Computer program and apparatus for updating installed software programs by comparing update times
First Claim
1. An apparatus for updating installed software, comprising:
- (a) a memory that stores different versions of software, including old version software to be updated and intermediate version software that is newer than the old version software; and
(b) a processor to execute a process comprising;
obtaining version information describing specified new version software;
calculating a full update time, a partial update time, and a copy and update time, based on the obtained version information describing the new version software and version information describing the old version software;
the full update time being a time required for a full update process that rewrites the old version software entirely with the new version software,the partial update time being a time required for a partial update process that updates the old version software by using a first set of difference files, andthe copy and update time being a time required for a copy and update process that first copies the intermediate version software to a storage area accommodating the old version software and then updates the copied intermediate version software to the new version software by using a second set of difference files;
selecting a fastest update process from among the full update process, partial update process, and copy and update process by comparing the calculated full update time, partial update time, and copy and update time with each other; and
executing the selected fastest update process to update the old version software to the new version software.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer program and apparatus that minimize the time required to update installed programs to a new version. Upon receipt of a request for updating old version software to a new version, a version information collector first obtains version information describing specified new version software. Then a processing time calculator calculates update processing times for a full update process, a partial update process, and a copy & update process, based on the obtained version information about the new version software, as well as based on version information describing the old version software. A process selector compares the calculated update processing times and selects the fastest update process. Then an updating unit executes the selected fastest update process to update the old version software to the new version software.
66 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for updating installed software, comprising:
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(a) a memory that stores different versions of software, including old version software to be updated and intermediate version software that is newer than the old version software; and (b) a processor to execute a process comprising; obtaining version information describing specified new version software; calculating a full update time, a partial update time, and a copy and update time, based on the obtained version information describing the new version software and version information describing the old version software; the full update time being a time required for a full update process that rewrites the old version software entirely with the new version software, the partial update time being a time required for a partial update process that updates the old version software by using a first set of difference files, and the copy and update time being a time required for a copy and update process that first copies the intermediate version software to a storage area accommodating the old version software and then updates the copied intermediate version software to the new version software by using a second set of difference files; selecting a fastest update process from among the full update process, partial update process, and copy and update process by comparing the calculated full update time, partial update time, and copy and update time with each other; and executing the selected fastest update process to update the old version software to the new version software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for use by a computer to update installed software, the computer having a software storage unit storing different versions of software including old version software to be updated and intermediate version software that is newer than the old version software, the computer program causing the computer to function as:
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(a) a version information collector that obtains version information describing specified new version software; (b) a processing time calculator that calculates a full update time, a partial update time, and a copy and update time, based on the obtained version information describing the new version software and version information describing the old version software, wherein; the full update time is a time required for a full update process that rewrites the old version software entirely with the new version software, the partial update time is a time required for a partial update process that updates the old version software by using a first set of difference files, and the copy and update time is a time required for a copy and update process that first copies the intermediate version software to a storage area accommodating the old version software and then updates the copied intermediate version software to the new version software by using a second set of difference files; (c) a process selector that selects a fastest update process from among the full update process, partial update process, and copy and update process by comparing the calculated full update time, partial update time, and copy and update time with each other; and (d) an updating unit that executes the selected fastest update process to update the old version software to the new version software. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification