Dynamic software update system, method and program product

• US 20050149922A1
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vincent, Christopher R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for dynamically updating a computer application. According to the method, a subscription request is sent to a publish/subscribe server so as to receive updates to the computer application. An update notification or an update is received from the publish/subscribe server, and the update is dynamically applied to the computer application during execution without restarting the computer application. In one embodiment, the update notification is received from the publish/subscribe server, a request for the update is sent to a second server, and the update is received from the second server. Also provided are a system, method and computer program product for sending updates to a computer application.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically updating a computer application, the method comprising the steps of:

subscribing with a publish/subscribe server so as to receive updates to the computer application;

receiving an update notification or an update from the publish/subscribe server; and

dynamically applying the update to the computer application during execution without restarting the computer application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the update notification from the publish/subscribe server;

sending a request for the update to a second server in response to receiving the update notification; and

receiving the update from the second server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the update from the publish/subscribe server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

5. A method for sending updates to a computer application, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a publish/subscribe server, subscription requests for updates to the computer application;

receiving, at the publish/subscribe server, an update for the computer application; and

sending, via publication from the publish/subscribe server, an update notification or the update to all subscribers for updates to the computer application.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the sending step comprises sending the update notification, and

the method further comprises:

sending a request for the update to a second server in response to receiving the update notification; and

receiving the update from the second server.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the sending step comprises sending the update from the publish/subscribe server.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

9. A computer program product for dynamically updating a computer application, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising the steps of;

subscribing with a publish/subscribe server so as to receive updates to the computer application;

receiving an update notification or an update from the publish/subscribe server; and

dynamically applying the update to the computer application during execution without restarting the computer application.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the update notification from the publish/subscribe server;

sending a request for the update to a second server in response to receiving the update notification; and

receiving the update from the second server.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

12. A computer program product for sending updates to a computer application, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising the steps of;

receiving, at a publish/subscribe server, subscription requests for updates to the computer application;

receiving, at the publish/subscribe server, an update for the computer application; and

sending, via publication from the publish/subscribe server, an update notification or the update to all subscribers for updates to the computer application.

13. The computer program product of claim 12,

wherein the sending step comprises sending the update notification, and

the method further comprises the steps of:

sending a request for the update to a second server in response to receiving the update notification; and

receiving the update from the second server.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

15. A system for dynamically updating a computer application, the system comprising:

a transmitter transmitting a subscription request to a publish/subscribe server so as to receive updates to the computer application;

a receiver receiving an update notification or an update from the publish/subscribe server; and

a dynamic update module dynamically applying the update to the computer application during execution without restarting the computer application.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein the receiver receives the update notification from the publish/subscribe server,

the transmitter sends a request for the update to a second server in response to receiving the update notification, and

the receiver receives the update from the second server.

17. A publish/subscribe server for sending updates to a computer application, the publish/subscribe server comprising:

a receiver receiving subscription requests for updates to the computer application, and receiving an update for the computer application; and

a transmitter sending, via publication from the publish/subscribe server, an update notification or the update to all subscribers for updates to the computer application.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the transmitter sends the update notification, and the update is received from a second server.