Binary Patch Management for User Agent Functionality Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
User agents like web browsers on mobile devices face challenges in extending functionality due to limited processing, memory, and storage capabilities, as well as slow download speeds and inability to change native code through add-ons or plugins.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows user agent functionality to be extended by storing binary code of the base version and applying binary patches, enabling enhancements to be downloaded as patches while the user agent is running, without requiring extensive API installation or code customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If add-on or plugin software is installed to extend user agent functionality, then functionality is extended, but memory and storage consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user agent is divided into a base binary executable and separate patch files. The base version contains core functionality, while patches provide optional enhancements. This segmentation allows devices to store only the essential base binary (minimal storage) and download patches only when needed, reducing overall storage consumption while maintaining functionality extension capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Enhancement functionality is extracted from the main user agent binary and placed into separate patch files. These patches can be downloaded and applied independently, allowing devices to obtain enhanced functionality without downloading the entire enhanced version, thus reducing memory and storage requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complete add-on or plugin software is downloaded to extend functionality, then functionality is extended, but download time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The software update is segmented into a small base binary (already present on device) and small patch files containing only the differences. This segmentation enables rapid patch downloads compared to downloading complete software, significantly reducing download time while achieving the same functionality extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The base binary executable is pre-installed on the device before functionality extension is needed. This preliminary action eliminates the need to download the entire user agent software when enhancements are required, allowing only minimal patch data to be downloaded, thus reducing download time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If API and add-on software are installed to extend functionality, then functionality is extended, but device resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments functionality into a lightweight base binary and modular patches. This reduces the processing and memory resources required compared to installing complete add-on software with full APIs, as only the necessary patch code is loaded and applied to the existing binary, minimizing resource consumption while enabling functionality extension.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for executing a user agent in an electronic device. Upon each startup of the user agent, the electronic device loads binary code of a base version of the user agent into memory, and determines whether a binary patch has previously been downloaded. If the patch has been downloaded, it is applied to the base version and the updated base version is executed. The binary patch may be downloaded from a server, which compiles the binary patch on the basis of stored source code of the base version and stored source code of one or more enhancements selected by the electronic device.