Application Update Stability Vetting via Preliminary Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in managing application updates on their devices, particularly in balancing the need for stability and security with the risk of auto-updating, as conventional methods either require tedious manual updates or blind auto-updating, which can lead to instability or vulnerability.
Innovation Solution
A method where a computing device receives a notification for an application update, then waits for a predetermined period to gather stability indicators from user-designated sources, and automatically installs the update if the indicators meet predetermined vetting rules, allowing users to set their risk aversion level and control which updates are installed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic update is enabled, then update speed and convenience are improved, but system stability and security may deteriorate due to unvetted updates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary stability analysis and security vetting of updates before automatic installation. It gathers stability indicators from multiple sources during a predetermined time period, evaluates them against vetting rules, and only then proceeds with automatic update installation, ensuring updates are pre-validated for stability and security
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary evaluation layer between update notification and automatic installation. This intermediary process collects and analyzes stability indicators from multiple sources, applies vetting rules, and makes go/no-go decisions, acting as a mediator that ensures update quality before automatic deployment
2Reliability
If manual update checking is required, then update security and stability are improved through user control, but user convenience and time consumption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring update availability, gathering stability indicators, evaluating updates against vetting rules, and installing approved updates without requiring continuous user intervention. Users simply configure their preferences once, and the system autonomously manages the entire update process
3Reliability
If update vetting period is extended, then update quality and stability are improved, but update deployment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial vetting by monitoring stability indicators for a predetermined period and evaluating only the most critical aspects of updates against vetting rules. This partial evaluation approach provides sufficient quality assurance without requiring exhaustive testing, thus balancing update quality with deployment speed
Data Source
AI summary
A method for updating an application on a computing device includes receiving, at the computing device, a notification that an update is available for the application, then responsive to the notification, obtaining, over a first time period having a predetermined length, one or more stability indicators for the application from one or more sources, the one or more stability indicators being generated after the notification is received, and automatically executing the update for the application after the expiration of the first time period when the one or more stability indicators satisfy one or more predetermined vetting rules.