metadata of instances of the same software on different networks. For those instances of the same software having the same metadata on different networks, the metadata is storing in a database. The networks use the metadata stored in the database to automatically install or un-install software.