Since 1986

RTPatch Overview

Byte-Level Differencing

Platforms

Features

What's New

Specialized Editions:

RTPatch Server

RTPatch for Mac

RTPatch Embedded

RTPatch for Android

Resources:

Pricing and Evaluation

Multi-core Support

RTPatch for Games

Examples of Use

RTPatch OEM

20 Years of RTPatch

Use/Applications

When most developers think about a "patch" their first thought is a security fix. RTPatch, however, has been used for over 20 years by developers who not only need to send out bug fixes, but also want to add new features and functionality to their software. RTPatch may be used wherever information is changed at one location and needs to be updated at another, and that includes software updates, data updates and even some non-standard "data moving" situations where bandwidth or storage must be optimized.

RTPatch is a broadly applicable technology which is amenable to innovative IT problem solving, beyond just a classic software update.

A few specific examples:

Updating a Massively Distributed Accounting Software Package
As the defacto standard accounting software package for small businesses and CPA's, this company is well respected for timely upates, that are easy and reliable to install. By incorporating the Apply API into the product itself, updates are fast, small and integrated into the application, making it a breeze for users of varied technical capabilities to apply updates perfectly every time. RTPatch is hidden "behind the scenes" and, as the case in over 90% of updates that are applied, the end-user does not even know that RTPatch was involved. This is the "classic" use of RTPatch that most developers are familiar with, and find themselves as end-users on a daily basis.

Over the Air Updates for a Portable Car Navigation System
A three company partnership consisting of a F500 manufacturing company, top three telecommunications provider and leading content provider team up to create a state of the art car navigation system with over the air (OTA) content updates. Customers pay a fixed monthly subscription to receive frequent content updates to maps, applications and product features. Due to the high bandwidth costs of OTA updates, and fixed customer subscription price, reduction of the deliverable translated to immediate profit increase for all parties. Insisted by the telecommunications partner, RTPatch Embedded Edition (Windows CE) reduces update size and thus bandwidth costs, by over 80%.

Near Daily Updates of Virus Definition Files
Antivirus software development companies must respond quickly and frequently to new virus, privacy and security threats. As the number of threats increase, the data used by the antivirus software continues to grow. Compounded by the frequency of updates, some customers elect to skip updates rather than download frequent and time consuming definition updates. By relying on RTPatch for over ten years, multiple leading antivirus companies enhance their product offering by providing smaller updates, enabling them to issue faster and more frequent updates, keeping their customers and their customers's assets safer than ever before.

Mirroring a Massive System of Airline Maintenance Manuals
Manuals for a large aircraft fleet change daily. Technicians provide frequent updates to the main server which must then be mirrored to the other servers that provide access the the multi-GB manual repository. RTPatch Server enables fast and efficient server updates by comparing the last manual repository to the updated repository and then updating the mirror servers. By providing fast and efficient updates to the large system of manuals, technicians across the company have immediate access to the latest safety and system specs resulting in a safer, better maintained aircraft fleet and reducing overall ground turnaround time, without additional capital investment to increase WAN/LAN capacity.

Immediately Providing Thousands of Customers' Requests for Updated Investment Information and Immediately Updating Hundreds of Programs Upon Request
Rather than ship full new versions of 200+ separate data stores, RTPatch Server is installed on a server farm servicing 300,000 clients. When a request for the latest data store comes in, RTPatch Server dynamically creates a difference between the client's version and the latest version of the data store, which is then transmitted to the client where RTPatch Server updates the outdated data store to the correct new version. By reducing the amount of data transmitted, WAN capabilities are optimized resulting in fewer servers required to service the same number of clients. Further, clients are able to receive immediate updates.

Replace Overnight/International Distribution of 4GB DVD Image (ISO File) With Electronic Distribution
Daily overnight DVD shipments from a branch office to corporate headquarters are replaced with RTPatch Server generated updates. Instead of managing physical DVD's, RTPatch Server compares the 4GB DVD image (ISO file), which only changes slightly each day. The difference is only a few MB - small enough to be sent as an email attachment. By eliminating the management and shipment of physical DVD's, the branch office is able to provide more timely updates to corporate headquarters, enabling them to make better, more well-informed business decisions. Without RTPatch Server's WAN Efficiency Optimization, electronic distribution of the 4GB+ sized ISO files was not feasible.

Replace Monthly Shipment of CD/DVD Updates of Constantly Changing Customer Data With Online Updates
This is both feasible and cost effective for the first time. Creation of the updates can be accomplished with minimal use of data center resources. Bandwidth savings are significant as update file size is usually 90-95% of the original. On the client side, the update can be on-demand or automatic at a pre-selected time. The accuracy of the data is maintained - no need to track, use, store, etc., physical media.