Dynamic software update system, method and program product

• US 7,305,672 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Ted T.
• Application Number:
  US10/752,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178
• 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 on a client computer, the method comprising the steps of:

subscribing, by the client computer, with a publish/subscribe server to receive updates to the computer application;

receiving, by the client computer, an update notification via publication from the publish/subscribe server;

automatically sending, by the client computer, a request for an update directly to a second server, in response to receiving the update notification via publication from the publish/subscribe server;

receiving, by the client computer, the update directly from the second server; and

in response to receiving the update from the second server, dynamically applying, by the client computer, the update to the computer application during execution of the computer application on the client computer such that the execution of the computer application is continuous and uninterrupted during a time in which the update is dynamically applied, the dynamic application of the update updating source code of the computer application during the execution of the computer application, and the dynamic application of the update being transparent to a user of the computer application.

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

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

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

receiving, at the publish/subscribe server, an update notification from a second server;

sending, via publication from the publish/subscribe server, the update notification to the client computer;

receiving, at the second server, a request sent directly and automatically from the client computer for an update for the computer application, in response to the update notification; and

sending the update for the computer application directly from the second sever to the client computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

5. A computer program product for dynamically updating a computer application on a client computer, the computer program product comprising a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing computer instructions for performing the steps of:

subscribing, by the client computer, with a publish/subscribe server to receive updates to the computer application;

receiving, by the client computer, an update notification via publication from the publish/subscribe server;

automatically sending, by the client computer, a request for an update directly to a second server, in response to receiving the update notification via publication from the publish/subscribe server;

receiving, by the client computer, the update directly from the second server; and

in response to receiving the update from the second server, dynamically applying, by the client computer, the update to the computer application during execution of the computer application on the client computer such that the execution of the computer application is continuous and uninterrupted during a time in which the update is dynamically applied, the dynamic application of the update updating source code of the computer application during the execution of the computer application, and the dynamic application of the update being transparent to a user of the computer application.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

7. A computer program product for sending updates to a computer application on a client computer, the computer program product comprising a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing computer instructions for performing the steps of:

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

receiving, at the publish/subscribe server, an update notification from a second server;

sending, via publication from the publish/subscribe server, the update notification to the client computer;

receiving, at the second server, a request sent directly and automatically from the client computer for an update for the computer application, in response to the update notification; and

sending the update for the computer application directly from the second sever to the client computer.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the update includes updated source code for the computer application.

9. A system for dynamically updating a computer application on a client computer, the system including:

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

a receiver for receiving an update notification via publication from the publish/subscribe server; and

a dynamic update module for, in response to receiving the update, dynamically applying an update to the computer application during execution of the computer application on the client computer such that the execution of the computer application is continuous and uninterrupted during a time in which the update is dynamically applied, the dynamic application of the update updating source code of the computer application during the execution of the computer application, and the dynamic application of the update being transparent to a user of the computer application,

wherein the transmitter automatically sends a request for, the update directly to a second server, in response to receiving the update notification via publication from the publish/subscribe server, and

the receiver receives the update directly from the second server.

10. A system for sending updates to a computer application on a client computer, the system comprising a publish/subscribe server and a second server,

wherein the publish/subscribe server comprises:

a receiver receiving a subscription request from the client computer for updates to the computer application, and receiving an update notification from a second server; and

a transmitter sending, via publication, the update notification to the computer client, and

the second server comprises;

a receiver receiving a request sent directly and automatically from the client computer for an update for the computer application; and

a transmitter directly sending the update for the computer application to the client computer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter of the publish/subscribe server sends, via publication, the update notification to all client computers that are subscribed for updates to the computer application.