Distribution Of Software Updates

• US 20110113420A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: McCurdy, Daniel, McGraw, William Harrison IV, Ewington, Craig Leslie
• Application Number:
  US12/731,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113420A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for distribution of software updates are described. A first software component and a task sequence may be received at a computer. The task sequence may include instructions for installing the first software component at the computer. The computer may store the first software component and the task sequence in a computer-readable medium. The computer then may execute the task sequence to install, in the computer-readable medium, a software stack from an image of the software stack also stored in the compute-readable medium, and the first software component into the installed software stack. The task sequence may include instructions for de-installing a software component from the installed software stack.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computer, a first software component and a task sequence of instructions for installing a software stack and the first software component at the computer;

storing, in a computer-readable medium, the first software component and the task sequence; and

executing the task sequence to install, in the computer-readable medium, (1) a software stack from an image of the software stack also stored in the compute-readable medium, and (2) the first software component into the installed software stack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the task sequence further comprises instructions for de-installing a second software component from the installed software stack, and wherein executing comprises executing the task sequence to de-install the second software component from the installed software stack.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the installing includes installing the first software component in place of the de-installed second software component.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second software components are different versions of a same software component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the task sequence further includes instructions for;

rebooting the computer into a memory-resident operating system; and

after rebooting, erasing a portion of the computer-readable medium that does not store the first software component and the image, and

the method further comprises performing the rebooting and erasing as instructed by the task sequence.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein executing comprises executing the task sequence to install the software stack in the erased portion of the computer-readable medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving the first software component and the task sequence via a network.

8. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

storing, in a computer-readable medium, a first software component and a task sequence of instructions for installing a software stack and the first software component at the computer; and

executing the task sequence to install, in the computer-readable medium, (1) a software stack from an image of the software stack also stored in the compute-readable medium, and (2) the first software component into the installed software stack.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the task sequence further comprises instructions for de-installing a second software component from the installed software stack, and wherein executing comprises executing the task sequence to de-install the second software component from the installed software stack.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the installing includes installing the first software component in place of the de-installed second software component.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first and second software components are different versions of a same software component.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the task sequence further includes instructions for;

rebooting the computer into a memory-resident operating system; and

after rebooting, erasing a portion of the computer-readable medium that does not store the first software component and the image, and

the method further comprises performing the rebooting and erasing as instructed by the task sequence.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein executing comprises executing the task sequence to install the software stack in the erased portion of the computer-readable medium.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving comprises receiving the first software component and the task sequence via a network.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for a computer to perform a method, the method comprising;

storing, in a computer-readable medium, a first software component and a task sequence for installing a software stack and the first software component at the computer, and

executing the task sequence to install, in the computer-readable medium, (1) a software stack from an image of the software stack also stored in the compute-readable medium, and (2) the first software component into the installed software stack; and

a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the task sequence further comprises instructions for de-installing a second software component from the installed software stack, and wherein executing comprises executing the task sequence to de-install the second software component from the installed software stack.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the installing includes installing the first software component in place of the de-installed second software component.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second software components are different versions of a same software component.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the task sequence further includes instructions for;

rebooting the computer into a memory-resident operating system; and

after rebooting, erasing a portion of the computer-readable medium that does not store the first software component and the image, and

the method further comprises performing the rebooting and erasing as instructed by the task sequence.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein executing them task sequence comprises executing the task sequence to install the software stack in the erased portion of the computer-readable medium.