CLIENT-SERVER VERSION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

• US 20130125242A1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: FARRUGIA, Augustin J., TABAN, Gelareh, KAMEL, Amine El, FASOLI, Gianpaolo, VEDULA, Srinivas
• Granted Patent: US 9,594,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

A software version control system manages versioned applications in a client-server computing system environment. Thereby this is a management system for computer application (software) distribution where a number of client devices coupled to a server may be executing different versions of a particular computing application. The system manages updates to the applications and enforces rules or policies to use the most recent version whenever possible.

Claims

1. A method of managing a computer software application having a plurality of versions, wherein the application is associated with a client computing device which interacts with a server computing device, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) a processor determining which of the versions the server computing device supports;

(b) the processor determining which of the versions resides on the client computing device;

(c) comparing the results of (a) and (b) to determine any common versions;

(d) determining which of the common versions is most recent;

(e) storing in a computer memory an indication of the most recent common version; and

(f) directing the client computing device and the server computing device to use the most recent common version.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

determining which of the versions is supported by an operating system of the client computing device; and

directing the client computing device in (f) to use the most recent common version only if that version is also supported by the operating system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server computing device if it supports a later version of the application also supports at least one earlier version.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of reporting which version is the most recent common version in (f) and reporting if any other versions are available.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application includes digital rights management to protect content data transmitted to the client computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the digital rights management includes delivery of cryptographic keys to the client computing device, for decrypting the content data.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer code to carry out the method of claim 1.

8. A computing system programmed to carry out the method of claim 1.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a module associated with the server computing device.

10. Apparatus for managing a computer software application having a plurality of versions, wherein the application is associated with a client computing device which interacts with a server computing device, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a processor which determines which of the versions the server computing device supports;

(b) the processor determines which of the versions resides on the client computing device;

(c) the processor compares the results of (a) and (b) to determine any common versions;

(d) the processor determines which of the common versions is most recent;

(e) a computer memory associated with the processor which stores an indication of the most recent common version; and

(f) the processor being adapted to direct the client computing device and the server computing device to use the most recent common version.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus:

determines which of the versions is supported by an operating system of the client computing device; and

directs the client computing device in (f) to use the most recent common version only if that version is also supported by the operating system.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the server computing device if it supports a later version of the application also supports at least one earlier version.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus reports which version is the most recent common version in (f) and reports if any other versions are available.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the software application includes digital rights management to protect content data transmitted to the client computing device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the digital rights management includes delivery of cryptographic keys to the client computing device, for decrypting the content data.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus shares the processor with the server computing device.