Efficient Delivery of Software Updates Using Advanced Compression Techniques

This paper focuses on the applications of advanced data compression technologies developed by Microsoft to efficiently deliver software updates for Windows, specifically CAB packaging and binary delta compression technologies. These technologies are adaptable to other scenarios, and thus are also used by Windows Installer (MSI), Xbox 360 and Windows Media Player 11 to name a few. We discuss how these technologies differ from ordinary compression, how they are used at Microsoft and how they can be used by the software community to improve customer satisfaction and reduce software maintenance costs