Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Managing software components
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-12
2004-05-11
Starks, Jr., Wilbert L. (Department: 2121)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Managing software components
C717S121000, C717S170000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06735757
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the installation and manufacture of computer systems and more specifically to an apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in a build to order computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems and methods for efficient manufacture and installation of build to order computer systems are known to the art. For example, it is known to the art to install software and perform tests on the computer systems prior to shipping the computer system to a customer. This may result in a computer system that operates correctly and is free of malfunctioning components. Further, it is known to the art to utilize systems comprising a database that may maintain a list of the available components and required testing procedures for the associated components that may be performed during installation to more efficiently produce build to order computer systems.
Upon a customer making an order, systems known to the art may analyze the database comprising the list of available components and prescribe testing for the components necessary in the installation of the computer system. However, some components and versions of components do not operate correctly when matched with other components. For example, a component may not be compatible with another component resulting in a malfunctioning computer system. Computer manufacturing systems known to the art are limited in that they do not analyze and prevent the installation of components and versions of components that may have compatibility conflicts with other components included within the build to order computer system.
If each component listed within the component table could come equipped with a version/revision identification and a compatibility property, then a build to order computer system could be manufactured with the latest version of components available while ensuring that no compatibility conflicts were present among the components of the computer system. As such, this may result in a computer system capable of more efficient installation of a custom software configuration. Consequently, it would be advantageous if an apparatus and method existed that could be used to check component compatibility and may find a specific revision of a software component to install that may be compatible with the other software components. Further, it would be advantageous if the apparatus may update the compatibility of components when conflicts are identified. It would also be advantageous if new versions of software components could be targeted for testing to determine if a conflict that existed in the previous version still exists in the new version.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for installing a custom software configuration on a build to order computer system capable of checking component compatibility. The apparatus may comprise a database that includes a list of components and a list of install/test steps. Each component may be identified specifically, by its class, by the version/revision number, and may also include a compatibility property. The apparatus of the present invention may be capable of updating the compatibility property of each component when new conflicts are identified. Further, the apparatus may specifically target testing of new versions of components that had a compatibility conflict in a previous version.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5247683 (1993-09-01), Holmes et al.
patent: 5428791 (1995-06-01), Andrew et al.
patent: 5659735 (1997-08-01), Parrish et al.
patent: 5758160 (1998-05-01), McInerney et al.
patent: 5805891 (1998-09-01), Bizuneh et al.
patent: 5835777 (1998-11-01), Staelin
patent: 5872957 (1999-02-01), Worthington et al.
patent: 5872958 (1999-02-01), Worthington et al.
patent: 5881270 (1999-03-01), Worthington et al.
patent: 5894571 (1999-04-01), O'Connor
patent: 5956479 (1999-09-01), McInerney et al.
patent: 5956513 (1999-09-01), McLain, Jr.
patent: 5963743 (1999-10-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 5991543 (1999-11-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 5995757 (1999-11-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 6002854 (1999-12-01), Lynch et al.
patent: 6009274 (1999-12-01), Fletcher et al.
patent: 6038399 (2000-03-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 6073113 (2000-06-01), Guinan
patent: 6080207 (2000-06-01), Kroening et al.
patent: 6182275 (2001-01-01), Beelitz et al.
patent: 6195795 (2001-02-01), Block et al.
patent: 6202070 (2001-03-01), Nguyen et al.
patent: 6205527 (2001-03-01), Goshey et al.
patent: 6236901 (2001-05-01), Goss
patent: 6256773 (2001-07-01), Bowman-Amuah
patent: 6367077 (2002-04-01), Brodersen et al.
patent: 6539539 (2003-03-01), Larsen et al.
patent: 6543047 (2003-04-01), Vrhel et al.
patent: 2001/0044935 (2001-11-01), Kitayama
patent: 2002/0040469 (2002-04-01), Pramberger
Dart S., “Concepts in Configuration Management Systems”, Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Software Configuration Management, pp. 1-18, 1991.*
Mori et al., “A Computer Hardware Configuration Expert System: Examination of Its Software Reliability”, Proceedings of the 9t Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Applications, pp. 306-311, Mar. 1993.*
Iizuka et al., “A Computer System configuration Design Expert System: IDEA/C”, International Workshop on Artificial Intelligenc for Industrial Applications 1988, pp. 442-447, May 1988.*
Kramer, B.M., “Knowledge-based Configuraion of Computer Systems Using Hierarchical Partial Choice”, 3rd International Conference on Tools for Artificial Intelligence, pp. 368-375, Nov. 1991.*
Lee et al., “Integrated Configuration Management System (ICMS) for Computer System Development”, Portland International Conference Management and Technology, pp. 472-475, Jul. 1997.*
Lange et al., “Software Architecture Analysis: A Case Study”, Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Software Configuration Management, pp. 19-28, 1991.*
Gomaa et al., “A Software Engineering Environment for Configuring Distributed Applications for Reusable Software Architectures”, 8th International Workshop on Software Technology and Engineering Practice, Jul. 1997, pp. 312-325.
Gomaa et al., “Automated Configuration and Distributed Applications from Reusable Software Architectures”, Nov. 1997, 12th IEEE INternational Conference on Automated Software Engineering pp. 193-200.
Gomaa et al., “Methods and Tools for the Automated Configuration of Distributed Applications From Reusable Software Architectures and Components”, IEE Procedings-Software, Dec. 1999, vol. 146, Iss 6, pp. 277-290.
Hayes-Roth et al., “A Domain-Specific Software Architecture for Adaptive Intelligent Systems”, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Apr. 1995, vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 288-301.
Status Checking of System Behaviors Using Derived Component Assumptions; Paola Inverardi, Alexander L. Wolf and Daniel Yankelevich; ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology, vol. 9, No. 3, Jul. 2000.
Kroening James L.
O'Neal, IV Frank W.
Booker Kevin
Gateway Inc.
Richardson Scott Charles
Starks, Jr. Wilbert L.
Suiter-West
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3199127