Method and apparatus for re-introducing version control

Details Method and apparatus for re-introducing version control Method and apparatus for re-introducing version control

1995-12-29

2002-02-19

Banankhah, Majid (Department: 2151)

Data processing: software development, installation, and managem

Software program development tool

Translation of code

Reexamination Certificate

active

06349407

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining source control for software and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for maintaining source control for new successive versions of software, where modifications that have been made to a first version are not included in the new version.
In commercial settings, it is common practice to purchase software from an outside source and to modify the purchased software so that it can be incorporated within another product. The software from the outside source often is received in a “source code” format, i.e., in a format easily read and understood by human beings. The purchasing company makes modifications to an initial version of the software and incorporates the modified software within its product.
A problem arises when the third party changes the initial version of its software to yield a new version and ships the new version to the purchasing company. The purchasing company does not have “source code control” over the purchased software, since it did not write either the initial version of the software or the new version of the software. Both the initial version and the new version of the software may be very large and may consist of many separate files. Moreover, in the interim, the purchasing company has modified the initial version of the software. It is problematic to ensure that any changes in the new version are integrated into the modified copy of the initial version.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for maintaining source control in successive versions of software where modifications have been made to an initial version. The invention allows any changes in a new version of the software to be incorporated into the modified initial version of the software.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is a method and apparatus for maintaining version control for an initial version of software stored in a memory, where the initial version has been modified to yield a modified initial version of the software that is also stored in the memory. The method comprises the steps, performed by a data processing system, of: creating, in the memory, a source tree containing the initial version and the modified initial version of the software; receiving a new version of the software; determining a difference between the new version and the initial version; integrating the difference between the new version and the initial version into a copy of the initial version to yield an integrated copy; and incorporating the integrated copy into a copy of the modified initial version to yield a modified new version.
Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4558413 (1985-12-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 4809170 (1989-02-01), Leblang et al.
patent: 4912637 (1990-03-01), Sheedy et al.
patent: 5274803 (1993-12-01), Dubin et al.
patent: 5357631 (1994-10-01), Howell et al.
patent: 5481722 (1996-01-01), Skinner
patent: 5574898 (1996-11-01), Leblang et al.
patent: 5577244 (1996-11-01), Killebrew et al.
patent: 5630138 (1997-05-01), Raman
W. Tichy, “RCS—A System for Version Control”, 4.4BSD Programmer's Supplementary Documents (PSD), O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., pp. 13-1 to 13-14, Apr. 1994.*
E. Allman, “An Introduction to the Source Code Control System”, 4.4BSD Programmer's Supplementary Documents (PSD), O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., pp. 14-1 to 14-14, Apr. 1994.*
V. Ambriola, L. Bendix and P. Ciancarini, “The Evolution of Configuration Management and Version Control”, Software Eng. J., pp. 303-310, Nov. 1990.*
SunSoft, SPARCworks/TeamWare ProWorks/TeamWare Users Guide, pp. 1-292, 1995.*
Solaris Programming Utilities Manual, “SCCS Source Control Code System,” pp. 1-38.
SPARCworks/TeamWare ProWorks/TeamWae Users Guide, pp. 1-292.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Method and apparatus for re-introducing version control does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for re-introducing version control, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for re-introducing version control will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2946567