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AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorBenjamin C. Chamberlain
Estimating the term…
A method and mechanism for automatically patching software implementations such as applications as they are installed from an external source. A patch program is run for a software implementation that is advertised as available, or is otherwise available, though not yet installed (or fully installed). The mechanism maintains the patch information for that software implementation. Whenever the software implementation is installed, the mechanism determines that the software implementation has the patch information maintained therefor. The mechanism automatically applies the patch as part of the on-demand installation process. The patch may change the files, the values of registry entries and/or the installation logic associated with the software implementation.
In a computer system, a method of patching a software implementation, comprising:
In a computing environment, a method comprising:
The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information includes at least one new file to install for the software implementation.
In a computer system, a mechanism for patching a software implementation, comprising, an interface that receives patch information corresponding to a software implementation, a storage configured to maintain the patch information, and an installer that determines whether the software implementation is installed on the computer system, the installer patching the software implementation if the software implementation is installed on the computer system, and, if the software implementation is not installed on the computer system, the installer using the patch information to automatically patch the software implementation when the software implementation is later installed.
The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the patch information identifies the software implementation by a product code.
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.