Component Manager Version Compatibility for Software Suites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic device application stores struggle to manage version dependencies and compatibility among multiple applications, leading to potential compatibility issues and impractical size limitations for larger software suites, as they treat each application separately and are unaware of shared services or interprocess communication.
Innovation Solution
A component manager is introduced to install and upgrade software suites by determining necessary versions and database schema changes, using a version numbering scheme to maintain compatibility, and allowing users to select which components to install or upgrade, while verifying compatibility and handling database upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional application store manages each application separately without version dependency tracking, then installation and update processes are simple, but compatibility issues arise between applications in a software suite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments version management into two distinct layers: (1) suite-level version management that tracks dependencies and compatibility between applications, and (2) individual application versioning that handles specific update requirements. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by dividing the version control function into manageable components that operate at different levels of abstraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a suite manifest file as an intermediary component that contains metadata about application dependencies, version requirements, and compatibility information. This manifest acts as a mediator between the application store and the applications, providing the necessary information to resolve version dependencies without requiring complex real-time analysis of application interactions.
2Reliability
If application store treats each application as independent without awareness of shared services, then installation process is straightforward, but compatibility and interprocess communication issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring developers to declare shared services, interprocess communication requirements, and version dependencies in the suite manifest file before distribution. This advance preparation allows the application store to pre-analyze compatibility requirements and automatically resolve dependencies during installation, eliminating the need for complex runtime compatibility checks and maintaining operational simplicity for users.
3Productivity
If application store does not consider version upgrades for related applications, then individual application updates are fast, but suite-wide compatibility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the suite manifest file provides information about version dependencies and compatibility requirements to the application store. When an application is updated, the system uses this feedback to automatically determine whether other applications in the suite need corresponding updates, enabling intelligent batch updates that maintain suite compatibility while optimizing update efficiency through parallel installation of dependent applications.
4Reliability
If application store is unaware of shared services between applications, then resource management is simple, but service conflicts and compatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a standardized suite manifest file format that can represent multiple types of relationships (dependencies, shared services, interprocess communication, version requirements) in a single unified structure. This universal manifest approach allows the application store to handle diverse suite configurations through a common mechanism, reducing the need for application-specific compatibility management logic while maintaining comprehensive service coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
A component manager may be used to install or upgrade components of a software suite. The component manager may be installed via an application store of an electronic device. The component manager may retrieve binaries for the components of the software suite. The component manager may determine a plurality of applications to install or upgrade based at least in part on the versions of the applications and a version numbering scheme. The version numbering scheme is designed to maintain compatibility between the applications in the software suite. The component manager may install the plurality of applications and/or upgrade a database schema in order to maintain compatibility between the components of the software suite.