Client-Side Updater Module for Scalable Product Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for delivering product updates to client computers are costly and lack scalability due to the reliance on server-side Common Gateway Interface (CGI) and require frequent updates to client-side updater modules, which complicates the process of managing different hardware and software platforms with varying application versions.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a client-side updater module with hard-coded URL templates to retrieve manifest-specific instructions for updates, allowing for minimal server-side intelligence and flexibility in delivering updates, along with a downloadable update delivery manager that determines necessary resources and steps for updating the product, enabling back-linking to handle non-sequential version updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If server-side CGI is used to deliver updates, then the system can provide correct update information to clients, but the server cost increases and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the update logic from the server-side CGI and places it in client-side updater modules. Each updater module contains hard-coded URL templates and update logic specific to its product family, eliminating the need for complex server-side processing while maintaining accurate update delivery to diverse clients.
Solution Approach 2:
The client-side updater modules are self-contained and autonomous, containing all necessary update logic and URL templates locally. They can independently determine their update needs and retrieve updates without requiring server-side intelligence or processing, thereby reducing server costs and improving scalability.
2Reliability
If client-side updater modules are frequently updated, then the latest update logic is available, but the complexity of managing updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update system into multiple independent product family updater modules, each with its own hard-coded URL templates and update logic. This segmentation allows each module to be updated independently without affecting others, reducing overall management complexity while ensuring each module has current update logic for its specific product family.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system supports diverse hardware and software platforms, then client coverage is improved, but the complexity of delivering correct updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating specialized updater modules for different product families, each with hard-coded URL templates tailored to their specific hardware and software platform requirements. This allows each module to handle platform-specific update delivery logic locally, simplifying the overall system while maintaining broad platform compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for delivering product updates is provided. An example system comprises an update monitor and an update delivery manager. The update monitor may be configured to detect that a version of a product installed on a host computer is different from a latest version of the product. The an update delivery manager to obtain a manifest-specific URL template, collect product-specific information for the product installed on the host computer system, populate the manifest-specific URL template with product-specific information for the product installed on the host computer to generate a manifest-specific URL, and download, using the manifest-specific URL, a manifest that describes a sequence of steps for updating a version of the product to the latest version of the product.