Method, apparatus, and program for using a Java archive to encode a file system delta

A method for updating a file system, comprising:

• identifying a target file system tree;
• receiving a delta Java archive that includes at least one difference entry and an extractor class;
• and
• executing the extractor class, wherein the extractor class applies difference information in the at least one difference entry to the target file system tree to form a final file system tree.

An apparatus for providing an update to a file system, comprising:

• determination means for determining at least one difference between an initial file system tree and a final file system tree;
• creation means for creating a delta Java archive file;
• and
• entry means for placing at least one difference entry, describing a difference between the initial file system tree and the final file system tree, into the delta Java archive file.

An apparatus for updating a file system, comprising:

• identification means for identifying a target file system tree;
• receipt means for receiving a delta Java archive that includes at least one difference entry and an extractor class;
• and
• execution means for executing the extractor class, wherein the extractor class applies difference information in the at least one difference entry to the target file system tree to form a final file system tree.

A data structure for providing an update to a file system, comprising:

• a delta Java archive including:
• at least one difference entry describing a difference between an initial file system tree and a final file system tree;
• and
• an extractor class wherein the extractor class is configured to apply difference information in the at least one difference entry to a target file system tree to form the final file system tree.

A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for providing an update to a file system, comprising:

• instructions for determining at least one difference between an initial file system tree and a final file system tree;
• instructions for creating a delta Java archive file;
• and
• instructions for placing at least one difference entry, describing a difference between the initial file system tree and the final file system tree, into the delta Java archive file.

A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for updating a file system, comprising:

• instructions for identifying a target file system tree;
• instructions for receiving a delta Java archive that includes at least one difference entry and an extractor class;
• and
• instructions for executing the extractor class, wherein the extractor class applies difference information in the at least one difference entry to the target file system tree to form a final file system tree.