US5922072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for creating alternate boot environments in a computer
Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-01-03
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Granted: 1999-07-13
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Expires: 2017-01-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for version migration and fallback of software components in a computer system. The invention creates alternate boot environments that preserve the state of all original software components on a system before performing a software upgrade. The invention virtually eliminates the risks of migrating to upgraded system because users can quickly fall back to a previous operating environment, without extended downtime during and after upgrades.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne Leslie Hutchinson
- 👤 Gary Lee Boggs
- 👤 David Neal Brinkman
- 👤 Jeffrey Kittridge Janvrin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for creating alternate boot environments in a computer, comprising the steps of: (a) copying at least one software component from a first location on a first data storage device coupled to the computer to a second location on a second data storage device coupled to the computer; (b) updating the software components in the second location on the second data storage device; (c) booting the computer from the alternate boot environment by activating the updated software components at the second location on the second data storage device; (d) terminating the booting step when the activated updated software components fail to operate correctly; and (e) activating the software components at the first location on the first data storage device after the terminating step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for creating alternate boot environments in a computer, comprising the steps of: (a) copying at least one software component from a first location on a first data storage device coupled to the computer to a second location on a second data storage device coupled to the computer; (b) updating the software components in the second location on the second data storage device; (c) booting the computer from the alternate boot environment by activating the updated software components at the second location on the second data storage device; (d) terminating the booting step when the activated updated software components fail to operate correctly; and (e) activating the software components at the first location on the first data storage device after the terminating step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the first location comprises an original boot environment and the second location comprises an alternate boot environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the first location comprises a first alternate boot environment and the second location comprises a second alternate boot environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the first data storage device is the second data storage device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the first data storage device is not the second data storage device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the steps of identifying all files associated with the software components at the first location and copying the identified files from the first location to the second location.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for creating alternate boot environments in a computer, comprising: (a) means, performed by the computer, for copying at least one software component from a first location on a first data storage device coupled to the computer to a second location on a second data storage device coupled to the computer; (b) means, performed by the computer, for updating the software components in the second location on the second data storage device; (c) means, performed by the computer, for booting the computer from the alternate boot environment by activating the updated software components at the second location on the second data storage device; (d) means, performed by the computer, for terminating the booting step when the activated updated software components fail to operate correctly; and (e) means, performed by the computer, for activating the software components at the first location on the first data storage device after the terminating step.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for creating alternate boot environments in a computer, comprising: (a) means, performed by the computer, for copying at least one software component from a first location on a first data storage device coupled to the computer to a second location on a second data storage device coupled to the computer; (b) means, performed by the computer, for updating the software components in the second location on the second data storage device; (c) means, performed by the computer, for booting the computer from the alternate boot environment by activating the updated software components at the second location on the second data storage device; (d) means, performed by the computer, for terminating the booting step when the activated updated software components fail to operate correctly; and (e) means, performed by the computer, for activating the software components at the first location on the first data storage device after the terminating step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 above, wherein the first location comprises an original boot environment and the second location comprises an alternate boot environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 above, wherein the first location comprises a first alternate boot environment and the second location comprises a second alternate boot environment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 above, wherein the first data storage device is the second data storage device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 above, wherein the first data storage device is not the second data storage device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 7 above, further comprising means for identifying all files associated with the software components at the first location and means for copying the identified files from the first location to the second location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
An article of manufacture for creating alternate boot environments, comprising the steps of: (a) copying at least one software component from a first location on a first data storage device coupled to the computer to a second location on a second data storage device coupled to the computer; (b) updating the software components in the second location on the second data storage device; (c) booting the computer from the alternate boot environment by activating the updated software components at the second location on the second data storage device; (d) terminating the booting step when the activated updated software components fail to operate correctly, and (e) activating the software components at the first location on the first data storage device after the terminating step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
An article of manufacture for creating alternate boot environments, comprising the steps of: (a) copying at least one software component from a first location on a first data storage device coupled to the computer to a second location on a second data storage device coupled to the computer; (b) updating the software components in the second location on the second data storage device; (c) booting the computer from the alternate boot environment by activating the updated software components at the second location on the second data storage device; (d) terminating the booting step when the activated updated software components fail to operate correctly, and (e) activating the software components at the first location on the first data storage device after the terminating step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 above, wherein the first location comprises an original boot environment and the second location comprises an alternate boot environment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 above, wherein the first location comprises a first alternate boot environment and the second location comprises a second alternate boot environment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 above, wherein the first data storage device is the second data storage device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 above, wherein the first data storage device is not the second data storage device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 above, further comprising the steps of identifying all files associated with the software components at the first location and copying the identified files from the first location to the second location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-12 | 2003-01-11 | 2003-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-12 | 2007-01-11 | 2007-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-12 | 2011-01-11 | 2011-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |