Automatically recommending updates based on stored lifecycle information

• US 10,026,064 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Satish, Basu, Arijit, Nachimuthu, Arunpriyaa, Srinivasan, Sri, Muzykin, Mykola
• Primary Examiner(s): APONTE, FRANCISCO JAVIER
• Application Number:
  US14/151,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20150081572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 717121, 717168-178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

Lifecycle information indicative of a configuration and update state of a computer system are stored. Updates to the computer system are automatically recommended based on the lifecycle information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining configuration information indicative of a configuration of a computer system;

obtaining update state information indicative of a first update already applied to the computer system;

storing, in a data record, life cycle information indicative of the configuration information and the update state information of the computer system;

identifying a plurality of different updates corresponding to the computer system; and

prior to applying any of the plurality of different updates to the computer system,

obtaining impact analysis information indicative of an impact of each update in the plurality of different updates on the computer system, the impact analysis information being based on the update relative to the stored life cycle information;

obtaining code merge information indicative of a result of automatically resolving a conflict that arose from applying the first update to the computer system; and

based on the impact analysis information and the code merge information, automatically selecting a second update, from the plurality of different updates, to apply to the computer system; and

sending, to the computer system, an indication of the automatic selection of the second update.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the life cycle information is indicative of a plurality of different life cycle stages of the computer system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information is indicative of at least one of:

a computing process in the computer system;

a model in the computer system;

or

a layer in the computer system.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein storing life cycle information further comprises:

obtaining the impact analysis information on a life cycle system that is remote from the computer system, the impact analysis information being indicative of at least one model or layer in the computer system that is affected by of the plurality of different updates; and

storing the impact analysis information on the life cycle system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein storing life cycle information further comprises:

obtaining computing process analysis information on the life cycle system, the computing process analysis information being indicative of one or more computing processes in the computer system that are affected by the plurality of different updates; and

storing the computing process analysis information on the life cycle system.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein storing life cycle information further comprises:

obtaining update detail information on the life cycle system, the update detail information being indicative of detail information corresponding to the plurality of different updates; and

storing the update detail information on the life cycle system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein automatically selecting the second update comprises:

automatically selecting the second update based on the life cycle information, the impact analysis information, the computing process analysis information, and code merge information indicative of a result of automatically resolving a conflict that arose from applying the first update to the computer system.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a report showing requested information from the life cycle information,

the requested information being based on at least one of;

the configuration information,

the update state information of the computer system,

the impact analysis information,

the computing process analysis information, or

the code merge information.

9. A life cycle computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the instructions configure the life cycle computer system to;

obtain configuration information, indicative of a configuration of a computing environment;

obtain update state information indicative of a first update already applied to the computing environment;

obtain code merge information indicative of a result of automatically resolving a conflict that arose from applying the first update to the computing environment;

store, in a data record, life cycle information indicative of the configuration information and the update state information;

identify a second update corresponding to the computing environment;

prior to the second update being applied to the computing environment,

obtain impact analysis information indicative of an impact of the second update on the computing environment, the impact analysis information being based on the second update relative to the stored life cycle information;

automatically select the second update to apply to the computing environment based on the impact analysis information; and

send an indication of the selection of the second update to the computing environment;

receive a report request indicating requested information from the life cycle information; and

generate a report including

the requested information from the life cycle information,

the impact analysis information,

the code merge information.

10. The life cycle computer system of claim 9 wherein the life cycle information is indicative of a plurality of different life cycle stages of the computing environment.

11. The life cycle computer system of claim 9 wherein the instructions configure the life cycle computer system to identify computing processes, models, and layers in the computing environment.

12. The life cycle computer system of claim 11 wherein the instructions configure the life cycle computer system to receive and store impact analysis information indicative of models and layers in the computing environment that are affected by a set of updates.

13. The life cycle computer system of claim 12 wherein the instructions configure the life cycle computer system to receive and store process analysis information indicative of computing processes in the computing environment that are affected by the set of updates.

14. The life cycle computer system of claim 13 wherein the instructions configure the life cycle computer system to receive and store code merge information indicative of results of automatically resolving conflicts that arose from applying the set of updates to the computing environment.

15. The life cycle computer system of claim 14 wherein the instructions configure the life cycle computer system to automatically recommend the second update to apply to the computing environment based on the life cycle information, the impact analysis information, the computing process analysis information, and the code merge information.

16. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining, at a life cycle system that is remote from a computer system, life cycle information indicative of a plurality of different life cycle stages of the computer system, the life cycle information including configuration information indicative of a configuration of the computer system;

obtaining update state information of the computer system, indicative of a first update already applied to the computer system;

obtaining code merge information indicative of a result of automatically resolving a conflict that arose from applying the first update to the computer system;

identifying a second update configured to be installed on computer system;

prior to the second update being applied to the computer system,

obtaining, by the life cycle system, impact analysis information indicative of an impact of the second update on the computer system, the impact analysis information being based on the second update relative to the life cycle information and the update state information; and

based on the impact analysis information and the code merge information, automatically sending a communication to the computer system indicating the second update as a recommended update for installation on the computer system.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 further comprising:

identifying computing processes in the computer system;

identifying models and layers in the computer system;

obtaining impact analysis information on the life cycle system, the impact analysis information being indicative of models and layers in the computer system that are affected by a set of updates;

obtaining computing process analysis information on the life cycle system, the computing process analysis information being indicative of computing processes in the computer system that are affected by the selected updates; and

obtaining code merge information indicative of results of automatically resolving conflicts that arose from applying the selected updates to the computer system, and wherein automatically recommending the second update comprises automatically recommending the second update for installation on the computer system based on the life cycle information, the impact analysis information, the computing process analysis information, and the code merge information.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 and further comprising:

generating a report showing requested information from the life cycle information, the impact analysis information, the computing process analysis information, and the code merge information.