Systems and methods for updating software

• US 7,814,476 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ho, Stanley M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTTEN, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US10/285,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,903 Days
• Field of Search: 717/169
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for updating a software program through base image patching. In an exemplary method for base image patching, the method includes receiving a patch, retrieving a base image, wherein the base image corresponds to a base version of a software program, and combining the base image with the patch to create an updated program. In another exemplary method, the method includes receiving an updating patch, wherein the updating patch is used to create an updated software program, retrieving a patch from a repository, wherein the patch is a previous update to a stored program, distilling a base image of the stored program using the previous patch, combining the base image with the updating patch to create an updated program, and replacing the stored program with the updated program.

Claims

1. A method for updating a software program, comprising:

receiving an updating patch to update the software program;

retrieving a stored patch from a repository, wherein the stored patch is a previous update to the software program;

distilling a base image of the software program using the stored patch, wherein the base image is a base version of the software program and the software program is a subsequent version of the base version;

combining the base image with the updating patch to create an updated software program; and

replacing the software program with the updated software program.