Just-in-time software updates

• US 6,553,507 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cohen, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BADERMAN, SCOTT T
• Application Number:
  US09/163,622
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 714/4-15, 714/43, 714/49, 714/26, 714/38, 714/46, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173
• US Class Current: 714/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method for updating a software program having the steps of detecting a fault in the software program during execution and updating a predetermined portion of the software program with a new portion identified in a fault database. The software program resides in a first node and the fault database resides in a second node. The first and the second node are coupled to each other through the Internet. The new portion is configured to solve the fault and is downloadable through the Internet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for updating a software program residing on a first node comprising:

a fault database residing on a second node and configured to hold a plurality of entries each having a set of fault parameters and an associated software patch;

a fault detector to monitor for a fault and detect the fault in said software program during execution of said software program, said software program residing in said first node;

a fault handler residing on said first node and coupled to said fault database through the Internet, said fault handler to identify the fault, gather fault parameters, and send the fault parameters to said fault database; and

a fault searcher at said second node to search said fault database and match the fault parameters with the associated software patch;

wherein said fault handler is configured to automatically update a predetermined portion of the software program with a new portion, said new portion including the associated software patch identified in said fault database which is configured to solve the fault and is downloadable through the Internet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fault searcher is further configured to return a report indicating that the fault parameters describe a new fault if an entry matching the fault parameters is not found in said fault database.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fault searcher is further configured to return a report indicating that a solution to the fault is not found if an entry matching the fault parameters is found but no corresponding software patch is found in said fault database.

4. A system for updating a software program, said system comprising:

a first node comprising,

a fault detector to monitor for a fault and detect the fault in said software program during execution of said software program, said software program residing in said first node;

a storage element, said storage element configured to hold,

a fault handler to identify the fault, gather fault parameters, and send the fault parameters to a fault database; and

a processor configured to execute said fault handler; and

a second node coupled to said first node through the Internet, said second node comprising,

a server configured to hold said fault database, said fault database configured to hold a plurality of entries each having a set of fault parameters and an associated software patch; and

a fault searcher to search said fault database and match the fault parameters with the associated software patch;

wherein said fault handler is configured to automatically update a predetermined portion of the software program with a new portion, said new portion including said associated software patch identified in the fault database which is configured to solve the fault and is downloadable through the Internet.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said fault searcher is further configured to return a report indicating that the fault parameters describe a new fault if an entry matching the fault parameters is not found in said fault database.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said fault searcher is further configured to return a report indicating that a solution to the fault is not found if an entry matching the fault parameters is found but no corresponding solution is found in said fault database.

7. A system for updating a software program, including code configured for storage on a plurality of computer-readable apparatus, each computer readable apparatus coupled to each other through a network, said code executable by a computer, the code including a plurality of modules each configured to carry out at least one function to be executed by the computer, the system comprising:

a first computer including;

a fault detector configured to monitor for a fault and detect the fault in the software program during execution of said software program, said software program residing in said first computer; and

a fault handler module to identify the fault, gather fault parameters, and send the fault parameters to a fault database;

a second computer including;

said fault database to hold a plurality of entries each having a set of fault parameters and an associated software patch;

a fault searcher to search said fault database and match the fault parameters with the associated software patch;

wherein said fault handler is configured to automatically update a predetermined portion of the software program with a new portion, said new portion including the associated software patch identified in said fault database which is configured to solve the fault and is downloadable through the Internet.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said second computer is configured to return a report indicating that the fault parameters describe a new fault if an entry matching the fault parameters is not found in said fault database.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said second computer is further configured to return a report indicating that a solution to the fault is not found if an entry matching the fault parameters is found but no corresponding solution is found in said fault database.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said second computer is further configured to return a solution to the fault if an entry matching the fault parameters is found and a corresponding solution is found in said fault database.