Optimized installation of received patches for application programs already running on computer systems

• US 9,760,361 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2012
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bank, Judith Helen, Harpur, Liam, Lyle, Ruthie D, O'Sullivan, Patrick Joseph, Sun, Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): Roni, Syed
• Application Number:
  US13/684,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20140149974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A data patch for a program already installed in an interactive display computer system is received over a network and stored. There is also received a first set of parameters for controlling the installation of the patch. At the computer, a second set of parameters for controlling optimum installation time periods is predetermined wherein said data patch may be installed. The first and second sets of parameters are correlated to determine a set of optimum time periods during which the data patch may be installed, and this set of time periods are displayed so that a user may interactively select an optimum time period for installation of the data patch.

Claims

1. A method for optimum installation of a data patch for a program already installed in a computer system having a user interactive display comprising:

receiving and storing said data patch in said computer system;

receiving at said computer system, accompanying said data patch, a first set of parameters for controlling the installation of said data patch, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is whether the installation of the patch requires a reboot of the computer;

predetermining, at said computer system, a second set of parameters for controlling optimum installation time periods on the computer system'"'"'s calendar, wherein said data patch is installable;

correlating, at said computer system, said first and second sets of parameters to determine a set of optimum time periods on the system calendar wherein said data patch may he installed; and

displaying, at said computer system, said set of time periods, wherein a user may interactively select an optimum time period for installation of said data patch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data patch is a security patch.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said displayed set of optimum time periods consists of a single time period.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is whether the data patch is a hot patch requiring a prompt installation.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is a duration of time required for the installation of the data patch.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein a plurality of data patches, each patch accompanied by its own first set of parameters are received and stored.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

a parameter in said first set of parameters of one of said first sets of parameters requires a reboot of the computer system; and

said displayed set of optimum time periods consists of a single time period of the duration of time required for said reboot of the computer system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said second set of parameters of said computer system includes computer operating conditions requiring computer system times.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said second set of parameters of said computer system includes computer calendar schedules.

10. A computer controlled interactive display system for optimum installation of a data patch for a program already installed in a computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer memory holding computer program instructions which when executed by the processor perform a method comprising;

receiving and storing said data patch in said computer system;

receiving, at said computer system, accompanying said data patch, a first set of parameters for controlling the installation of said data patch, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is whether the installation of the patch requires a reboot of the computer;

predetermining, at said computer system, a second set of parameters for controlling optimum installation time periods on the computer system'"'"'s calendar, wherein said data patch is installable;

correlating, at said computer system, said first and second sets of parameters to determine a set of optimum time periods on the system calendar wherein said data patch may be installed; and

displaying, at said computer system, said set of time periods, wherein a user may interactively select an optimum time period for installation of said data patch.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said data patch is a security patch.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said displayed set of optimum time periods consists of a single time period.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is whether the data patch is a hot patch requiring a prompt installation.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is a duration of time required for the installation of the data patch.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the performed method further includes receiving and storing a plurality of data patches, each patch accompanied by its own first set of parameters.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

a parameter in said first set of parameters of one of said first sets of parameters requires a reboot of the computer system; and

said displayed set of optimum time periods consists of a single time period of the duration of time required for said reboot of the computer system.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein said second set of parameters of said computer system includes computer operating conditions requiring computer system times.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said second set of parameters of said computer system includes computer calendar schedules.

19. A computer readable non-transient storage medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for optimum installation of a data patch for a program already installed in a computer system having a user interactive display, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive and store said data patch in said computer system;

receive, at said computer system, accompanying said data patch, a first set of parameters for controlling the installation of said data patch, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is whether the installation of the patch requires a reboot of the computer;

predetermine, at said computer system, a second set of parameters for controlling optimum installation time periods on the computer system'"'"'s calendar, wherein said data patch is installable;

correlate, at said computer system, said first and second sets of parameters to determine a set of optimum time periods on the system calendar wherein said data patch may be installed; and

display, at said computer system, said set of time periods, wherein a user may interactively select an optimum time period for installation of said data patch.

20. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 19, wherein said data patch is a security patch.

21. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 20, wherein said displayed set of optimum time periods consists of a single time period.

22. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 20, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is whether the data patch is a hot patch requiring a prompt installation.

23. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 20, wherein a parameter in said first set of parameters is a duration of time required for the installation of the data patch.

24. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 20, wherein the computer program when executed on a computer causes the computer to receive and store a plurality of data patches, each patch accompanied by its own first set of parameters.

25. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 24 wherein:

a parameter in said first set of parameters of one of said first sets of parameters requires a reboot of the computer system; and

said displayed set of optimum time periods consists of a single time period of the duration of time required for said reboot of the computer system.

26. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 19, wherein said second set of parameters of said computer system includes computer operating conditions requiring computer system times.

27. The computer readable non-transient storage medium of claim 26, wherein said second set of parameters of said computer system includes computer calendar schedules.