Accessible Limited Distribution Release Software Change Catalog

• US 20080196021A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: He, Dandan, Vaidyanathan, Anand, Cupp, Phil, Meulemans, Michael, Koneru, Karuna, Clinton, Nate
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A catalog for maintaining a store of public and private limited distribution release software changes in a single location. A method for distributing limited distribution release software changes to clients via a network comprises receiving a search request, authenticating the client, querying a database of limited distribution release software changes, filtering the returned data according to a screening criteria, and providing the returned data to the client. A further method receives a request from a client to develop a limited distribution release software change, develops the limited distribution release software change, adds the developed limited distribution release software change to a catalog, notifies the client, and provides an interface to the client for accessing. A system further links knowledge base entries with related limited distribution release software changes.

Claims

1. A catalog for maintaining a store of limited distribution release software changes in a single location, said catalog comprising:

a store of private limited distribution release software changes;

a store of public limited distribution release software changes;

a store of metadata related to said private limited distribution release software changes and said public limited distribution release software changes; and

a communication component providing direct access to the stores of the catalog by a client seeking limited distribution release software changes.

2. A catalog as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catalog is adapted to be readily imported into other application software.

3. A catalog as set forth in claim 2 wherein said catalog is adapted to be readily imported into a system administration software.

4. A catalog as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limited distribution release software changes are stored in numerical form.

5. A catalog as set forth in claim 4 wherein said limited distribution release software changes are stored in binary form.

6. A catalog as set forth in claim 1 wherein said communication component is adapted for receiving queries from a client.

7. A catalog as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catalog is adapted to be integrated with a software update service.

8. A catalog as set forth in claim 7 wherein said catalog is adapted to be integrated with a software update service distributing globally distributed releases.

9. A catalog as set forth in claim 8 wherein the catalog is adapted to be searched for each of the private limited distribution release software changes, the public limited distribution release software changes, and the globally distributed releases simultaneously.

10. A catalog as set forth in claim 9 wherein the catalog is adapted to provide results of the search simultaneously.

11. A method for providing a limited distribution release software change, said method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to develop a limited distribution release software change;

developing the limited distribution release software change;

adding the developed limited distribution release software change to a catalog adapted for maintaining a store of limited distribution release software changes;

notifying the client that the limited distribution release software change has been added to the catalog; and

providing the client with an interface for accessing the catalog to gain access to the developed limited distribution release software change.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said adding the developed limited distribution release software change to a catalog comprises adding the limited distribution release software change to a catalog adapted for maintaining both a store of limited distribution release software changes and a store of globally distributed releases.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said providing the client with an interface further comprises providing the client with an interface for accessing both the store of limited distribution release software changes and the store of globally distributed releases.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising detecting if the client has an update service software installed,

providing the recipient with the option to use the installed update service software to access the developed limited distribution release software change where the update service software is detected.

15. A system linking a knowledge base with a store of limited distribution release software changes, said system comprising:

a catalog for maintaining a store of limited distribution release software changes; and

a knowledge base of informational entries, at least a portion of said entries relating to one or more of the limited distribution release software changes, wherein said knowledge base displays selection elements with each of the informational entries in the portion linking the informational entries of the knowledge base to the related limited distribution release software changes of the catalog.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said catalog comprises:

a store of private limited distribution release software changes;

a store of public limited distribution release software changes; and

a store of metadata related to said private limited distribution release software changes and said public limited distribution release software changes.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said catalog is adapted to be readily imported into other application software.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein said catalog is adapted to be readily imported into a system administration software.

19. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said catalog further comprises a communication component allowing for access of the catalog by a client seeking one or more limited distribution release software changes outside the knowledge base.

20. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said catalog is adapted for integration with a software update service distributing globally distributed releases.