Method and apparatus for dynamically locating resources

• US 8,838,731 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Meyer, Gordon Ross, Kahn, Jessica
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYARD, DJENANE M
• Application Number:
  US12/790,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for dynamically locating resources. In one aspect of the invention, a method to retrieve a resource for a digital processing system includes: receiving a request for a resource; downloading a first version of the resource from a server through a network connection to satisfy the request if the first version of the resource is retrievable through the network connection; and loading a second version of the resource from a storage device of the digital processing system if the first version of the resource is not retrievable through a network connection. In one example, downloading the first version is performed in response to a determination that the first version of the resource is different from a second version of the resource on a storage device of the digital processing system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a processor of a client device, a remote location from a plurality of locations from which to obtain a resource, the identifying based on preference criteria, and dynamically changing conditions, and wherein the preference criteria include configuration information including an address of the remote location for the resource stored on a client device; and

transparently obtaining a later version of the resource from the identified location, wherein while an earlier version of the resource is available for use at the client device even when the client device is disconnected from a network;

updating the configuration information based upon the obtained later version; and

updating the earlier version of the resource with the later version of the resource without publicizing to a user of the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the resource, identifying an alternate location from which to obtain the resource.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least one of a local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically changing conditions include system conditions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the dynamically changing conditions further include a period since a release date of the resource, and wherein system conditions include a version number and a release date of an operating system of the client device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the preference criteria indicates whether a first version of the resource on a remote server is preferred over any version of the resource stored locally.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource includes a software which includes at least one help file.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a remote location from a plurality of locations from which to obtain a resource, the identifying based on preference criteria, and dynamically changing conditions, and wherein the preference criteria include configuration information including an address of the remote location for the resource stored on a client device; and

transparently obtaining a later version of the resource from the identified remote location, wherein an earlier version of the resource is available for use at the client device even when the client device is disconnected from a network;

updating the configuration information based upon the obtained later version; and

updating the earlier version of the resource with the later version of the resource without publicizing to a user of the client device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 further comprising executable instructions to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the resource, identifying an alternate location from which to obtain the resource.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least one of a local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the dynamically changing conditions include system conditions.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the dynamically changing conditions further include a period since a release date of the resource, and wherein system conditions include a version number and a release date of an operating system of the client device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the preference criteria indicates whether a first version of the resource on a remote server is preferred over any version of the resource stored locally.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the resource includes a software which includes at least one help file.

14. A data processing system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configurable by instructions stored in the memory to;

identify a remote location from a plurality of locations from which to obtain a resource, wherein the identification is based on preference criteria, and dynamically changing conditions, wherein the preference criteria include configuration information including an address of the remote location for the resource stored on a client device;

transparently obtaining a later version of the resource from the identified remote location, wherein an earlier version of the resource is available for use at the client device even when the client device is disconnected from a network;

updating the configuration information based upon the obtained later version; and

updating the earlier version of the resource with the later version of the resource without publicizing to a user of the client device.

16. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to responsive to an unsuccessful obtaining of the resource, identify an alternate location from which to obtain the resource.

17. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of repositories comprises at least one of a local disk, an optical drive, a disk or drive available through a local area network (LAN), and a remote server.

18. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the dynamically changing conditions include system conditions.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the dynamically changing conditions further include a period since a release date of the resource, and wherein system conditions include a version number and a release date of an operating system of the client device.

20. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the preference criteria indicates whether a first version of the resource on a remote server is preferred over any version of the resource stored locally.

21. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the resource includes a software which includes at least one help file.

22. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the client device transparently obtains a later version of the resource while an earlier version of the resource is available for use at the client device even when the client device is disconnected from a network.