Automatically updating applications on a client's device without interrupting the user's experience
First Claim
1. A method of updating a client device, comprising:
- providing application files in a first install directory on the client device;
upon launching of an application using the application files, automatically checking to determine whether updates are available for the application;
if updates are available, determining whether the updates are for binary files or for text-based files;
if the updates are for binary files of the application, then requesting user permission to download the updates;
if the updates are for text-based files, then copying updated application files to a second updates directory on the client device, different than the install directory without user permission so that updates of binary files of the application are treated differently than text-based files of the application; and
executing the application using at least the updates located in the second updates directory, while ignoring an older version of the updated application files that remain in the install directory during execution of the application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Portions of an application can be delivered through a network without having to download the entire application. When an application is installed, HTML, CSS and JavaScripts® or other User Interface (UI) files can be copied into local cache. A version number can also be stored with this code, so that when the application is launched, a web service checks the latest version on a server computer. If the latest version differs from the cached version, then an update is needed. New UI files can then be downloaded to the local cache. The local cache can be a folder that is used by the application, wherein the folder is stored on a hard drive of the client device. Binaries associated with the application can be stored in a different folder.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of updating a client device, comprising:
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providing application files in a first install directory on the client device; upon launching of an application using the application files, automatically checking to determine whether updates are available for the application; if updates are available, determining whether the updates are for binary files or for text-based files; if the updates are for binary files of the application, then requesting user permission to download the updates; if the updates are for text-based files, then copying updated application files to a second updates directory on the client device, different than the install directory without user permission so that updates of binary files of the application are treated differently than text-based files of the application; and executing the application using at least the updates located in the second updates directory, while ignoring an older version of the updated application files that remain in the install directory during execution of the application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. One or more computer-readable nonvolatile storage media storing instructions thereon for executing a method, the method comprising:
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installing an application onto a client device in an install directory, including first user interface portions of the application; downloading, from a server computer, updated user interface portions of the application to the client device that represent updates to the first user interface portions, wherein the application can automatically initiate the updates without requiring user authorization, whereas other portions of the application require user authorization to initiate the updates; storing the updated user interface portions in a local directory that is different than the install directory, while maintaining the first user interface portions of the application in the install directory; and launching the application using the updated user interface portions while ignoring the first user interface portions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of displaying user interface elements on a client device, comprising:
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in response to a first launch of an application after an update, deleting text-based files from a local store directory and copying text-based files from an install directory to the local store directory; downloading one or more current version numbers for the text-based files from a server computer; comparing the one or more current version numbers to installed version numbers of the text-based files stored in the local store directory; if the current version numbers do not match the installed version numbers, downloading at least the text-based files that do not match without acquiring authorization from a user; storing the text-based files in the local store directory, while maintaining an older version of the text-based files in the install directory; downloading one or more current version numbers for binary files from the server computer; comparing the one or more current version numbers for the binary files to installed version numbers for the binary files; if the current version numbers for the binary files do not match the installed version numbers, requesting authorization from the user to download the binary files; and launching the application using at least one file from the install directory and the text-based files in the local store directory. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification