Patch management system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of managing and applying patches for software programs, comprising the steps of:
- providing at a computer, including a processor and memory, a central patch management system which includes a global patch depository that stores available patches or patch information, for application to software programs running on local machines, wherein each particular patch or patch information in the global patch depository has associated therewitha metadata that is used to determine relationships and dependencies with other patches, includinginformation describing how the particular patch or patch information is to be applied with respect to previously installed patches, andinformation describing how the patch can be rolled back, anda scope information that indicates how the patch is scoped;
providing at one or more local machines which includes one or more installed software programs, a local patch management system which includesa local patch depository, that is used to store selected patches or patch information from the global patch depository, and apply the selected patches or patch information for the one or more installed software programs on that local machine, anda maintenance archive which maintains indications of files and classes from previously-applied patches to enable rollback; and
using the metadata and the scope information associated with each patch or patch information, including the relationships and dependencies determined thereby, to control the packaging and application of the selected patches or patch information to the software programs at the local machines, in accordance with their scope, including during installation of a particular patch injecting that patch into the archive and storing backup files as necessary to enable rollback.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Patch management system can be used for maintaining patches downloaded for software. The patch management system can ensure that there are no conflicts between the installed patches.
61 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of managing and applying patches for software programs, comprising the steps of:
-
providing at a computer, including a processor and memory, a central patch management system which includes a global patch depository that stores available patches or patch information, for application to software programs running on local machines, wherein each particular patch or patch information in the global patch depository has associated therewith a metadata that is used to determine relationships and dependencies with other patches, including information describing how the particular patch or patch information is to be applied with respect to previously installed patches, and information describing how the patch can be rolled back, and a scope information that indicates how the patch is scoped; providing at one or more local machines which includes one or more installed software programs, a local patch management system which includes a local patch depository, that is used to store selected patches or patch information from the global patch depository, and apply the selected patches or patch information for the one or more installed software programs on that local machine, and a maintenance archive which maintains indications of files and classes from previously-applied patches to enable rollback; and using the metadata and the scope information associated with each patch or patch information, including the relationships and dependencies determined thereby, to control the packaging and application of the selected patches or patch information to the software programs at the local machines, in accordance with their scope, including during installation of a particular patch injecting that patch into the archive and storing backup files as necessary to enable rollback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A system for use in managing and applying patches for software programs, comprising:
-
a computer, including a processor and memory, wherein the computer further includes a central patch management system which includes a global patch depository that stores available patches or patch information, for application to software programs running on local machines, and wherein each particular patch or patch information in the global patch depository has associated therewith a metadata that is used to determine relationships and dependencies with other patches, including information describing how the particular patch or patch information is to be applied with respect to previously installed patches, and information describing how the patch can be rolled back, and a scope information that indicates how the patch is scoped; one or more local machines, wherein each local machine includes one or more installed software programs, and a local patch management system which includes a local patch depository, that is used to store selected patches or patch information retrieved from the global patch depository, and apply the selected patches or patch information for the one or more installed software programs on that local machine, and a maintenance archive which maintains indications of files and classes from previously-applied patches to enable rollback; and wherein the system uses the metadata and the scope information associated with each patch or patch information, including the relationships and dependencies determined thereby, to control the packaging and application of the selected patches or patch information to the software programs at the local machines, in accordance with their scope, including during installation of a particular patch injecting that patch into the archive and storing backup files as necessary to enable rollback. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon, which when read and executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform the steps comprising:
-
providing at a computer, including a processor and memory, a central patch management system which includes a global patch depository that stores available patches or patch information, for application to software programs running on local machines, wherein each particular patch or patch information in the global patch depository has associated therewith a metadata that is used to determine relationships and dependencies with other patches, including information describing how the particular patch or patch information is to be applied with respect to previously installed patches, and information describing how the patch can be rolled back, and a scope information that indicates how the patch is scoped; providing at one or more local machines which includes one or more installed software programs, a local patch management system which includes a local patch depository, that is used to store selected patches or patch information from the global patch depository, and apply the selected patches or patch information for the one or more installed software programs on that local machine, and a maintenance archive which maintains indications of files and classes from previously-applied patches to enable rollback; and using the metadata and the scope information associated with each patch or patch information, including the relationships and dependencies determined thereby, to control the packaging and application of the selected patches or patch information to the software programs at the local machines, in accordance with their scope, including during installation of a particular patch injecting that patch into the archive and storing backup files as necessary to enable rollback.
-
Specification