Techniques to perform gradual upgrades

• US 20070261049A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tsinteris, Kimon, Jerath, Kshamta, Wang, Ziyi, Roussel, Corey, Bankston, John, Fillmore, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Techniques to perform gradual upgrades are described. An apparatus may include a database with a data set for a first version of an application program, and a computing device to couple to the database. The computing device may have a processor and memory, with the memory to store a first version of an application program, an installer program, and a gradual update engine. The processor may execute the installer program to install a second version of the application program, and said gradual update engine to convert the data set to a data schema used by the second version one data segment at a time. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

installing a new version of an application program; and

converting a data set for a previous version of said application program to a data schema used by said new version one data segment at a time.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

converting a first data segment for said previous version to said data schema; and

providing access to a second data segment for said previous version while converting said first data segment.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

converting a first data segment for said previous version to said data schema; and

preventing access to said first data segment during said conversion.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying a domain name for said previous version;

creating a temporary domain name for said previous version;

renaming said domain name to said temporary domain name; and

redirecting access requests with said domain name to said temporary domain name.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying a domain name for said previous version; and

using said domain name for said new version once said data set has been converted.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising interfacing with other application programs to convert corresponding data sets in accordance with converting said data set for said previous version.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising selecting a data segment having data from one or more content databases used by a web application.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising selecting a data segment having data from one or more content databases used by a hierarchical group of web applications.

9. An article comprising a machine-readable storage medium containing instructions that if executed enable a system to install a new version of an application program, and convert a data set for a previous version of said application program to a data schema used by said new version one data segment at a time.

10. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to convert a first data segment for said previous version to said data schema, and provide access to a second data segment for said previous version while converting said first data segment.

11. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to convert a first data segment for said previous version to said data schema, and prevent access to said first data segment during said conversion.

12. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to identify a domain name for said previous version, create a temporary domain name for said previous version, rename said domain name to said temporary domain name, and redirect access requests with said domain name to said temporary domain name.

13. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to identify a domain name for said previous version, and use said domain name for said new version once said data set has been converted.

14. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to select a data segment having data from one or more content databases used by a web application.

15. The article of claim 9, said machine-readable storage medium comprising a computing device, a computer-readable medium, a communications medium, or a propagated signal.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a database with a data set for a first version of an application program;

a computing device to couple to said database, said computing device having a processor and memory, said memory to store a first version of an application program, an installer program, and a gradual update engine; and

said processor to execute said installer program to install a second version of said application program, and said gradual update engine to convert said data set to a data schema used by said second version one data segment at a time.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, said gradual update engine to provide access to one data segment while converting another data segment.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, said gradual update engine to lock a data segment during conversion to prevent write access to said data segment.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, said gradual update engine to redirect access requests to a first domain name for said first version to a second domain name for said first version during conversion operations.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, said gradual update engine to select a data segment having data from one or more content databases used by a web application.