Initiating update operations

• US 9,405,526 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Thapar, Gautam, Li, Jimin, Ramlan, Shiaf
• Primary Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US13/568,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Techniques for initiating update operations are described. In implementations, updates are gathered for a computing device, and grouped based on whether the updates involve a device restart and/or shutdown operation to be installed. Thus, updates that involve a restart can be installed as a group, such as part of a single update and restart operation. In at least some implementations, an update and restart operation for installing updates can be scheduled. A user can be notified of the upcoming update and restart operation, such as via notifications presented in various ways on a computing device. When a scheduled time for an update and restart operation arrives for a device, a variety of factors can be considered in determining whether to initiate the operation. For instance, user presence information and device state information can be considered.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

ascertaining that a restart timer for initiating an update and restart operation for a device is expired;

responsive to said ascertaining, determining whether state information for the computing device may be lost if the update and restart operation is initiated;

responsive to the computing device detecting that state information will not be lost if the update and restart operation is initiated;

initiating a countdown timer for the update and restart operation;

presenting a notification that the update and restart operation is imminent; and

initiating the update and restart operation when the countdown timer expires;

responsive to the computing device detecting that state information will be lost if the update and restart operation is initiated, ascertaining, by the computing device, whether the state information is preserved; and

responsive to detecting preservation of the state information, proceeding with initiating the countdown timer.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the update and restart operation includes installing one or more updates on the device.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the state information comprises at least one of document state information or application state information.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising determining that the device is in a full-screen viewing mode, and waiting for the device to exit the full-screen viewing mode before initiating the countdown timer and presenting the notification.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising ascertaining that the device is operating on battery power, and delaying initiation of the update and restart operation until the device is connected to an alternating current (AC) power source.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising, prior to the expiration of the restart timer, implementing an escalating notification scheme that escalates notification of the update and restart operation as the restart timer elapses.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the notification includes a visual representation of the countdown timer.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the notification includes a selectable control that is selectable to initiate the update and restart operation.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the notification is presented in a modal window that is displayed in a higher visual z-order than any other windows currently displayed on the device.

10. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations including;

ascertaining that a restart timer for initiating an update and restart operation for a device is expired;

responsive to said ascertaining, determining that state information for the device may be lost if the update and restart operation is initiated;

responsive to detecting preservation of the state information;

initiating a countdown timer for the update and restart operation;

presenting a notification that the update and restart operation is imminent;

initiating the update and restart operation when the countdown timer expires.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the update and restart operation includes installing one or more updates on the device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the state information comprises at least one of document state information or application state information.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising determining that the device is in a full-screen viewing mode, and waiting for the device to exit the full-screen viewing mode before initiating the countdown timer and presenting the notification.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising detecting a user presence by user interaction with the device during a particular time period before initiating the countdown timer.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

ascertaining that a restart timer for initiating an update and restart operation for a device is expired;

responsive to said ascertaining, determining whether state information for the computing device may be lost if the update and restart operation is initiated;

responsive to the computing device detecting that state information will be lost if the update and restart operation is initiated, ascertaining, by the computing device, whether the state information is preserved; and

responsive to detecting preservation of the state information, proceeding with initiating the countdown timer.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the update and restart operation includes installing one or more updates on the device.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, further comprising ascertaining that the device is operating on battery power, and delaying initiation of the update and restart operation until the device is connected to an alternating current (AC) power source.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, further comprising, prior to the expiration of the restart timer, implementing an escalating notification scheme that escalates notification of the update and restart operation as the restart timer elapses.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the notification includes a selectable control that is selectable to initiate the update and restart operation.

20. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the state information comprises at least one of document state information or application state information.