Method and Apparatus for Reliable In-Place Update

• US 20080320461A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Bend Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Red Bend Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Meller, Evyatar, Peleg, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

Method and apparatus for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device to form a new version, wherein the old version includes blocks. The form of the old version is determined for indicating at which end of the old version free space is located, as well as determining whether an update package is a corresponding update package for the form. If the update package is a corresponding update package, blocks in the old version are updated according to the update package, giving rise to a new version having an alternative form, where free space in the new version is at an opposite end to the old version.

Claims

1. A method for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device to form a new version, the old version including blocks, the method comprising:

determining (i) a form of said old version, indicating at which end of the old version free space is located and (ii) whether an update package is a corresponding update package for said form; and

if so

updating blocks in said old version according to said corresponding update package, giving rise to a new version having an alternative form, where free space in the new version is at an opposite end to the old version.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said form is a B-form and wherein said alternative form is an E-form.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said form is an E-form and wherein said alternative form is a B-form.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for each block in said new version, verifying that content in said new block is successfully stored.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said storage device is accommodated in a cellular telephone.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether an amount of free space in the old version is too small to allow in-place update of the old version to the new version; and

if so, enlarging said free space to allow said in-place update.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said enlarging includes:

updating said old version to a temporary version having content equivalent to said old version with an alternative form to said old version and a larger free space than in said old version; and

updating said temporary version to form said new version.

8. A method for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device of a remote device to form a new version, the method comprising:

determining a form of said old version indicating at which end of the old version free space is located;

generating an update package that is adapted for said form of the old version; and

conveying said update package to said remote device.

9. An apparatus for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device to form a new version, the old version including blocks, the apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor

configured to perform the following;

determining (i) a form of said old version, indicating at which end of the old version free space is located

and (ii) whether an update package is a corresponding update package for said form; and

if so

updating blocks in said old version according to said corresponding update package, giving rise to a new version having an alternative form, where free space in the new version is at an opposite end to the old version.

10-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device to form a new version, the old version including blocks, the method comprising:

determining (i) a form of said old version, indicating at which end of the old version free space is located

and (ii) whether an update package is a corresponding update package for said form; and

if so

updating blocks in said old version according to said corresponding update package, giving rise to a new version having an alternative form, where free space in the new version is at an opposite end to the old version.

13. A computer program-product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device to form a new version, the old version including blocks, the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code for causing the computer to determine (i) a form of said old version, indicating at which end of the old version free space is located , and (ii) whether an update package is a corresponding update package for said form; and

computer readable program code for causing the computer upon determining the form of said old version and that the update package is a corresponding update package for said form, to update blocks in said old version according to said corresponding update package, giving rise to a new version having an alternative form, where free space in the new version is at an opposite end to the old version.

14. A program storage device readable by machine, V tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device of a remote device to form a new version, the method comprising:

determining a form of said old version indicating at which end of the old version free space is located;

generating an update package that is adapted for said form of the old version; and

conveying said update package to said remote device.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for in-place updating an old version of a file stored on a storage device of a remote device to form a new version, the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code for causing the computer to determine a form of said old version indicating at which end of the old version free space is located;

computer readable program code for causing the computer to generate an update package that is adapted for said form of the old version; and

computer readable program code for causing the computer to convey said update package to said remote device.