Software Updates Using Delta Patching

• US 20110113414A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Farinella, Daniel, Twigg, David, McGraw, William Harrison IV, Ewington, Craig Leslie
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for software updates using delta patching are described. A first computer may compare a first image representative of a plurality of software stacks, and a second image representative of at least one and less than all of the plurality of software stacks to determine a difference between the second image and the first image. The first computer may generate a file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image. The file may include data of instructions for removing each software stack of the plurality of software stacks represented in the first image and not represented in the second image from a second computer. Data representative of the file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image may be recorded to a computer-readable storage medium.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

comparing, by a first computer, a first image representative of a plurality of software stacks, and a second image representative of at least one and less than all of the plurality of software stacks to determine a difference between the second image and the first image;

generating, by the first computer, a file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image, the file including data of instructions for removing each software stack of the plurality of software stacks represented in the first image and not represented in the second image from a second computer; and

recording to a computer-readable storage medium data representing the file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image is representative of at least two software stacks of the plurality of software stacks.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

reading the recorded data representing the file;

and

transmitting the read data to the second computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing utilizes binary delta differencing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the file includes generating a task sequence for installation of data representative of the second image on the second computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the first computer, the first image and the second image.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the first computer, a third image representative of at least one new software stack, the at least one new software stack being different from any one of the plurality of software stacks,

wherein the second software stack further is representative of the at least one new software stack.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image further including data of instructions for adding the at least one new software stack to the second computer.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack,

wherein the first image is representative of a first and a second version of the operational software stack,

wherein the third image is representative of a third version of the operational software stack,

wherein the second image is representative of the second and the third version of the operational software stack.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack,

wherein the first image is representative of a first and a second version of the operational software stack,

wherein the second image is representative of the second version of the operational software stack.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image and the second image are file-based disk image formats.

13. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to perform a method of:

comparing, by a first computer, a first image representative of a plurality of software stacks, and a second image representative of at least one and less than all of the plurality of software stacks to determine a difference between the second image and the first image;

generating, by the first computer, a file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image, the file including data of instructions for removing each software stack of the plurality of software stacks represented in the first image and not represented in the second image from a second computer; and

recording to a computer-readable storage medium data representing the file.

14. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the second image is representative of at least two software stacks of the plurality of software stacks

15. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, the method further comprising

reading the recorded data representing the file;

and

transmitting the read data to the second computer.

16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the comparing utilizes binary delta differencing.

17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein generating the file includes generating a task sequence for installation of data representative of the second image on the second computer.

18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack.

19. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, the method further comprising generating, by the first computer, the first image and the second image.

20. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13, the method further comprising:

generating, by the first computer, a third image representative of at least one new software stack, the at least one new software stack being different from any one of the plurality of software stacks,

wherein the second software stack further is representative of the at least one new software stack.

21. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image further including data of instructions for adding the at least one new software stack to the second computer.

22. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 21,

wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack,

wherein the first image is representative of a first and a second version of the operational software stack,

wherein the third image is representative of a third version of the operational software stack,

wherein the second image is representative of the second and the third version of the operational software stack.

23. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 13,

wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack,

wherein the first image is representative of a first and a second version of the operational software stack,

wherein the second image is representative of the second version of the operational software stack.

24. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory, the at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that,

when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of;

comparing, by a first computer, a first image representative of a plurality of software stacks, and a second image representative of at least one and less than all of the plurality of software stacks to determine a difference between the second image and the first image;

generating, by the first computer, a file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image, the file including data of instructions for removing each software stack of the plurality of software stacks represented in the first image and not represented in the second image from a second computer; and

recording to a computer-readable storage medium data representing the file.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, the method further comprising:

generating, by the first computer, a third image representative of at least one new software stack, the at least one new software stack being different from any one of the plurality of software stacks,

wherein the second software stack further is representative of the at least one new software stack.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the file representative of the difference between the second image and the first image further including data of instructions for adding the at least one new software stack to the second computer.

27. The apparatus of claim 26,

wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack,

wherein the first image is representative of a first and a second version of the operational software stack,

wherein the third image is representative of a third version of the operational software stack,

wherein the second image is representative of the second and the third version of the operational software stack.

28. The apparatus of claim 24,

wherein each software stack of the plurality of software stacks is a different version of an operational software stack,

wherein the first image is representative of a first and a second version of the operational software stack,

wherein the second image is representative of the second version of the operational software stack.