Method and apparatus for software update management

1. A method for managing software update, comprising:

comparing sub-files of a plurality of variants of a software program of a previous version that have been distributed through a plurality of distribution channels respectively;

generating difference information including a list of uncommon sub-files among the plurality of variants, wherein each of the variants comprises one or more of the sub-files and the uncommon sub-files are sub-files not commonly comprised in all of the plurality of variants;

generating one or more increment files based on the difference information and sub-files of an updated version of the software program, wherein the one or more increment files include:

i) information on first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, when corresponding first one or more of the sub-files of the previous version are included in the list of uncommon sub-files;

ii) difference information of second one or more of the sub-files of the updated version of the software program and corresponding second one or more of the sub-files of the previous version, when the corresponding second one or more of the sub-files of the previous version are not included in the list of uncommon sub-files; and

iii) information on third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, when corresponding third one or more of the sub-files of the previous version do not exist in the plurality of variants;

transmitting, from a server, the one or more increment files to a device;

merging, by the device, the transmitted one or more increment files with sub-files of one of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version and

generating sub-files of the updated version of the software program based on the merging.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information on the first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version includes content of the first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, and the information on the third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version includes content of the third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating similarity information including a list of common sub-files among the plurality of variants, wherein the common sub-files are sub-files commonly comprised in all of the plurality of variants.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request to perform a software update from the device, after the comparing the sub-files of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request to perform a software update from the device, wherein the comparing sub-files of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version is carried out in response to the request.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more increment files are commonly applicable to the plurality of distribution channels.

7. A system for software update management, comprising: a device associated with a client; and

a server comprising:

a memory device that stores instructions; and

at least one hardware processor configured to execute the instructions to:

compare sub-files of a plurality of variants of a software program of a previous version that have been distributed through a plurality of distribution channels respectively;

generate difference information including a list of uncommon sub-files among the plurality of variants wherein each of the variants comprises one or more of the sub-files and the uncommon sub-files are sub-files not commonly comprised in all of the plurality of variants;

generate one or more increment files based on the difference information and sub-files of an updated version of the software program, wherein the one or more increment files include:

i) information on first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, when corresponding first one or more of the sub-files of the previous version are included in the list of uncommon sub-files;

ii) difference information of second one or more of the sub-files of the updated version of the software program and corresponding second one or more of the sub-files of the previous version, when the corresponding second one or more of the sub-files of the previous version are not included in the list of uncommon sub-files; and

iii) information on third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, when corresponding third one or more of the sub-files of the previous version do not exist in the plurality of variants; and

transmit the one or more increment files to the device, wherein the device is configured to merge the transmitted one or more increment files with sub-files of one of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version and generate sub-files of the updated version of the software program based on the merge.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the information on the first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version includes content of the first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, and the information on the third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version includes content of the third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is configured to execute the instructions to generate similarity information including a list of common sub-files among the plurality of variants, wherein the common sub-files are sub-files commonly comprised in all of the plurality of variants.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive a request to perform a software update from the device after comparing the sub-files of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive a request to perform a software update from the device and compare the sub-files of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version in response to the request.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more increment files are commonly applicable to the plurality of distribution channels.

13. A non-transitory readable medium that stores one or more programs that, when executed by one or more processors of a server and a device associated with a client, causes the one or more processors to perform a method for managing software update, the method comprising:

comparing sub-files of a plurality of variants of a software program of a previous version that have been distributed through a plurality of distribution channels respectively;

generating difference information including a list of uncommon sub-files among the plurality of variants, wherein each of the variants comprises one or more of the sub-files and the uncommon sub-files are sub-files not commonly comprised in all of the plurality of variants;

generating one or more increment files based on the difference information and sub-files of an updated version of the software program, wherein the one or more increment files include:

i) information on first one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, when corresponding first one or more of the sub-files of the previous version are included in the list of uncommon sub-files;

ii) difference information of second one or more of the sub-files of the updated version of the software program and corresponding second one or more of the sub-files of the previous version, when the corresponding second one or more of the sub-files of the previous version are not included in the list of uncommon sub-files; and

iii) information on third one or more of the sub-files of the updated version, when corresponding third one or more of the sub-files of the previous version do not exist in the plurality of variants; and

transmitting, from the server, the one or more increment files to the device;

merging, by the device, the transmitted one or more increment files with sub-files of one of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version; and

generating sub-files of the updated version of the software program based on the merging.

14. The non-transitory readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises generating similarity information including a list of common sub-files among the plurality of variants, wherein the common sub-files are sub-files commonly comprised in all of the plurality of variants.

15. The non-transitory readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises receiving a request to perform a software update from the device, after the comparing the sub-files of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version.

16. The non-transitory readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises receiving a request to perform a software update from the device, wherein the comparing sub-files of the plurality of variants of the software program of the previous version is carried out in response to the request.

17. The non-transitory readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the one or more increment files are commonly applicable to the plurality of distribution channels.