Automatic controllable deployment of software updates
First Claim
1. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program logic embodied therein for executing on a computer system to controllably release software updates to a sample of computers with updateable software, the computer program logic comprising:
- a value-generating module for generating a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of possible values, the population range spanning a set of values for each computer that will be retrieving the software update;
a specification module for receiving update information in an update deployment specification, the information specifying an eligibility window during which a specified portion of the population range is eligible to retrieve a software update;
an eligibility determination module for applying rules to automatically determine eligibility of the computer to retrieve the software update, the computer being determined eligible when the value for the computer falls within the specified portion of the population range for the eligibility window; and
an update module for permitting the computer to retrieve the software update.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Risk of inadvertent introduction of software bugs to a large number of users during a software update is minimized using an automatic mechanism controlling update release. A value-generating module generates a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of values. A specification module receives update information in an update deployment specification. The information specifies an eligibility window during which a specified portion of the population range is eligible to retrieve an update. The specification can include fields, such as a code selector, a value offset, a start time, etc. An eligibility determination module applies rules to automatically determine eligibility of the computer to retrieve the software update. The computer is determined eligible when the value for the computer falls within the specified portion of the population range for the eligibility window. An update module permits the computer to retrieve the software update based on the eligibility determination.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program logic embodied therein for executing on a computer system to controllably release software updates to a sample of computers with updateable software, the computer program logic comprising:
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a value-generating module for generating a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of possible values, the population range spanning a set of values for each computer that will be retrieving the software update; a specification module for receiving update information in an update deployment specification, the information specifying an eligibility window during which a specified portion of the population range is eligible to retrieve a software update; an eligibility determination module for applying rules to automatically determine eligibility of the computer to retrieve the software update, the computer being determined eligible when the value for the computer falls within the specified portion of the population range for the eligibility window; and an update module for permitting the computer to retrieve the software update. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controllably releasing software updates to a sample of computers with updateable software, the method comprising:
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generating a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of possible values, the population range scanning a set of values for each computer that will be retrieving the software update; receiving update information in an update deployment specification, the information specifying an eligibility window during which a specified portion of the population range is eligible to retrieve a software update; applying rules to automatically determine eligibility of the computer to retrieve the software update, the computer being determined eligible when the value for the computer falls within the specified portion of the population range for the eligibility window; and permitting the computer to retrieve the software update based on the eligibility determination. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for controllably releasing software updates to a sample of computers with updateable software, the system comprising:
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a value-generating module for generating a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of possible values, the population range scanning a set of values for each computer that will be retrieving the software update; a specification module for receiving update information in an update deployment specification, the information specifying an eligibility window during which a specified portion of the population range is eligible to retrieve a software update; an eligibility determination module for applying rules to automatically determine eligibility of the computer to retrieve the software update, the computer being determined eligible when the value for the computer falls within the specified portion of the population range for the eligibility window; and an update module for permitting the computer to retrieve the software update based on the eligibility determination. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification