Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jimin Li

Gautam Thapar

Shiaf Ramlan

Christopher Scott Gouge

Rajasekaran Rangarajan

Hrishikesh S Raje

Leo Edwin Lie

Edward F Reus

Wei Wu

Gary Scot Henderson

Jianbo Hou

Peter A Williams

Lokesh M Dave

Jefferson Davis

Techniques for initiating update operations are described. In implementations, updates are gathered for a computing device, and grouped based on whether the updates involve a device restart and/or shutdown operation to be installed. Thus, updates that involve a restart can be installed as a group, such as part of a single update and restart operation. In at least some implementations, an update and restart operation for installing updates can be scheduled. A user can be notified of the upcoming update and restart operation, such as via notifications presented in various ways on a computing device. When a scheduled time for an update and restart operation arrives for a device, a variety of factors can be considered in determining whether to initiate the operation. For instance, user presence information and device state information can be considered.

Initiating update operations

Techniques for managing content downloads to a computing device. The techniques include an agent on the computing device determining for each network of a plurality of networks available to the computing device, costs of downloading content and an exemption list. The exemption list includes content downloads that are exempted from costs charged by a particular network. The agent determines possible content downloads for the computing device. The agent also assesses potential costs associated with the possible content downloads based upon the costs and exemption lists determined for the plurality of networks. Based upon the assessment, the agent selects one of the networks for downloading at least part of the possible content downloads.

Network adaptive content download

Software update distribution techniques are disclosed. Authentication information is received, from a content source authenticator, by an update agent included in a client device. The authentication information comprises a list of a plurality of content sources, wherein the plurality of content sources have been verified by the content source authenticator as being authentic content sources for legitimate software applications. The update agent selects a first content source of the plurality of content sources, where the first content source is configured to provide updates for a first software application. The update agent checks the first content source for updates for the first software application.

Software distribution service federation

A software distribution mechanism evaluates network addresses of requesting clients to determine a location for each client. The clients from a particular location are grouped together and a fraction of those clients in a particular group are recipients of a software distribution. The faction is adjusted to enable more or fewer clients to download, thus effectively throttling the amount of bandwidth consumed by a mass distribution event. The fraction may be adjusted for particular geographical locations and the time of day to make more effective use of network bandwidth.

Software deployment using client location

A method for controlling the update installation behavior of a computing device according to installation attributes is presented. When present, a mandatory installation attribute associated with a software update causes the installation process executed on the computing device to disallow a user to selectively not install the software update. A priority installation attribute causes the computing device to request a higher amount of network bandwidth for obtaining the software update's content for installation on the client computing device. A deadline installation attribute associated with the software update causes the computing device to permit a user to selectively not install the software update until an associated deadline passes, at which time the software update is installed without further user interaction. A zero system interruption (ZSI) installation attribute causes the computing device to automatically install the software update without user interaction if the computing device is properly configured.

Controlling installation update behaviors on a client computer

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Jimin Li