Software update via peer-to-peer networks

Abstract

Providing a software update service involves discovering, via an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, a peer-to-peer software update service using a service discovery protocol of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network. The peer-to-peer software update service is offered by a peer device and facilitates updates of programs via the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network. In response to discovering the peer-to-peer software update service, an update is selected that is applicable to a program of a first device of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network. The update is sent to the first device and the program of the first device is modified using the update.

1 . A method, comprising:
 discovering, via an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, a peer-to-peer software update service using a service discovery protocol of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software update service is offered by a peer device and facilitates updates of programs via the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network;   selecting, in response to discovering the peer-to-peer software update service, an update that is applicable to a program of a first device of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network;   sending the update to the first device; and   modifying the program of the first device using the update.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending, to the peer device, at least one query for a description of the peer-to-peer software update service in response to discovering the peer-to-peer software update service;   receiving a description of the peer-to-peer update service in response the query; and   wherein the update is selected based on the description.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery of the peer-to-peer software update service and the selection of the update is performed by a second device of the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network, and wherein the second device initiates sending of the update to the first device and modifying of the program of the first device using the update. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the program on the first device comprises adding a capability to the program. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adding the capability comprises adding the capability for the program to access a service of the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the selection of the update is initiated by the first device in response to the first device detecting the service being advertised on the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the program on the first device comprises reconfiguring the program. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the program comprises modifying the program to receive a handover of a data session currently being conducted by a second device on the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein modifying the program comprises providing parameters of the data session to the program of the first device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein modifying the program on the first device comprises adding a capability to the program that enables the program to engage in the data session. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising updating a presence of the user by one of the first and second devices based on the handover of the data session. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network comprises a Universal Plug and Play network. 
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising:
 advertising, via a peer device coupled to an ad-hoc, peer to peer network, a peer-to-peer software update service using a service discovery protocol of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software update service facilitates updating of programs to other entities of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network;   receiving, at the peer device, at least one query for a description of the peer-to-peer software update service;   facilitating, in response to the at least one query, transmission of an update to a target device via the peer-to-peer software update service, wherein the update is used to modify a program on the target device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 monitoring an external network update service that is independent of the ad-hoc peer to peer network; and   configuring the peer device to provide updates of the external network update service via the peer-to-peer software update service.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising forwarding discovery from the peer-to-peer to software update service to an external repository service outside the ad-hoc, peer to peer network. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network comprises a Universal Plug and Play network. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one query includes a description of a computer platform of the target device used for filtering a result returned in response to the query. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one query includes a software category used for filtering a result returned in response to the query. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a network interface capable of communicating via an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network;   a processor coupled to the network interface; and   a memory storage device coupled to the processor, the memory storage device including instructions that cause the processor to,
 discover a peer-to-peer software update service using a service discovery protocol of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software update service is offered by a peer device and facilitates updating programs via the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network; 
 select an update that is compatible with a target program in response to the discovery of the peer-to-peer software update service; 
 facilitate sending the update to a device of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network that executes the target program; and 
 facilitate modifying the target program using the update. 
   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the peer-to-peer software update service is advertised as a Universal Plug and Play device. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus comprises the device that executes the target program. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 advertise, via the service discovery protocol, a locally provided peer-to-peer software update service that facilitates updating programs via the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network; and   facilitate transferring a second update to a target device via the locally provided peer-to-peer software update service, wherein the second update is used to modify a program of the target device.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to,
 monitor an external network update service that is independent of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network; and   offer updates of the external network update service via the locally provided peer-to-peer software update service.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the target program is capable of engaging in user-interactive data sessions, and wherein modifying the target program comprises modifying the program to receive a handover of a data session currently being conducted by a second device on the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network. 
   
   
       25 . A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by an apparatus capable of being coupled to an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network for performing steps comprising:
 discovering a peer-to-peer software update service using a service discovery protocol of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software update service is offered by a peer device and facilitates updates of programs via the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network;   selecting, in response to discovering the peer-to-peer software update service, an update that is applicable to a target program;   facilitate sending the update to a device of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network that executes the target program; and   facilitate modifying the target program using the update.   
   
   
       26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein the steps further comprise:
 offering a locally provided peer-to-peer software update service that facilitates updating of programs via the ad-hoc, peer to peer network;   advertising the locally provided, peer-to-peer software update service using a service discovery protocol of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network;   facilitating transmission of a second update to a target device via the peer-to-peer software update service in response to advertising the locally provided, peer-to-peer software update service.   
   
   
       27 . A system comprising:
 means for advertising a peer-to-peer software update service via a service discovery protocol of an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the generic peer-to-peer software update service facilitates peers of the network to update programs of the peers;   means for discovering the peer-to-peer software update service via the ad-hoc peer to peer network;   means for facilitating transmission of an update to a peer device via the peer-to-peer software update service; and   means for modifying a program of the peer device using the update.   
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for monitoring an external network update service that is independent of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network; and   means for offering updates of the external network update service via the peer-to-peer software update service.   
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising means for modifying the program of the peer device using the update to receive a handover of a data session currently being conducted by another device on the ad-hoc peer-to-peer network. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising means for updating a presence of a user of the peer device based on the handover of the data session. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising means for forwarding discovery from the peer-to-peer to software update service to an external repository service outside the ad-hoc, peer to peer network.