Method and system for generating a reverse binary patch

A method of generating a reverse patch for reversing a forward patch on an electronic device, wherein the forward patch generates a new binary image from an old binary image, the method comprising:

• receiving the forward patch and an index file, the index file identifying regions of similarity between the old binary image and the new binary image for use in obtaining at least a portion of the old binary image from the new binary image;
• applying the forward patch to the old binary image to create the new binary image at the electronic device;
• and
• generating the reverse patch from the new binary image, the old binary image, and the index file at the electronic device.

A server configured to generate an index file for use in generating a reverse patch for reversing a forward patch on an electronic device, wherein the forward patch generates a new binary image from an old binary image, the server comprising:

• a processor;
• memory for storing the new binary image and the old binary image, and for storing the forward patch;
• a indexing module executable by the processor for generating an index file, the index file identifying regions of similarity between the old binary image and the new binary image for use in obtaining at least a portion of the old binary image from the new binary image;
• and
• a communications interface for transmitting the forward patch and the index file from the server to the electronic device.

An electronic device configured to generate a reverse patch for reversing a forward patch, wherein the forward patch generates a new binary image from an old binary image, the electronic device comprising:

• a device processor;
• a communications subsystem for receiving the forward patch and the index file from a server via one or more communications networks;
• device memory for storing the forward patch and the index file;
• a patch manager for applying the forward patch to the old binary image to create the new binary image;
• a patch generation module for generating the reverse patch from the new binary image, the old binary image, and the index file.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a processor to generate a reverse patch for reversing a forward patch on an electronic device, wherein the forward patch generates a new binary image from an old binary image, the computer executable instructions comprising:

• instructions for receiving the forward patch and an index file, the index file identifying regions of similarity between the old binary image and the new binary image for use in obtaining at least a portion of the old binary image from the new binary image;
• instructions for applying the forward patch to the old binary image to create the new binary image at the electronic device;
• and
• instructions for generating the reverse patch from the new binary image, the old binary image, and the index file at the electronic device.