Patent ID: 8392902
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: G06F,G16H,G16Z

Abstract:
1. A method for upgrading software offline using a virtual machine, the method comprising: creating a virtual machine that mimics an operation of an actual customer machine that is part of a medical imaging system that acquires internal anatomical images; loading an upgraded version of a software application onto the virtual machine; loading customer specific data related to a previous version of the software application onto the virtual machine, the previous version of the software application being installed and used on the actual customer machine; modifying the upgraded version of the software application on the virtual machine using the customer specific data such that the upgraded version of the software application as modified is compatible with the actual customer machine without further modification; testing the modified upgraded version of the software application on the virtual machine to ensure that the modified upgraded version has been properly modified to include the customer specific data related to the previous version of the software application; automatically identifying a problem with the modified upgraded version of the software application running on the virtual machine; automatically altering the modified upgraded version to correct the problem associated with running the modified upgraded version of the software application on the customer machine based upon a pre-determined rule set; and transferring the upgraded version of the software application as modified from the virtual machine to the actual customer machine for use on the actual customer machine, wherein the pre-determined rule set correlates the customer related data with pre-determined modifications to the upgraded version of the software application that must be accomplished to ensure compatibility with the customer machine, and wherein the pre-determined rule set comprises a list of common errors associated with user specifications, protocols, settings, customizations, configurations, or combinations thereof, that are incompatible with the modified upgraded version of the software application.