Dynamic retrieval of installation packages when installing software

• US 10,379,831 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Matthew, Jack, Chang, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sough, S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duncan, Timothy P
• Application Number:
  US15/288,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20170075672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/10 Inorganic particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/726 Permeability to liquids, absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2509/10 Refrigerators or refrigerating equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24 Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamic retrieval of installation packages when installing software is described herein. In one embodiment, a process can be provided to determine a specific installation package to be installed for software having one or more packages to be installed. A repository can be automatically identified from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, based on priority criteria. The priority criteria can be based on dynamically changing parameters. The specific installation package can be obtained from the identified repository.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for installing software, the method comprising:

receiving, through a network interface of a computing system, information from a broadcast server about availability of one or more installation packages for software;

determining, from the information received from the broadcast server, a specific installation package to be installed, the software having one or more installation packages to be installed;

receiving information about data rates of each of a plurality of repositories;

automatically identifying a repository from the plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, and wherein the priority criteria is based on dynamically changing parameters which include the data rates of the plurality of repositories;

obtaining the specific installation package from the identified repository; and

installing the specific installation package after obtaining the specific installation package.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through the network interface, an installer distribution document.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the specific installation package, identifying an alternate repository from which to obtain the specific installation package.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises a plurality of servers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include a network throughput.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically determining whether an updated version of the specific installation package exists.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific installation package includes compressed software.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through the network interface, an installer distribution document.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises a plurality of servers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include a network throughput, and wherein the installer distribution document includes a package identifier for a corresponding installation package.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions to cause a computing system to perform a method comprising:

receiving, through a network interface of the computing system, information from a broadcast server about availability of one or more installation packages for software;

determining, from the information received from the broadcast server, a specific installation package to be installed, the software having one or more installation packages to be installed;

receiving information about data rates of each of a plurality of repositories;

automatically identifying a repository from the plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, and wherein the priority criteria is based on dynamically changing parameters which include the data rates of the plurality of repositories;

obtaining the specific installation package from the identified repository; and

installing the specific installation package after obtaining the specific installation package.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, through the network interface, an installer distribution document.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the specific installation package, identifying an alternate repository from which to obtain the specific installation package.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises a plurality of servers.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include a network throughput.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

dynamically determining whether an updated version of the specific installation package exists.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the specific installation package includes compressed software.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, through the network interface, an installer distribution document.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises a plurality of servers.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include a network throughput, and wherein the installer distribution document includes a package identifier for a corresponding installation package.