Dynamic update of applications as code is checked-in

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400644-B2
Application number	US-201514836954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2009
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

Software receives a message from a client device requesting an update check for an app deployed on the client device. The message includes a version number for the app. The software determines that a count of messages requesting an update check for the app exceeds a specified number. The software obtains an executable for the app from an app database, using the received version number. The software generates a dependency analysis by scanning the executable. The dependency analysis includes a version number for at least one dependent code module. The software determines that the app is updatable by comparing the version number in the dependency analysis with a version number for source code for the dependent code module. The software creates an updated app using newer source code for the dependent code module, using a developer specification as to compilation type, and transmits the updated app to the client device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising operations of:
receiving a message from a client device requesting an update check for an app deployed on the client device, wherein the message includes a version number for the app;
determining that a count of messages requesting an update check for the app exceeds a specified number;
obtaining an executable for the app from an app database, using the received version number;
generating a dependency analysis by scanning the executable to determine a dependency graph topology for code modules in the app, wherein the dependency analysis includes a version number for at least one dependent code module;
obtaining a compatibility specification for a current version of the app and updated module versions stored in the code database;
determining that the app is updatable by comparing the version number in the dependency analysis with a version number for source code for the dependent code module;
creating an updated app using newer source code for the dependent code module, using the obtained compatibility specification and a developer specification as to compilation type; and
transmitting the updated app to the client device, wherein each operation of the method is performed by one or more processors.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the version number for the source code is stored in a code database.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dependency-walker utility is used to determine the dependency graph topology.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the app allows a user of the client device to play a multi-player online game.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the app includes a call to an application programming interface (API) for a social-networking service.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the call obtains user profile data.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the call modifies a news feed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compilation type is ahead-of-runtime.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compilation type is on-the-fly.

10. One or more computer-readable media that are non-transitory and that store instructions, which when executed by a processor, perform the following operations:
receive a message from a client device requesting an update check for an app deployed on the client device, wherein the message includes a version number for the app;
determine that a count of messages requesting an update check for the app exceeds a specified number;
obtain an executable for the app from an app database, using the received version number;
generate a dependency analysis by scanning the executable to determine a dependency graph topology for code modules in the app, wherein the dependency analysis includes a version number for at least one dependent code module;
obtain a compatibility specification for a current version of the app and updated module versions stored in the code database;
determine that the app is updatable by comparing the version number in the dependency analysis with a version number for source code for the dependent code module;
create an updated app using newer source code for the dependent code module, using the obtained compatibility specification; and

transmit the updated app to the client device.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the version number for the source code is stored in a code database.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein a dependency-walker utility is used to determine the dependency graph topology.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the app allows a user of the client device to play a multi-player online game.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the app includes a call to an application programming interface (API) for a social-networking service.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the call obtains user profile data.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the call modifies a news feed.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the compilation type is ahead-of-runtime.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the compilation type is on-the-fly.

19. A method, comprising operations of:
receiving a message from a client device requesting an update check for an app deployed on the client device, wherein the message includes a version number for the app and wherein the app allows a user of the client device to play a multi-player online game;
determining that a count of messages requesting an update check for the app exceeds a specified number;
obtaining an executable for the app from an app database, using the received version number;
generating a dependency analysis by scanning the executable to determine a dependency graph topology for code modules in the app, wherein the dependency analysis includes a version number for at least one dependent code module;
obtaining a compatibility specification for a current version of the app and updated module versions stored in the code database;
determining that the app is updatable by comparing the version number in the dependency analysis with a version number for source code for the dependent code module, wherein the version number for the source code is stored in a code database;
creating an updated app using newer source code for the dependent code module, using the obtained compatibility specification; and
transmitting the updated app to the client device, wherein each operation of the method is performed by one or more processors.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the app includes a call to an application programming interface (API) for a social-networking service.

Assignees

• Zynga Inc

Inventors

• Mahajan Amitt

Classifications

• H04L67/34

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

• G06F8/65 Primary

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

• G06F8/43 Primary

  Checking; Contextual analysis · CPC title

• G06F16/951

  Indexing; Web crawling techniques · CPC title

• G06F8/71

  Version control (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57); Configuration management · CPC title