Apparatus and Method for Managing Software Applications Using Partitioned Data Storage Devices

• US 20120047499A1
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Krzystofczyk, Carl J., Zarchy, Richard R., Stefanik, Gary F., Polczynski, Raymond M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/10 Usage protection of distributed data files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials

Abstract

Methods, devices, and computer storage media for installation, upgrading, reinstallation, and roll back of software application packages are disclosed. A first software application package is stored in an installation partition of a data storage device of a computing device. The first software application package includes a first software application. The first software application can be installed on an active partition of the data storage device. A first authentication key, associated with the first software application, is determined and stored on the active partition, and then copied to the installation partition. In response to determining that the first software application is to be reinstalled on the active partition: (a) the first software application is reinstalled from the first software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition, and (b) the associated authentication key stored on the installation partition is copied to the active partition.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing a first software application package in an installation partition of a data storage device communicatively coupled to a computing device, wherein the first software application package comprises a first software application;

installing the first software application from the first software application package onto an active partition of the data storage device;

determining a first authentication key associated with the first software application and storing the first authentication key on the active partition;

copying the first authentication key to the installation partition; and

in response to determining that the first software application is to be reinstalled on the active partition;

reinstalling the first software application from the first software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition, and

copying the associated authentication key stored on the installation partition to the active partition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application package further comprises installation instructions configured to install the software application onto the active partition, and wherein installing the software application comprises executing the installation instructions by the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a second software application package on the installation partition, wherein the second software application package further comprises a second software application.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

installing the second software application from the second software application package on the installation partition onto the active partition;

determining a second authentication key stored on the active partition, wherein the second authentication is associated with the second software application; and

copying the associated authentication key to the installation partition.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein installing the second software application comprises replacing the first software application stored on the active partition with the second software application, and wherein determining the second authentication key comprises replacing the first authentication key stored on the active partition with the second authentication key.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein storing a second software application package on the installation partition comprises replacing the first software application package stored on the installation partition with the second software application package.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein storing a second software application package on the installation partition comprise storing the second software application package on the installation partition separately from the first software application package stored on the installation partition.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that an active software application stored on the active partition is to be reinstalled;

responsively receiving a selection to reinstall either the first software application or the second software application;

in response to the selection indicating the first software application is to be reinstalled, reinstalling the first software application from the first software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition as the active software application; and

in response to the selection indicating the second software application is to be reinstalled, reinstalling the second software application from the second software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition as the active software application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first software application is configured to:

determine that the first authentication key is a verified authentication key; and

enable a functionality of the first software application, in response to determining that the first authentication key is the verified authentication key, or

inhibit the functionality of first software application, in response to determining that the first authentication key is not the verified authentication key.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation partition is configured as a hidden partition.

11. A method, comprising:

partitioning a first data storage device communicatively coupled to a computing device into at least an active partition and an installation partition;

storing a software application package on the installation partition, wherein the software application package comprises application software;

installing the application software onto the active partition from the software application package;

initializing at least one system parameter stored on the active partition of the data storage device; and

in response to installing the application software and initializing the at least one system parameter, generating an image of the first data storage device, wherein the image of the first data storage device comprises an image of the active partition and an image of the installation partition.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing the generated image of the first data storage device onto a cloning data storage device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

copying the generated image from the cloning data storage device onto a second data storage device, wherein the second data storage device is not the first storage device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an authentication key associated with the software application; and

wherein the software application is further configured to;

determine that the authentication key is a verified authentication key; and

allow a functionality of the first software application, in response to determining that the authentication key is the verified authentication key, or

inhibit the functionality of the first software application, in response to determining that the authentication key is not the verified authentication key.

15. A computing device, comprising:

a data storage device, configured with at least an active partition and an installation partition;

a processor; and

instructions, stored in the data storage device, that upon execution by the processor, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising;

installing a software application from a software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition, wherein the software application package comprises a software application;

determining an authentication key associated with the software application and storing the authentication key on the active partition;

saving the associated authentication key on the installation partition; and

in response to determining that the software application is to be reinstalled on the active partition;

reinstalling the software application from the software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition, and

copying the associated authentication key stored on the installation partition onto the active partition.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise:

storing a second software application package on the installation partition, wherein the second software application package further comprises a second software application.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

installing the second software application from the second software application package on the installation partition onto the active partition;

determining a second authentication key stored on the active partition, wherein the second authentication is associated with the second software application; and

copying the associated authentication key to the installation partition.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining that an active software application stored on the active partition is to be reinstalled;

responsively receiving a selection to reinstall either the first software application or the second software application;

in response to the selection indicating the first software application is to be reinstalled, reinstalling the first software application from the first software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition as the active software application; and

in response to the selection indicating the second software application package is to be reinstalled, reinstalling the second software application from the second software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition as the active software application.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the first software application is configured to:

determine that the first authentication key is a verified authentication key; and

allow a functionality of the first software application, in response to determining that the first authentication key is the verified authentication key, or

inhibit the functionality of first software application, in response to determining that the first authentication key is not the verified authentication key.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the data storage device further comprises a backup partition, and wherein the backup partition is configured to store an image of an operating system.