System and method for updating installation components in a networked environment

• US 20050132359A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sliger, Michael V., Mohammed, Mazhar, Cheng, Derek, McGuire, Thomas D., Menzies, Derek P., Shende, Manojkumar
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

A system and method for managing the installation of files on a computing device are provided. A client computing device obtains installation information identifying a version of a baseline installation component stored on the client computing device. The installation information also includes an installation component delta patch that is merged with the baseline installation component to generate an updated installation component. The updated installation component is utilized to install one or more files on the client computing device. Upon completion of the installation, the updated installation component can be deleted.

Claims

1. A method for managing the installation of files on the client computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining installation information identifying a required baseline installation component for installing one or more files on the client computing device;

selecting a baseline installation component stored on the client computing device;

obtaining an installation component delta patch from the installation information;

merging the installation component delta patch from the installation information and the selected baseline installation component; and

installing one or more files on the client computing device utilizing the merged installation component.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining installation information identifying a required baseline installation component for installing one or more files on the client computing device includes obtaining a package including the installation component delta patch and information identifying the required baseline installation component.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the installation information includes the one or more files to be installed on the client computing device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the installation information identifying a required baseline installation component includes information identifying a particular version of a baseline installation component stored on the client computing device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising deleting the merged installation component upon installing the one or more files on the client computing device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a second baseline component;

storing the second baseline component on the client computing device;

obtaining installation information identifying the second baseline installation component for installing one or more files on the client computing device;

selecting the second baseline installation component stored on the client computing device;

obtaining an installation component delta patch from the installation information;

merging the installation component delta patch from the installation information and the second baseline installation component; and

installing one or more files on the client computing device utilizing the merged installation component.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the method as recited in claim 1.

8. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to perform the method recited in claim 1.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a second baseline component;

storing the second baseline component on the client computing device;

obtaining installation information identifying the second baseline installation component for installing one or more files on the client computing device;

selecting the second baseline installation component stored on the client computing device;

obtaining an installation component delta patch from the installation information;

merging the installation component delta patch from the installation information and the second baseline installation component; and

installing one or more files on the client computing device utilizing the merged installation component; and

deleting the merged second installation component upon installing the one or more files on the client computing device.

9. A method for managing the installation of files on the client computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining a package including information identifying a required baseline installation component for installing one or more files on the client computing device;

identifying a baseline installation component stored on the client computing device;

obtaining an installation component delta patch from the package;

merging the installation component delta patch from the package and the identified baseline installation component;

installing one or more files on the client computing device utilizing the merged installation component; and

deleting the merged installation component upon installing the one or more files on the client computing device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the self-extracting information includes the one or more files to be installed on the client computing device.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the self-extracting information includes one or more software update delta patches to update and install the one or more files on the client computing device.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the installation information identifying a required baseline installation component includes information identifying a particular version of a baseline installation component stored on the client computing device.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the method as recited in claim 9.

15. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to perform the method recited in claim 9.

16. A method for managing the installation of files on the client computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining a package including information selecting from a set of baseline installation components stored on a client computing device;

selecting a baseline installation component from the set of baseline installation components stored on the client computing device;

obtaining an installation component update from the package;

updating the selected installation component with the installation component update; and

installing one or more files on the client computing device utilizing the merged installation component.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the self-extracting information includes the one or more files to be installed on the client computing device.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the self-extracting information includes one or more software update delta patches to update and install the one or more files on the client computing device.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the set of baseline installation components are organized according to a version of the baseline installation components and wherein the selecting a baseline information component includes information selecting a particular version of a baseline installation component from the set of baseline installation components.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the method as recited in claim 16.

21. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to perform the method recited in claim 16.