Directory Index Hashing for Software Version Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current version labeling systems for large-scale software products, such as Microsoft Windows, struggle to track irregular patches and user modifications, leading to inefficient and resource-intensive file comparison processes that consume significant processor resources and network bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generates binary-level indexes for target and reference directories, allowing for quick comparison and pinpoint updates by using folder and file hashes, reducing the need for extensive file comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If file compare command is executed on each individual file to determine changes, then version tracking accuracy is improved, but processor resources and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file comparison process into two stages: first comparing directory indexes (which contain hashed file information), and only if differences are found, then comparing individual files. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high version tracking accuracy while significantly reducing the number of file comparison operations required, thus improving overall comparison speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by generating and storing directory indexes with hashed file information before actual comparison. These indexes serve as a pre-computed reference that enables fast comparison without needing to examine every file from scratch, thereby resolving the contradiction between accuracy and speed.
2Loss of information
If file compare is executed on all files in large-scale software products, then complete version information is obtained, but network bandwidth consumption increases vastly in centralized database environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential comparison information (directory indexes containing hashed file data) for transmission and comparison over the network, rather than transferring and comparing all actual file contents. This extraction approach ensures complete version information is obtained through index comparison while dramatically reducing network bandwidth consumption in centralized database environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces directory indexes as an intermediary structure between the files and the comparison process. These indexes act as a mediator that contains sufficient information to determine version differences without requiring direct comparison of all file contents, thus reducing network bandwidth requirements while maintaining version information completeness.
3Ease of operation
If traditional version labels are used to track software changes, then version identification is simplified, but the ability to track irregular patches and user modifications is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite version tracking system that combines traditional version labels with directory indexes containing hashed file information. This composite approach maintains the simplicity of traditional version identification while adding the reliability of comprehensive file-level tracking through indexes that can detect irregular patches and user modifications without requiring complex version label management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for maintaining version information. An identifier (“ID”) that identifies a collection of associated files is obtained. An index is generated that specifies the contents of the collection of associated files. The ID may be saved along with the index in a target version file to convey version information about the collection of associated files. Subsequently, the index may be extracted from the target version file to compare with a corresponding index extracted from a reference version file. The result of the comparison may be used to determine whether the contents of the collection of associated files match a reference.