Bundling software updates

• US 20080244555A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Welvaert, Eugene F., Schalk, John W., Hurst, Kathleen S., Donlan, William D., Setterlund, Janice L.
• Application Number:
  US11/730,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

In one implementation, a method is provided for bundling software updates for an enterprise. According to the method, the software updates are received, stored in a database, and associated with the bundle. At one or more predetermined checkpoints, the method checks for additional software updates and, if additional software updates are available, receives the additional software updates and associates the additional software updates with the bundle. The method further comprises freezing contents of the bundle at a predetermined bundle content freeze point. After the bundle content freeze point, additional software updates are not associated with the bundle.

Claims

1. A method for bundling software updates for an enterprise, the method comprising:

receiving the software updates;

storing the software updates in a database, wherein the software updates are associated with a bundle;

checking at one or more predetermined checkpoints for additional software updates and, if additional software updates are available, receiving the additional software updates and associating the additional software updates with the bundle; and

freezing the contents of the bundle at a predetermined bundle content freeze point, wherein after the bundle content freeze point, additional software updates are not associated with the bundle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software updates are received from one or more vendor servers and one or more developer servers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the software updates are received from at least two unrelated entities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the software updates are associated with the bundle by a version number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distributing the contents of the bundle to a testing environment for a test phase in which the contents of the bundle are tested individually.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distributing the bundle to a testing environment for a test phase in which the bundle is tested for compatibility with at least two software programs that are used by the enterprise.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the software updates are received from one or more developer servers, the method further comprising:

modifying code of the software updates received from the one or more developer servers until a code freeze point, wherein the code freeze point occurs after the test phase has been completed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a script to a plurality of clients, the script providing executable code for installing the bundle; and

causing the plurality of clients to execute the script.

6. The method of 5, wherein the software updates are received from one or more developer servers, the method further comprising:

adding functionality to the software updates received from the one or more developer servers until a functionality freeze point, wherein the functionality freeze point occurs after the test phase has been completed.

10. A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor for bundling software updates for an enterprise according to a method, the method comprising:

receiving the software updates;

storing the software updates in a database, wherein the software updates are associated with the bundle;

checking at one or more predetermined checkpoints for additional software updates and, if additional software updates are available, receiving the additional software updates and associating the additional software updates with the bundle; and

freezing the contents of the bundle at a predetermined bundle content freeze point, wherein after the bundle content freeze point, additional software updates are not associated with the bundle.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the software updates are received from one or more vendor servers and one or more developer servers.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the software updates are received from at least two unrelated entities.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the software updates are associated with the bundle by a version number.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the method further comprising:

distributing the contents of the bundle to a testing environment for a test phase in which the contents of the bundle are tested individually.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the method further comprising:

distributing the bundle to a testing environment for a test phase in which the bundle is tested for compatibility with at least two software programs that are used by the enterprise.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the software updates are received from one or more developer servers, the method further comprising:

modifying code of the software updates received from the one or more developer servers until a code freeze point, wherein the code freeze point occurs after the test phase has been completed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the method further comprising:

transmitting a script to a plurality of clients, the script providing executable code for installing the bundle; and

causing the plurality of clients to execute the script.

15. The computer-readable medium of 14, wherein the software updates are received from one or more developer servers, the method further comprising:

adding functionality to the software updates received from the one or more developer servers until a functionality freeze point, wherein the functionality freeze point occurs after the test phase has been completed.

19. A method for bundling software updates for an enterprise, the method comprising:

receiving the software updates;

storing the software updates in a database, wherein the software updates are associated with a bundle;

checking at one or more predetermined checkpoints for additional software updates and, if additional software updates are available, receiving the additional software updates and associating the additional software updates with the bundle;

freezing the contents of the bundle at a predetermined bundle content freeze point, wherein after the bundle content freeze point, additional software updates are not associated with the bundle; and

prior to releasing the bundle for installation, testing the contents of the bundle for compatibility with at least two software programs.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the software updates are received from one or more vendor servers and one or more developer servers.