Automatic Environment Update for Software Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Developers are reluctant to update computer programs and their environments due to the need to support both old and new environments, leading to a vicious cycle of delayed updates, as users are hesitant to update their environments, and the process is cumbersome, resulting in compatibility issues and slower performance.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that automatically updates both computer programs and their environments, ensuring compatibility by limiting updates to systems with the latest environment version, thereby eliminating the need for backwards compatibility and simplifying the update process for users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If developers support both old and new environments, then compatibility is maintained, but program size increases and performance slows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment compatibilityVSAvoidprogram size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically updating users' environments to the latest version before program updates are applied. This ensures that when programs are updated to utilize new environment capabilities, the environment is already prepared, eliminating the need for programs to support multiple environment versions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automatic environment and program updates without requiring user intervention. The update manager automatically identifies, downloads, and installs updates for both the environment and programs, coordinating them to ensure compatibility while maintaining program efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If developers support both old and new environments, then compatibility is maintained, but operation speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment compatibilityVSAvoidoperation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If environment is updated, then new capabilities are available, but users are reluctant to update due to cumbersome process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment capabilitiesVSAvoidupdate process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If automatic update system is implemented, then update frequency increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate frequencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The update manager performs multiple functions within a single system component: it identifies available updates, downloads update files, installs updates, and coordinates between environment and program updates. This multi-functionality achieves high update frequency while containing system complexity by consolidating update management tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7934210B1System and method for updating one or more programs and their environment

Publication Date: 2011.04.26 ADOBE INC

AI summary

A system and method automatically updates one or more programs and some or all of an environment in which the one or more programs run, to latest versions of the programs and the environment, or portion thereof.