Systems and methods for providing software updates

• US 9,383,987 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Marmaros, David, Lawrence, Stephen R., Ionescu, Mihai Florin, Wang, Niniane, Khan, Omar Habib
• Primary Examiner(s): Kendall, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US13/621,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,389 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

The present invention comprises systems and methods, and computer readable media comprising the methods, for updating software applications. The systems and methods of the present invention provide automation and flexibility to the updating process. Processor usage and network usage are monitored and software updates are initiated and/or continued during periods where processor and/or network usage are low. The update process may be halted when the processor and/or network connection are called upon for other uses. Processor and/or network usage may also be throttled, for example limiting the bandwidth available for the download to maintain sufficient processor share and/or bandwidth for other tasks. Adverse impact on a computer user is minimized.

Claims

1. A method for updating a software application on a computing device, comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:

monitoring a level of network activity of the computing device;

determining that at least a component of a resident software application on the computing device should be updated;

initiating a download for the update based on the monitored level of network activity;

responsive to determining that the monitored network activity level during the download has changed, slowing the download; and

installing the download to update the component of the resident software application after the download is completed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a level of processor activity of the computing device;

wherein installing occurs responsive to the monitored processor activity level during the install.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the monitored processor activity level during the install has increased, halting the install of the download.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

during a halted install, responsive to determining that the monitored processor activity level has decreased, resuming the install of the download.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the monitored network activity level during the download has increased after the download is slowed, halting the download.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the monitored network activity level during the download has increased comprises determining that the monitored network activity level during the download exceeds a first predetermined threshold level of network activity.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

during a halted download, responsive to determining that the monitored network activity level has decreased, resuming the download.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the download is initiated based on a determination that the download can be masked by other processes on the computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the download is initiated based on a usage of the component.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising queuing the download prior to installing the download.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

based on the level of processor activity, retrieving the download from the queue and installing the download.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code causing at least one processor to perform the following operations:

monitoring a level of network activity of a computing device;

determining that a software application on the computing device should be updated;

initiating a download for the update based on the monitored level of network activity;

responsive to determining that the monitored network activity level during the download has changed, slowing the download; and

installing the download to update the component of the resident software application after the download is completed.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the program code further cause the at least processor to perform the following operations:

monitoring a level of processor activity of the computing device;

wherein installing occurs responsive to the monitored processor activity level during the install.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the program code further cause the at least processor to perform the following operation:

responsive to determining that the monitored processor activity level during the install has increased, halting the install of the download.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the program code further cause the at least processor to perform the following operation:

during a halted install, responsive to determining that the monitored processor activity level has decreased, resuming the install of the download.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the program code further cause the at least processor to perform the following operations:

responsive to determining that the monitored network activity level during the download has increased after the download is slowed, halting the download.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining that the monitored network activity level during the download has increased comprises determining that the monitored network activity level during the download exceeds a first predetermined threshold level of network activity.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the program code further cause the at least processor to perform the following operation:

during a halted download, responsive to determining that the monitored network activity level has decreased, resuming the download.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the download is initiated based on a determination that the download can be masked by other processes on the computing device.