GRAPHICAL GUIDES TO AID USER SELECTION OF GROUPS OF INSTRUCTION PACKAGES

• US 20110185304A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Conzola, Vincent C., Eischeid, Todd M., Lection, David B., Molander, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for graphically mapping compatible processing updates. The method includes employing a processor for tracking updates for processing instruction packages. The method further includes determining compatibility between each of the processing instruction packages. The method additionally includes linking combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together. The method also includes providing a map of one or more combinations of linked compatible processing instruction packages and tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages to a graphical user interface for facilitating selection of tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a tracking module configured to track updates for a plurality of processing instruction packages;

a compatibility module configured to determine compatibility between each of the plurality of processing instruction packages;

a linking module configured to link combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together; and

a mapping module configured to provide a map of one or more combinations of linked compatible processing instruction packages and provide tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages to a user interface for facilitating selection of tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the updates comprise information including type of device a tracked update is targeted for, a release date of each tracked update, type of tracked update, and assigned importance level for each tracked update.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein compatibility between processing instruction packages is known based on heuristics and surveys.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mapping module is configured to provide the combinations of compatible processing instruction packages that are graphically linked together.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mapping module is configured to provide differences between available compatible processing instruction packages that are represented using graphical symbols representing strength of compatibility, type of tracked update, and processing instruction packages that are installed together.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mapping module is configured to provide a map of linked compatible processing instruction packages that are modifiable based on changing a path in the map.

7. A method comprising:

employing a processor for

tracking updates for a plurality of processing instruction packages;

determining compatibility between each of the plurality of processing instruction packages;

linking combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together; and

providing a map of one or more combinations of linked compatible processing instruction packages and tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages to a graphical user interface for facilitating selection of updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein tracking updates further comprises tracking type of devices a tracked update is targeted for, release dates of each tracked update, type of tracked update, and assigned importance level for each tracked update.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining compatibility further comprises:

obtaining heuristics of tracked update compatibilities and survey results; and

matching known compatibilities between existing updates for processing instruction packages.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein linking further comprises graphically linking symbols representing combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the map of linked compatible processing instruction packages is modifiable based on changing a path in the map via a user interface.

12. A computer program product for mapping compatible processing instruction packages comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to

track updates for a plurality of processing instruction packages;

determine compatibility between each of the plurality of processing instruction packages;

link combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together; and

provide a map of one or more combinations of linked compatible instruction packages and tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages to a graphical user interface for facilitating selection of updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein tracking updates further comprises causing the computer to track type of devices an update is targeted for, release dates of each update, type of update, and assigned importance level for each update.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein determining compatibility further causes the computer to:

obtain heuristics of update compatibilities and survey results; and

match known compatibilities between existing updates for processing instruction packages.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer is further caused to:

modify the map of linked compatible instruction packages upon receiving an input to change a path in the map from a user interface.

16. A system comprising:

a server device including

a tracking module configured to track updates for a plurality of processing instruction packages;

a compatibility module configured to determine compatibility between each of the plurality of processing instruction packages;

a linking module configured to link combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together; and

a mapping module configured to provide a map of one or more combinations of linked compatible instruction packages and provide tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages as output for facilitating selection of updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a client device coupled with

an input module configured for receiving commands from a user as input to display compatible processing instruction packages; and

an output module configured for receiving the map and tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages from the server device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the compatibility module is configured to determine compatibility between processing instruction packages based on heuristics and surveys.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mapping module is further configured to represent differences between available compatible processing instruction packages using graphical symbols representing strength of compatibility, type of tracked update, and processing instruction packages that are installed together.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the linking module is further configured to modify linking of compatible processing instruction packages upon receiving an input from the input module to change a path in the map.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing instruction packages comprises one of firmware, software downloads, and device drivers.