Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-02-27
Lintz, Paul R. (Department: 2762)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
C717S152000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195795
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of computer software, and more particularly, apparatus and method for automatic software release notification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Large-scale software development efforts require proper coordination and management of teams of software engineers and test engineers. When a software development effort involves a large group of engineers simultaneously working on multiple versions and releases of a large number of different source modules of the software product, confusion and inefficiency easily results if the development process and subsequent product release are not properly managed. For example, some engineers may be coding source modules for version 3.1 of a software product X while some engineers may be incorporating newer features into source modules for version 4.0, and still some engineers may be providing a fix to some problems reported in source modules of version 2.1. Note that it is possible to have overlap between the three groups of engineers, so that an engineer may be involved in all three efforts.
Compounding the problem is the fact that each version of a software product must pass through multiple developmental stages prior to its release, where advancing to the next stage requires the passing of some predetermined testing and approval process. To be tested, all the source modules for that version of the software product must be collected and built into a load. The process of load building is also called the compiling and linking of all the source modules. The resultant load or build is a software product to be further tested, or to be released and delivered to a customer when all the developmental stages have been passed.
This process of load building is currently a frequent cause of long periods of delay or lag time to a software product's production and delivery. Beyond the length of the build itself is the response time needed to inform key personnel of the build results in order to evaluate a completed build and proceed to the next stage in software development. Throughout the course of software development, the process of load building may be conducted many times. A significant delay during each load build can result in a considerable postponement of final product release.
It may be seen that because the process of building a software load is repeatedly performed in the development of a software product, considerable savings in time, energy and expense are possible if the process is automated or otherwise optimized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for software release notification that further automates and streamlines the software production and build processes.
An automatic software release notification system is provided that comprises a build generator adapted to conduct a software build procedure and automatically generate a build status. The system also comprises a notification manager that is adapted to automatically determine notification parameters in response to the build status. A communications device is also provided that is adapted to automatically send a notification in response to the notification parameters.
The disclosed invention provides several technical advantages. For example, the invention results in the elimination of substantial delay time between software build procedures and subsequent software testing, continued development, or customer release. Additionally, the invention provides for an efficient means of automatically communicating with many personnel through a variety of communications devices. The invention also provides for a means of automatically classifying errors during a software build procedure and implementing notification procedures to best address the errors that occur. Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.
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Appendices A-E, further described in transmittal.
Baalbergen, et al., “On the Design of the Amoeba Configuration Manager”, 10894 ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, 17 (1989) Nov., No. 7, pp. 15-22.
Block John D.
Carrier, III David F.
Gillespie R. John K.
Sadeghi Mohsen E.
Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Khatri Anil
Lintz Paul R.
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