Dynamic update installer for customized software

• US 9,606,788 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Nachimuthu, Arunpriyaa, Thomas, Satish J., Gupta, Amit, Premo, Nathan S., Gorn, Dmitry
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Qing
• Application Number:
  US14/456,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of updating a system of customized software is provided. The method includes receiving an update request and collecting contextual information relative to the system of customized software. A query is generated for updates applicable to the system of customized software based on the contextual information. A query response is received indicative of at least one applicable update. A selection relative to the at least one applicable update is received. At least one update is selectively applied based on the selection.

Claims

1. A method of updating a customized system, the method comprising:

receiving an update request;

obtaining contextual information that includes information about a customization that has been made to the customized system;

generating a query for an update to the customized system based on the contextual information and version information of a module and an application deployed by the customized system;

receiving a query response indicative of a potential update;

obtaining the potential update based on the query response;

receiving a selection relative to an update type;

receiving a selection of a model store after obtaining the potential update;

receiving a selection of an application update related to the selected model store after receiving the selection of the model store; and

selectively applying the application update related to the selected model store based on selection of the application update related to the selected model store and selection of the model store.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying particular environmental information of the customized system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular environmental information includes an indication of a production environment.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular environmental information includes an indication of a test environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes information about hardware upon which the customized system operates.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes locality information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing an impact analysis to determine conflicts relative to the selected application update related to the selected model store and the selected model store.

8. A custom computing system comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled to the processor and configured to store code, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to execute a customized function, wherein the customized function includes a change from an as-shipped version of the customized function;

an input component coupled to the processor and configured to receive a user input;

a user interface component coupled to the processor and configured to generate a user interface;

a data store storing data indicative of organization processes and workflows; and

an update installer interface configured to communicate with a remote device to obtain a potential update;

wherein the user interface component is configured to display an update type selection user interface to receive a user input selection of one of a plurality of update types;

wherein the user interface component is further configured to display a model store selection user interface to receive a user input selection of a model store after obtaining the potential update;

wherein the user interface component is further configured to display an application update selection user interface to receive a user input selection of an application update related to the selected model store after receiving the user input selection of the model store; and

wherein the custom computing system is configured to obtain contextual information about the custom computing system and selectively apply the application update related to the selected model store to the custom computing system based on the user input selection of the application update related to the selected model store and the user input selection of the model store, and wherein the application update related to the selected model store is received from the remote device through the update installer interface prior to receiving the user input selection of the model store.

9. The custom computing system of claim 8, wherein the user interface component is further configured to present an element that, when selected by a user, will cause the custom computing system to download an installer component from the remote device.

10. The custom computing system of claim 8, wherein the user interface component is further configured to present an authentication interface.

11. The custom computing system of claim 8, wherein the one of the plurality of update types includes a binary update type.

12. The custom computing system of claim 8, wherein the one of the plurality of update types includes an application update type.

13. The custom computing system of claim 8, wherein the user interface component is further configured to present a user interface element that allows a user to select less than all of a plurality of application updates for installation.

14. The custom computing system of claim 13, further comprising an impact analysis module configured to determine conflicts relative to the user selected less than all of the plurality of application updates and the user input selection of the model store.

15. The custom computing system of claim 13, wherein the user interface component is further configured to provide a user interface element that allows the user to save a custom update package.

16. The custom computing system of claim 15, wherein the user interface component is further configured to provide a user interface element that allows the user to load the custom update package for installation.