Updating computer files on wireless data processing devices
View Patent ↗A wireless data processing device 2 stores partially completed versions of a file needed to replace a current version of a file used by that target device 2. When a device storing a more up-to-date version of the file than the current complete version stored by the target device 2 moves into range, downloading of that new version either completely, or resuming from a previously reached point, is initiated. When the in-range device has more than one version of the file that could be downloaded, the version selected for initial download may be the one which will take least time to complete.
1. A computer program product for controlling a target data processing device to update a current version of a file stored on a target data processing device, said computer program product comprising:
link forming logic operable to form a wireless communication link with an in-range data processing device storing a more up-to-date version of said file;
portion determining logic operable to determine if a portion of said more up-to-date version of said file is already stored within said target data processing device within a store of portions of one or more different more up-to-date versions of said file;
downloading logic operable to download said more up-to-date version of said file from said in-range data processing device following on from any portion of said more up-to-date version of said file already stored within said store; and
when a full copy of said more up-to-date version of said file is stored on said target data processing device, version replacing logic operable to replace said current version of said file with said more up-to-date version of said file to form a new current version of said file and to discard from said store any portions of less up-to-date versions of said file as they will not subsequently be needed.
2. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said file is one of:
(i) an anti-computer virus definition data file; and
(ii) a computer anti-virus scanning engine file.
3. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein if said in-range data processing device is storing a portion of said more up-to-date version of said file, then said downloading logic is operable to download said portion of more up-to-date version of said file to said target data processing device.
4. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein if said in-range data processing device is storing more than one more up-to-date version of said file, then said downloading logic is operable to download first that more up-to-date version of said file for which it will take least time to complete a full copy upon said target data processing device.
5. A computer program product as claimed on claim 1 , comprising discard selection logic operable to select portions of a more up-to-date version of said file from said store are selected for discarding from said store based upon one or more of:
(i) age; and
(ii) amount of data needing to be downloaded to complete said version of said file.
6. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , comprising authentication logic operable to authenticate a download from an in-range data processing device using a digital signature.
7. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said in-range data processing device transmits to said target data processing device information regarding a currently progressing downloading of a version of said file to said in-range data processing device such that said target device may select said version of said file currently being downloaded to said in-range data processing device for downloading to said target data processing device.
8. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said in-range data processing device also downloads a file from said target data processing device.
9. A method of updating a current version of a file stored on a target data processing device, said method comprising:
forming a wireless communication link with an in-range data processing device storing a more up-to-data version of said file;
determining if a portion of said more up-to-date version of said file is already stored within said target data processing device within a store of portions of one or more different more up-to-date versions of said file;
downloading said more up-to-date version of said file from said in-range data processing device following on from any portion of said more up-to-date version of said file already stored within said store; and
when a full copy of said more up-to-date version of said file is stored on said target data processing device, replacing said current version of said file with said more up-to-date version of said file to form a new current version of said file and discarding from said store any portions of less up-to-date versions of said file as they will not subsequently be needed.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said file is one of:
(i) an anti-computer virus definition data file; and
(ii) a computer anti-virus scanning engine file.
11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein if said in-range data processing device is storing a portion of said more up-to-date version of said file, then said portion of more up-to-date version of said file is downloaded to said target data processing device.
12. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein if said in-range data processing device is storing more than one more up-to-date version of said file, then said target data processing device downloads first that more up-to-date version of said file for which it will take least time to complete a full copy upon said target data processing device.
13. A method as claimed on claim 9 , wherein portions of a more up-to-date version of said file from said store are selected for discarding from said store based upon one or more of:
(i) age; and
(ii) amount of data needing to be downloaded to complete said version of said file.
14. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a download from an in-range data processing device is authenticated using a digital signature.
15. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said in-range data processing device transmits to said target data processing device information regarding a currently progressing downloading of a version of said file to said in-range data processing device such that said target device may select said version of said file currently being downloaded to said in-range data processing device for downloading to said target data processing device.
16. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said in-range data processing device also downloads a file from said target data processing device.
17. Apparatus for updating a current version of a file stored on a target data processing device, said apparatus comprising:
a link former operable to form a wireless communication link with an in-range data processing device storing a more up-to-data version of said file;
a portion determination unit operable to determine if a portion of said more up-to-date version of said file is already stored within said target data processing device within a store of portions of one or more different more up-to-date versions of said file;
a download unit operable to download said more up-to-date version of said file from said in-range data processing device following on from any portion of said more up-to-date version of said file already stored within said store; and
when a full copy of said more up-to-date version of said file is stored on said target data processing device, a version replacing unit is operable to replace said current version of said file with said more up-to-date version of said file to form a new current version of said file and to discard from said store any portions of less up-to-date versions of said file as they will not subsequently be needed.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said file is one of:
(i) an anti-computer virus definition data file; and
(ii) a computer anti-virus scanning engine file.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein if said in-range data processing device is storing a portion of said more up-to-date version of said file, then said downloading unit is operable to download said portion of more up-to-date version of said file to said target data processing device.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein if said in-range data processing device is storing more than one more up-to-date version of said file, then said downloading unit is operable to download first that more up-to-date version of said file for which it will take least time to complete a full copy upon said target data processing device.
21. Apparatus as claimed on claim 17 , comprising a discard selector operable to select portions of a more up-to-date version of said file from said store are selected for discarding from said store based upon one or more of:
(i) age; and
(ii) amount of data needing to be downloaded to complete said version of said file.
22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , comprising an authentication unit operable to authenticate a download from an in-range data processing device using a digital signature.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said in-range data processing device transmits to said target data processing device information regarding a currently progressing downloading of a version of said file to said in-range data processing device such that said target device may select said version of said file currently being downloaded to said in-range data processing device for downloading to said target data processing device.
24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said in-range data processing device also downloads a file from said target data processing device.