EFFICIENT PATCHING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conquer the disadvantage of a conventional method to patching such as the increase of a labor related with the reception and application of patch. SOLUTION: A facility receives software patch by using an automatic patching agent. In response to receiving the software patch, the facility performs, without user intervention, the following acts: first, the facility identifies the instance of an executable module that is currently loaded, and to which the received software patch pertains. Second, the facility applies the received software patch to the identified loaded executable module instance to modify the behavior of the identified executable module instance. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI