Software Update Management via Sub-file Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software update methods are inefficient due to the need to compare different variants of program files from various distribution channels against a target version, requiring large storage space and generating specific increment files for each channel, which hinders efficiency and increases storage needs.
Innovation Solution
A method that compares sub-files across different variants to generate difference and similarity information, allowing for the creation of reusable increment files that can update software programs to a target version regardless of the distribution channel, eliminating the need for on-the-fly comparisons and pre-storing multiple sets of increment files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If increment files are generated separately for each distribution channel by comparing channel-specific variants with target version, then update accuracy for each channel is improved, but storage space requirement increases and update efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the comparison process across multiple distribution channels by identifying common sub-files that exist in all channels. Instead of performing separate comparisons for each channel, the system combines the comparison operations and generates a single set of increment files that can serve all channels, thereby reducing storage space while maintaining update accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The generated increment files are designed to be universal and applicable to multiple distribution channels simultaneously. By making the increment files multi-functional, the system eliminates the need to store separate increment file sets for each channel, thus reducing storage requirements while ensuring accurate updates across all channels.
2Reliability
If increment files are generated separately for each distribution channel, then channel-specific update requirements are met, but update process efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the update process across multiple distribution channels by identifying common sub-files and generating a unified set of increment files. This merging approach eliminates redundant comparison operations and file generation processes, thereby improving update efficiency while still meeting the specific update requirements of each channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of common sub-files across all distribution channels before generating increment files. By conducting this preliminary analysis, the system avoids repeated comparisons during actual update operations, thus improving update efficiency without compromising channel-specific accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If multiple sets of increment files are pre-stored for different distribution channels, then update availability is improved, but storage space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal increment files that can serve multiple distribution channels simultaneously. These multi-functional increment files maintain update availability across all channels without requiring separate pre-stored sets for each channel, thus reducing storage space consumption while preserving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing multiple complete sets of increment files for different channels, the system uses a single set of increment files derived from common sub-files. This copying approach allows the same increment files to be applied across multiple channels, eliminating the need for redundant storage while maintaining update availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for software update management is described. The method comprises: comparing sub-files of a plurality of variants of a software program to generate difference information including a list of uncommon sub-files among the plurality of variants; generating one or more increment files based on the difference information and files of a target version of the software program; and transmitting the one or more increment files to a device, wherein the transmission enables the device to merge the one or more increment files with files of one of the plurality of variants to generate files of the target version of the software program.