System and method for automatically upgrading a software application
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for upgrading an application, comprising:
- issuing a query to determine whether a newer version of an installed application is available for download;
if so, downloading components associated with the newer version of the application to a local data store, each component being sufficiently self-described to distinguish each component from other components; and
modifying configuration information associated with the installed application so that the newer version of the application is executed upon a subsequent launch of the application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described is a mechanism for enabling software applications to be upgraded from a remote location without forcing an immediate termination or restart of the application. A starter component is associated with the application such that the starter component is executed on behalf of the application. When executed, the starter component launches an executable file associated with a current version of the application. An updater component then periodically polls a remote location to determine if a newer version of the application is available for download. If so, the updater component downloads the newer version of the application to local storage. The updater component then updates configuration information such that the newer version of the application is executed on subsequent launches of the application by the application starter component.
147 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for upgrading an application, comprising:
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issuing a query to determine whether a newer version of an installed application is available for download;
if so, downloading components associated with the newer version of the application to a local data store, each component being sufficiently self-described to distinguish each component from other components; and
modifying configuration information associated with the installed application so that the newer version of the application is executed upon a subsequent launch of the application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-executable method for upgrading an application from a remote storage location, comprising:
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receiving a notification of a launch of the application at an application starter component, the application starter component having associated configuration information;
launching an executable file identified in the configuration information;
polling the remote storage location to determine if a newer version of the application is available for download;
if so, downloading the newer version of the application to a local storage; and
updating the configuration information to identify the newer version of the application so that, upon a subsequent launch notification, the newer version of the application is executed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable components, comprising:
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a current version of an application including at least one executable component;
a starter configuration component identifying the current version of the application and the executable component associated with the current version of the application;
an application starter component configured to read the starter configuration component and to cause the identified executable component to be executed; and
an application updater component configured to poll a remote location to determine if a newer version of the application is available for download. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification