Method and computer-readable medium for installing an upgrade to an application program

• US 7,472,385 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chamberlain, Benjamin C, Collie, Robert C, Hatakeda, Darrin N
• Primary Examiner(s): Kendall; Chuck O
• Application Number:
  US10/843,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and computer-readable medium for upgrading an application program, and making an installer program aware that an application has been upgraded is disclosed. The method recognizes that an upgrade to the application has been initiated. The upgrade includes an identifier for the application to be upgraded, as well as information required for the installer to perform the upgrade. The installer program accesses the upgrade information, which includes instructions necessary for installing the upgrade. The installer program also accesses information related to the installed state of the application and related applications. The installer program determines whether or not the upgrade should be performed. If the upgrade should be performed, the installer program performs the upgrade and stores the fact that the application has been upgraded. If the application should not be upgraded, the installer program stores information reflecting the fact that the upgrade is available but not installed.

Claims

1. A method for creating a computer application upgrade package, comprising:

(a) generating a property table that uniquely identifies a computer application upgrade and a group of applications related to the application upgrade;

(b) generating a file-identifier list that identifies a plurality of files to be installed for the computer application upgrade;

(c) generating a registry list that includes a plurality of registry keys and values to be stored for the computer application upgrade;

(d) generating an upgrade table that indicates if installed versions of computer applications that are related to the computer application upgrade can coexist with the application upgrade, wherein applications that cannot coexist with the application upgrade are removed during the installation of the computer application upgrade;

(e) generating an action list describing a method for installing the computer application upgrade; and

(f) storing the property table, the file-identifier list, the registry list, the upgrade table and the action list.

2. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

3. A computer-readable medium comprising an upgrade package, wherein an upgrade package comprises:

(a) a property table that uniquely identifies a computer application upgrade and a group of applications related to the application upgrade;

(b) a file-identifier list that identifies a plurality of files to be installed for the computer application upgrade;

(c) a registry list that includes a plurality of registry keys and values to be stored for the computer application upgrade;

(d) an upgrade table that indicates if installed versions of computer applications that are related to the computer application upgrade can coexist with the application upgrade, wherein applications that cannot coexist with the application upgrade are removed during the installation of the computer application upgrade; and

(e) an action list describing a method for installing the computer application upgrade.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, further comprising the plurality of files identified in the file-identifier list.