On demand patching of applications via software implementation installer mechanism

• US 7,073,172 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chamberlain, Benjamin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Das, Chameli C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENDALL, CHUCK O
• Application Number:
  US10/228,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 714/38
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A method and mechanism for automatically patching software implementations such as applications as they are installed from an external source. A patch program is run for a software implementation that is advertised as available, or is otherwise available, though not yet installed (or fully installed). The mechanism maintains the patch information for that software implementation. Whenever the software implementation is installed, the mechanism determines that the software implementation has the patch information maintained therefor. The mechanism automatically applies the patch as part of the on-demand installation process. The patch may change the files, the values of registry entries and/or the installation logic associated with the software implementation.

Claims

1. In a client computer system, a method of patching a software implementation, comprising:

receiving a patch corresponding to a software implementation at a client computer system;

maintaining patch information in association with the software implementation at the client computer system;

determining whether the software implementation is installed on the client computer system, and;

if the software implementation is installed on the client computer system, automatically patching the software implementation, and

if the software implementation is not installed on the client computer system, using the patch information to automatically patch the software implementation when the software implementation is later installed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the software implementation is installed on the computer system includes querying an installation service.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, installing the software implementation on demand, accessing the patch information maintained in association with the software implementation, and patching the software implementation on demand based on the patch information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein patching the software application includes changing data in at least one file associated with the software implementation.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein patching the software application includes adding at least one file for association with the software implementation.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein patching the software application includes deleting at least one file associated with the software implementation.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein patching the software application includes writing at least one value to the system registry.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein patching the software application includes modifying at least one value in the system registry.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the patch identifies at least one file of the software implementation to be changed, and further comprising, for each file to be changed, determining if the file is installed, and if installed, changing information in the file, and if not installed, maintaining information for the file indicating that the file is to be changed.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a patch corresponding to a software implementation comprises receiving patch information from an executing patch installation program.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining patch information comprises maintaining transform information and maintaining patch bits on the computer system.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

13. In a client computing environment, a method comprising:

receiving a request related to patching a software implementation with patch data;

determining whether the software implementation is already installed on a client computer system; and

if the software implementation is already installed, patching the software implementation with the patch data and maintaining patch information in association with the software implementation such that if the software implementation is later reinstalled, the reinstalled software implementation will be automatically re-patched with the patch data upon reinstallatian of the software implementation; and

if the software implementation is not already installed, maintaining patch information in association with the software implementation at the client computer such that if the software implementation is installed, the software implementation will be automatically patched with the patch data upon installation of the software implementation.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 13.

15. In a client computer system, a mechanism for patching a software implementation, comprising, an interface that receives patch information corresponding to a software implementation, a storage configured to maintain the patch information, and an installer that determines whether the software implementation is installed on the client computer system, the installer patching the software implementation if the software implementation is installed on the client computer system, and, if the software implementation is not installed on the client computer system, the installer using the patch information to automatically patch the software implementation when the software implementation is later installed.

16. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information includes at least one new file to install for the software implementation.

17. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information identifies the software implementation by a product code.

18. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information includes instructions for changing at least one file associated with the software implementation.

19. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information includes data for changing at least one file associated with the software implementation.

20. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information includes instructions for changing at least one value associated with the software implementation in the system registry.

21. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information includes instructions for adding at least one value associated with the software implementation to the system registry.

22. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the software implementation is not installed on the computer system, and wherein the installer receives a request to install the software implementation, installs the software implementation, accesses the patch information in the storage, and patches the software implementation based on the patch information.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for permitting steps comprising:

receiving a request to install a software implementation on a client computer, the software implementation not previously installed;

installing at least part of the software implementation on the client computer

in connection with at least part of the software implementation, automatically determining from patch information stored on the client computer and associated with the software implementation that the software implementation has a patch associated therewith; and

automatically patching the software implementation.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the software implementation is an advertised application that is advertised as available for execution prior to installation of application code used to execute the application.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the software implementation is a published application that has no presence on a machine until invoked.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 having further computer-executable instructions for receiving the patch, and maintaining the patch in association with the software implementation.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes changing data in at least one file of the software implementation.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes adding at least one file to the software implementation.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes deleting at least one file of the software implementation.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes replacing at least one file of the software implementation.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes writing a value to a registry entry associated with the software implementation.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes modifying a value of a registry entry associated with the software implementation.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein patching the software implementation includes changing installation logic of the software implementation.