# US 11,307,842 B2 · Method and system for virtual agent upgrade using upgrade proxy service > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,842 B2 - Document ID: US11307842B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/842,655 - Filed: 2020-04-07 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-07 - Assignees: VMware, Inc. - Applicants: VMware, Inc. - Inventors: Suchit Dhakate; Narendra Madanapalli; Rahav Vembuli; Padmini Sampige Thirumalachar; Vinothkumar D - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307842B2 ## CPC - G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) - G06F 3/0619: {in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors} - G06F 3/065: {Replication mechanisms} - G06F 3/0667: {at data level, e.g. file, record or object virtualisation} - G06F 3/0673: {Single storage device} - H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)} - H04L 67/56: Provisioning of proxy services (store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract System and method for virtual agent upgrade uses an upgrade proxy service that is instantiated in a computing entity when an upgrade request for a virtual agent in the computing entity is received to upgrade the virtual agent based on virtual agent upgrade data from an application server. The upgrade proxy service is then removed from the computing entity after upgrading the virtual agent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for virtual agent upgrade, the method comprising: receiving an upgrade request for a virtual agent in a computing entity from an application server; in response to the upgrade request, instantiating an upgrade proxy service in the computing entity by the virtual agent in the computing entity; using the upgrade proxy service, obtaining virtual agent upgrade data from the application server; using the upgrade proxy service, upgrading the virtual agent based on the virtual agent upgrade data, wherein the upgrade proxy service acts as a point of contact for the application server to monitor an upgrade status of the virtual agent when a virtual agent upgrade is in progress; and removing the upgrade proxy service from the computing entity after upgrading the virtual agent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the virtual agent upgrade data from the application server comprises using the upgrade proxy service, downloading an upgrade script from the application server. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the virtual agent upgrade data from the application server further comprises executing the upgrade script in the computing entity using the upgrade proxy service and downloading an upgrade package for the virtual agent from the application server. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein upgrading the virtual agent based on the virtual agent upgrade data comprises using the upgrade proxy service, upgrading a component or a configuration of the virtual agent based on the upgrade package. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising, using the upgrade proxy service, creating a backup of the virtual agent before upgrading the virtual agent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising, using the upgrade proxy service, stopping the virtual agent from operating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising, using the upgrade proxy service, transmitting virtual agent upgrade status information to the application server. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising after upgrading the virtual agent, starting the upgraded virtual agent and monitoring an operation status of the upgraded virtual agent using the upgrade proxy service. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting an upgrade success notification to the application server from the upgrade proxy service when the upgraded virtual agent starts successfully. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting an upgrade failure notification to the application server from the upgrade proxy service when the upgraded virtual agent does not start successfully. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising initiating restoration of the upgraded virtual agent using a backup of the virtual agent when the upgraded virtual agent does not start successfully. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising starting a previous version of the virtual agent. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions for virtual agent upgrade, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising: receiving an upgrade request for a virtual agent in a computing entity from an application server; in response to the upgrade request, instantiating an upgrade proxy service in the computing entity by the virtual agent in the computing entity; using the upgrade proxy service, obtaining virtual agent upgrade data from the application server; using the upgrade proxy service, upgrading the virtual agent based on the virtual agent upgrade data, wherein the upgrade proxy service acts as a point of contact for the application server to monitor an upgrade status of the virtual agent when a virtual agent upgrade is in progress; and removing the upgrade proxy service from the computing entity after upgrading the virtual agent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein obtaining the virtual agent upgrade data from the application server comprises using the upgrade proxy service, downloading an upgrade script from the application server. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein obtaining the virtual agent upgrade data from the application server further comprises executing the upgrade script in the computing entity using the upgrade proxy service and downloading an upgrade package for the virtual agent from the application server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein upgrading the virtual agent based on the virtual agent upgrade data comprises using the upgrade proxy service, upgrading a component or a configuration of the virtual agent based on the upgrade package. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further comprise, using the upgrade proxy service, creating a backup of the virtual agent before upgrading the virtual agent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further comprise, using the upgrade proxy service, stopping the virtual agent from operating. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the steps further comprise, using the upgrade proxy service, transmitting virtual agent upgrade status information to the application server. ### Claim 20 A system for virtual agent upgrade, the system comprising: memory; and one or more processors configured to: receive an upgrade request for a virtual agent in a computing entity from an application server; in response to the upgrade request, instantiate an upgrade proxy service in the computing entity by the virtual agent in the computing entity; using the upgrade proxy service, obtain virtual agent upgrade data from the application server; using the upgrade proxy service, upgrade the virtual agent based on the virtual agent upgrade data, wherein the upgrade proxy service acts as a point of contact for the application server to monitor an upgrade status of the virtual agent when a virtual agent upgrade is in progress; and remove the upgrade proxy service from the computing entity after upgrading the virtual agent.