Automated Streaming App Updates via Core File Swapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face a cumbersome and disruptive update experience for streaming media program applications, requiring manual steps and frequent interactions with distribution sites, which can lead to inconvenience and inefficiency in delivering new features and bug fixes.

Innovation Solution

An automated update system that runs on a computing device, determining the need for updates from a remote server, loading and executing updateable core files without recompilation, allowing seamless background updates without user intervention or reliance on distribution sites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual update process is used through distribution site, then application can be updated with approval, but user experience becomes cumbersome and disruptive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication update reliabilityVSAvoidupdate operation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The application performs self-updating by automatically detecting update needs, downloading update packages, and installing updates without requiring user navigation to distribution sites or manual approval processes. The system service monitors the application and handles the entire update lifecycle autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Update packages are prepared and approved in advance by the distribution site before being made available to the application. This preliminary preparation allows the application to receive pre-approved updates without requiring real-time approval interactions from users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If frequent updates are implemented, then new features and bug fixes are delivered quickly, but user disruption increases with manual update steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate delivery speedVSAvoiduser time for update operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The application automatically manages its own update process including detecting when updates are available, downloading update packages, and installing updates without user intervention. This eliminates the time users would spend manually navigating to distribution sites and performing update operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system service continuously monitors the application for update needs and maintains uninterrupted service delivery. Updates are applied in the background without requiring users to exit or restart the application, ensuring continuous useful action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If distribution site approval process is required, then application quality is controlled, but update frequency and speed are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication quality controlVSAvoidupdate frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution site performs quality control and approval of update packages in advance before they are distributed to applications. This preliminary action ensures that all updates meet quality standards before reaching users, while allowing rapid deployment once approved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The update process is segmented into separate phases: quality control and approval by the distribution site, followed by automatic deployment by the application. This segmentation allows quality control to occur independently without bottlenecking the update frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of information

If manual update installation is required, then user awareness of updates is ensured, but operation complexity and support costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser awareness of updatesVSAvoidupdate process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The application automatically detects, downloads, and installs updates without requiring user awareness or intervention. The system service manages the entire process autonomously, eliminating operational complexity while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system service provides feedback to the application about update status and availability, enabling the application to automatically respond and install updates without user involvement. This feedback mechanism ensures updates are applied while minimizing user burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9467498B2Remote automated updates for an application

Publication Date: 2016.10.11 HULU LLC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method updates a media program streaming application. The method includes running an update application to determine when the streaming application on the computing device needs to be updated based on update information from a remote server and reviewing the update information to determine when the media program streaming application needs to be updated. When the media program streaming application needs to be updated, the method loads a set of updateable core files in a plurality of updateable core files from a core memory into an application execution memory. Then, the method sends a request for a set of remote core files to the remote server, receives the set of remote core files, and loads the set of remote core files into the application execution memory. The set of updateable core files and the set of remote core files in the application execution memory are executed.