DYNAMIC RETRIEVAL OF INSTALLATION PACKAGES WHEN INSTALLING SOFTWARE

• US 20140229932A1
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Matthew, Jack, CHANG, JOHN R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,465,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/10 Inorganic particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/726 Permeability to liquids, absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles closures therefor B32B2435/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2509/10 Refrigerators or refrigerating equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24 Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamic retrieval of installation packages when installing software is described herein. In one embodiment, a process can be provided to determine a specific installation package to be installed for software having one or more packages to be installed. A repository can be automatically identified from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, based on priority criteria. The priority criteria can be based on dynamically changing parameters. The specific installation package can be obtained from the identified repository.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for installing software, the method comprising:

determining, by a data processing system, a specific installation package to be installed, the software having one or more installation packages to be installed;

automatically identifying a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, and wherein the priority criteria is based on dynamically changing parameters; and

obtaining the specific installation package from the identified repository, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include data rates for the plurality of repositories.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through a network, information about the data rates for the plurality of repositories includes one or more of a network throughput, a speed of a device, and a speed of a server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the specific installation package, identifying an alternate repository from which to obtain the specific installation package.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least two of a local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically determining whether an updated version of the specific installation package exists.

5. (canceled)

7. A method for obtaining data, the method comprising:

for each portion of data to be obtained, automatically identifying, by a data processing system, a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the portion of data, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, wherein the priority criteria is based on a pre-defined order in which to access the plurality of repositories; and

obtaining the portion of data from the identified repository.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

dynamically determining whether an updated version of the portion of data exists.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the portion of data, identifying an alternate repository from which to obtain the portion of data.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least two of a local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the pre-defined order in which to access the plurality of repositories causes a repository identifier to access a local hard drive first, a local optical disk second, a computer accessible over a local area network third, and a remote server fourth.

12. A computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions to cause a processing system to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

determining, by a data processing system, a specific installation package to be installed, the software having one or more installation packages to be installed;

automatically identifying a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, and wherein the priority criteria is based on dynamically changing parameters; and

obtaining the specific installation package from the identified repository, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include data rates for the plurality of repositories.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving, through a network, information about the data rates for the plurality of repositories includes one or more of a network throughput, a speed of a device, and a speed of a server.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the specific installation package, identifying an alternate repository from which to obtain the specific installation package.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least two of local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise:

dynamically determining whether an updated version of the specific installation package exists.

16. (canceled)

18. A computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions to cause a processing system to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

for each portion of data to be obtained, automatically identifying, by a data processing system, a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the portion of data, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, wherein the priority criteria is based on a pre-defined order in which to access the plurality of repositories; and

obtaining the portion of data from the identified repository.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

dynamically determining whether an updated version of the portion of data exists.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the portion of data, identifying an alternate repository from which to obtain the portion of data.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least two of local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the pre-defined order in which to access the plurality of repositories causes a repository identifier to access a local hard drive first, a local optical disk second, a computer accessible over a local area network third, and a remote server fourth.

23. (canceled)

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining, by a data processing system, a specific installation package to be installed, the software having one or more installation packages to be installed;

means for automatically identifying a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, and wherein the priority criteria is based on dynamically changing parameters; and

means for obtaining the specific installation package from the identified repository, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include data rates for the plurality of repositories.

25. An apparatus comprising:

for each portion of data to be obtained, means for automatically identifying, by a data processing system, a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the portion of data, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, wherein the priority criteria is based on a pre-defined order in which to access the plurality of repositories; and

means for obtaining the portion of data from the identified repository.

26. A computer system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configurable by instructions stored in the memory to;

determine, by a data processing system, a specific installation package to be installed, the software having one or more installation packages to be installed;

automatically identify a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, and wherein the priority criteria is based on dynamically changing parameters; and

obtain the specific installation package from the identified repository, wherein the dynamically changing parameters include data rates for the plurality of repositories.

27. A computer system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configurable by instructions stored in the memory to;

for each portion of data to be obtained, automatically identify, by a data processing system, a repository from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the portion of data, wherein the identification is based on priority criteria, wherein the priority criteria is based on a pre-defined order in which to access the plurality of repositories; and

obtain the portion of data from the identified repository.