Self-Updating Agent Overwrites Source Files to Resolve Update Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software update processes are complex and require knowledge of local hardware and software, making it difficult to determine what needs to be updated and how, especially for updating agents that may not be aware of recent changes.
Innovation Solution
An updating agent can download and overwrite its own source files to update itself to a newer version, allowing it to automatically update associated applications, libraries, and drivers without needing knowledge of the software versions or their changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the updating agent uses an older version to update software, then it may lack knowledge of recent changes and hardware requirements, but the update process becomes more complex and requires more manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by downloading and storing multiple versions of the updating agent (first version, second version, third version) before the actual update process. This allows the latest version to be available when needed, eliminating the need to use an older version and ensuring the agent has current knowledge of hardware and software changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the version selection module and storage system) that manages multiple versions of the updating agent. This intermediary selects and retrieves the appropriate version, simplifying the update process by automatically handling version management rather than requiring manual intervention to determine which version to use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the updating agent downloads and stores multiple versions of source files, then it can select the latest version for updates, but it requires more storage space and data management
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary downloading and storage of multiple versions of the updating agent source files. This preliminary action ensures that when an update is needed, the latest version is already available locally, providing version flexibility without requiring real-time downloads during the update process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of the updating agent in different versions (first version, second version, third version) stored in the system. These copies allow the system to select and use the most appropriate version for each update scenario, providing adaptability while managing storage through organized version control.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a server comprising a memory and a processor, where the processor is in communication with the memory. The processor is configured to download, by the updating agent, a second version of source files associated with a second version of the updating agent, where the second version of source files are stored separately from the first version of the source files, where the second version of the updating agent is operable to update a second set of libraries of the application. Next, the updating agent overwrites the first version of the source files with the second version of the source files. The updating agent then re-starts the updating agent with an update parameter designating a location of the downloaded second version of the source files, wherein the third version of the source files are executed to re-start the updating agent.