Updating software based on utilized functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9286057-B2
Application number	US-201414301468-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2014
Priority date	Jun 11, 2014
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

In a method for managing updates for a software product, receiving a request to install a software product update, wherein the software product update modifies a software product on a computing device. The method further includes identifying a first set of one or more functions of the software product that are to be modified by the software product update. The method further includes identifying historical usage information corresponding to the software product, wherein the historical usage information indicates a second set of one or more functions of the software product and a number of times each respective function of the second set of one or more functions of the software product has been used by the computing device. The method further includes determining whether the software product update modifies at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing updates for a software product, the method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, a request to install a software product update, wherein the software product update modifies a software product on a computing device;
identifying, by one or more processors, a first set of one or more functions of the software product that are to be modified by the software product update;
identifying, by one or more processors, historical usage information corresponding to the software product, wherein the historical usage information indicates a second set of one or more functions of the software product and a number of times each respective function of the second set of one or more functions of the software product has been used by the computing device;
determining, by one or more processors, whether the first set of one or more functions of the software product and the second set of one or more functions of the software product contain at least one common function of the software product; and
responsive to determining that the first set of one or more functions of the software product and the second set of one or more functions of the software product do contain at least one common function of the software product, determining, by one or more processors, that one or more of the at least one common function has corresponding historical usage information that exceeds the minimum usage threshold condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to determining that the software product update does modify at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition, installing, by one or more processors, the software product update on the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to determining that the software product update does not modify at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition, providing, by one or more processors, a recommendation to the computing device to not install the software product update.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to determining that the software product update does modify at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition, providing, by one or more processors, a recommendation to the computing device to install the software product update, wherein the provided recommendation includes a selectable link to install the software product update.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring, by one or more processors, usage of the software product by the computing device to determine historical usage information utilizing variable counters associated with program code corresponding to functions of the software product, and
wherein a variable counter increments historical usage information that corresponds to a function of the software product each time that the computing device utilizes program code corresponding to the function of the software product.

6. A computer program product for managing updates for a software product, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a request to install a software product update, wherein the software product update modifies a software product on a computing device;
program instructions to identify a first set of one or more functions of the software product that are to be modified by the software product update;
program instructions to identify historical usage information corresponding to the software product, wherein the historical usage information indicates a second set of one or more functions of the software product and a number of times each respective function of the second set of one or more functions of the software product has been used by the computing device;
program instructions to determine whether the first set of one or more functions of the software product and the second set of one or more functions of the software product contain at least one common function of the software product; and
responsive to determining that the first set of one or more functions of the software product and the second set of one or more functions of the software product do contain at least one common function of the software product, program instructions to determine that one or more of the at least one common function has corresponding historical usage information that exceeds the minimum usage threshold condition.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:
responsive to determining that the software product update does modify at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition, install the software product update on the computing device.

8. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:
responsive to determining that the software product update does not modify at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition, provide a recommendation to the computing device to not install the software product update.

9. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:
responsive to determining that the software product update does modify at least one function of the software product that corresponds to historical usage information that exceeds a minimum usage threshold condition, provide a recommendation to the computing device to install the software product update, wherein the provided recommendation includes a selectable link to install the software product update.

10. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:
monitor usage of the software product by the computing device to determine historical usage information utilizing variable counters associated with program code corresponding to functions of the software product, and
wherein a variable counter increments historical usage information that corresponds to a function of the software product each time that the computing device utilizes program code corresponding to the function of the software product.

11. A computer system for managing updates for a software product, the computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors;
one or more computer readable storage media; and
program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a request to install a software product update, wherein the software product update modifies a software product on a computing device;
program instructions to identify a first set of one or more functions of the software product that are to be modified by the software product update;
program instructions to identify historical usage information corresponding to the software product, wherein the historical usage information indicates a secon

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Garratt Andrew M
• Humphreys Andrew D
• Keen Martin G
• Mcnamara John J P

Classifications

• G06F8/654

  using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories · CPC title

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F8/73

  Program documentation · CPC title

• G06F8/66

  of program code stored in read-only memory [ROM] · CPC title

• H04L67/34

  involving the movement of software or configuration parameters  (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416) · CPC title