Mobile App Update Manager Deferring Updates via Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile application updates often result in increased processing overhead, downtime, and data usage, leading to user dissatisfaction due to frequent updates and growing numbers of applications on user devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that defer updates for a specified time period by predicting the date, size, and changes of upcoming updates based on historical data and user reviews, estimating relevance to the user, and implementing updates only when a score exceeds a threshold, thereby reducing processing overhead and data usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mobile application updates are implemented frequently to fix problems and add features, then application functionality and reliability are improved, but processing overhead, downtime, and data usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of update characteristics, user behavior patterns, and device conditions before implementing updates. By predicting the optimal timing and evaluating update relevance in advance, the system prepares update strategies that minimize processing overhead while ensuring necessary updates are delivered, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining functionality and reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes update implementation parameters based on analyzed conditions, including timing selection, update prioritization, and resource allocation. By adjusting these parameters according to user behavior patterns and device state, the system optimizes the balance between delivering functional improvements and minimizing processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If mobile application updates are implemented frequently, then application functionality is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to increased downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of user behavior patterns and update characteristics to predict optimal update timing that minimizes disruption to user workflows. By analyzing when users typically use the application and scheduling updates during low-usage periods, the system maintains functionality improvements while preserving user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts update timing and frequency based on real-time analysis of user behavior patterns and device conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt update schedules to individual user needs, ensuring functionality is improved while minimizing impact on user convenience and operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If mobile application updates are implemented frequently, then application functionality is improved, but data usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoiddata usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters related to update delivery, including compression levels, differential update strategies, and scheduling timing. By optimizing these parameters based on analyzed data usage patterns and update priorities, the system delivers necessary functional improvements while minimizing the amount of data consumed during update processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of energy

If updates are deferred to reduce processing overhead, then processing overhead and data usage are reduced, but application reliability may deteriorate due to delayed bug fixes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing overheadVSAvoidapplication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification and prioritization of updates based on their purpose (bug fixes vs. feature additions) and severity. By identifying critical updates that must be applied promptly versus non-critical updates that can be deferred, the system reduces processing overhead for non-urgent updates while ensuring application stability is maintained through timely delivery of essential bug fixes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the deferral period parameter based on update characteristics and device conditions. For critical bug fixes, the deferral period is minimized or eliminated, while for non-critical updates, the system can extend the deferral period to reduce processing overhead, thus balancing reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10416993B2Mobile application update manager

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A mobile application update manager functioning on a user device defers a new update for a mobile application for a first time period. The mobile application update manager predicts a time and size of a next update for the mobile application, a set of changes associated with the new update, and a relevancy of the set of changes to a user of the user device. The mobile application update manager recommends if the new update should be implemented or if the user should defer until a next update is available for the mobile application.