Processing software images and generating difference files

A computing apparatus for use in generating difference files, comprising:

• computing means for receiving an original version and a new version of an electronic file;
• computing means for identifying units of code that are common to the original and the new versions;
• computing means for identifying instructions corresponding to the units of code, wherein the identified instructions include a first instruction in the original version having a first starting address and first target address, and a second instruction in the new version having a second starting address and second target address;
• computing means for extending the units of code that are common to the original and the new versions based in part on characteristics of the first and second instructions including the first and second target addresses;
• computing means for creating new units of code that are common to the original and the new versions based in part on characteristics of the first and second instructions including the first and second target addresses;
• and
• computing means for transferring the least one delta file over the air to a portable communication device for use in generating the new version of the electronic file on the device.

A computing method for performing file differencing using a processor-based device, comprising:

• receiving an original version and a new version of an electronic file;
• identifying units of code that are common to the original and the new versions, wherein the units of code that are common to the original and the new versions include common function units;
• merging the common function units of the units of code to form one or more common function blocks between the original version and the new version;
• identifying instructions that are common to the one or more function blocks, wherein the identified instructions include a first instruction in the original version having a first starting address and first target address, and a second instruction in the new version having a second starting address and second target address;
• and
• determining whether to extend at least one of the one or more common function blocks based on an evaluation of associated characteristics of the first and second identified instructions including the first and second target addresses;
• determining whether to create one or more new common function blocks based on an evaluation of associated characteristics of the first and second identified instructions including the first and second target addresses;
• and
• transferring at least one difference file over the air to a computing device for use in generating a version on the computing device.

A computer readable storage medium including executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, reduce a size of a difference file that includes coded differences between an original version and a new version of an electronic file by:

• identifying units of code that are common to the original and the new versions, wherein the units of code that are common to the original and the new versions include common function units;
• merging the common function units of the units of code to form one or more common function blocks between the original version and the new version;
• identifying instructions that are common to the one or more common function blocks, wherein the identified instructions include a first instruction in the original version having a first starting address and first target address, and a second instruction in the new version having a second starting address and second target address;
• determining whether to extend a common function block based on an evaluation of associated characteristics of the first and second identified instructions including the first and second target addresses;
• determining whether to create a new common function block based on an evaluation of associated characteristics of the first and second identified instructions including the first and second target addresses;
• and
• transferring the difference file over the air to a portable device for use in generating an electronic file on the device.

A computer system to reduce the size of a difference file comprising:

• a computer-implemented generating component to:
• compare units of code of an original version of an electronic file to units of code of a new version of the electronic file;
• identify known units of code common to the original version and the new version of the electronic file, wherein the known units of code correspond with at least one known common code block;
• generate an array of address pairs associated with the original version and the new version of the electronic file, wherein the array of address pairs correspond with at least one instruction not being preprocessed correctly using one of a preceding and a following code block;
• extend a common code block based in part on an evaluation of target addresses;
• create a new code block if a continuous sequence of address pairs corresponds with a defined offset and the target addresses are not included in the at least one known common code block;
• and
• a computer-implemented transfer component to transfer the difference file over the air to a device for use in generating electronic files on the device.

A computer system operable to update electronic files by:

• identifying first and second code blocks that are common between an original version and a new version of an electronic file;
• identifying a first calculable instruction associated with the first code block that includes a first starting address and first target address;
• identifying a second calculable instruction associated with the second code block that includes a second starting address and second target address;
• adding the first and second target addresses to a list when the first and second target addresses include characteristics that result in an associated calculable instruction not being preprocessed correctly using one of a preceding code block and a following code block;
• determining whether to extend a known code block based in part on an evaluation of the first and second target addresses of the first and second calculable instructions;
• determining whether to create a new code block that is common between the original version and the new version of the electronic file based in part on an evaluation of the first and second target addresses of the first and second calculable instructions including determining whether the first and second target addresses are associated with at least one known common code block;
• removing identified differences in code blocks common to the original version and the new version of the electronic file;
• and
• transferring at least one difference file over the air to a computing device for use in generating a version on the computing device.