Configuration management via self-aware model

• US 10,027,537 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nice, Eryk Brian, Schultz, James V., Chivaluri, Dinkar, Manning, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US14/489,389
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 715735
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/084 Configuration by using pre-existing information, e.g. using templates or copying from other elements

Abstract

Methods and systems for configuration management of computer applications implemented in different configurations use configuration parameters having assigned scopes of applicability. A method includes storing configuration parameters for a computer application for the different configurations. The stored configuration parameters have assigned scopes of applicability. At least one of the assigned scopes of applicability is selected and used to select a set of configuration parameters from the stored configuration parameters for application to a corresponding running instance of the computer application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing configuration parameters for a computer application implementable on a subset of mobile drive units of a plurality of mobile drive units operating in an inventory workspace, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of different configurations, comprising candidate configuration parameters, values assigned to the candidate configuration parameters, and applicability data indicating a scope of applicability of each of a plurality of the candidate configuration parameters,

the plurality of different configurations having a respective resulting overall combined set of the candidate configuration parameters,

the plurality of different configurations including two configurations having different respective overall combined sets of the candidate configuration parameters, and

the scope of applicability affecting which of the plurality of different configurations is implemented on the subset of mobile drive units of the plurality of mobile drive units operating in the inventory workspace;

receiving a selection of at least two scopes of applicability indicative of a respective at least two subsets of the candidate configuration parameters applicable for a desired implementation configuration for the computer application on the subset of mobile drive units;

receiving additional information regarding the desired implementation configuration, the additional information including at least one of;

(a) a software version for the desired implementation configuration, (b) an implementation environment for the desired implementation configuration selected from a group consisting of a production environment and a test environment, or (c) a current time frame or a previous time frame for the desired implementation configuration;

selecting configuration parameters for the computer application on the subset of mobile drive units from the candidate configuration parameters for which the applicability data indicates a scope of applicability matching one of the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration and the additional information regarding the desired implementation configuration; and

transmitting the configuration parameters for the computer application to the subset of mobile drive units of the plurality of mobile drive units operating in the inventory workspace, the configuration parameters configured to affect a particular implementation of an application of rules of the computer application at the subset of mobile drive units.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying additional configuration parameters for the desired implementation configuration that are not selected from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration and the additional information regarding the desired implementation configuration; and

receiving values for defining the identified additional configuration parameters.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the applicability data includes hierarchically organized scopes of applicability; and

the selected configuration parameters include configuration parameters for at least one higher level scope of applicability relative to one of the selected scopes of applicability.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the applicability data comprises:

a global scope for configuration parameters applicable to each of the plurality of different configurations;

a plurality of client scopes, each of the client scopes being associated with configuration parameters applicable to a particular client of a plurality of clients;

a plurality of design scopes, each of the design scopes being associated with configuration parameters applicable to a particular design of a plurality of designs;

a plurality of site scopes, each of the site scopes being associated with configuration parameters applicable to a particular site of a plurality of sites; and

a plurality of zone scopes, each of the zone scopes being associated with configuration parameters applicable to a particular zone of a plurality of zones.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein:

if the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration include one of the plurality of client scopes, the selected configuration parameters include;

candidate configuration parameters having the global scope, and

candidate configuration parameters having the client scope;

if the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration include one of the plurality of design scopes, the selected configuration parameters include;

candidate configuration parameters having the global scope,

candidate configuration parameters having the client scope corresponding to the design scope, and

candidate configuration parameters having the design scope;

if the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration include one of the plurality of site scopes, the selected configuration parameters include;

candidate configuration parameters having the global scope,

candidate configuration parameters having the client scope corresponding to the site scope,

candidate configuration parameters having a design scope corresponding to the site scope, and

candidate configuration parameters having the site scope; and

if the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration include one of the plurality of zone scopes, the selected configuration parameters include;

candidate configuration parameters having the global scope,

candidate configuration parameters having the client scope corresponding to the zone scope,

candidate configuration parameters having the design scope corresponding to the zone scope,

candidate configuration parameters having a site scope corresponding to the zone scope, and

candidate configuration parameters having the zone scope.

6. A system for managing configuration parameters for a computer application implementable on a subset of mobile drive units of a plurality of mobile drive units operating in an inventory workspace, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory including

instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to at least;

select a plurality of different configurations comprising candidate configuration parameters, values assigned to the candidate configuration parameters, and applicability data indicating a scope of applicability of each of a plurality of the candidate configuration parameters, the scope of applicability affecting which of the plurality of different configurations is implemented on the subset of mobile drive units of the plurality of mobile drive units operating in the inventory workspace;

receive a selection of at least two scopes of applicability indicative of a respective at least two subsets of the candidate configuration parameters applicable for a desired implementation configuration for the computer application on the subset of mobile drive units;

receive additional information including at least one of;

(a) a software version for the desired implementation configuration, (b) an implementation environment for the desired implementation configuration selected from a group consisting of a production environment and a test environment, or (c) a current time frame or a previous time frame for the desired implementation configuration;

select configuration parameters from the candidate configuration parameters for which the applicability data indicates a scope of applicability matching one of the selected at least two scopes of applicability for the desired implementation configuration and the additional information regarding the desired implementation configuration; and

transmit the configuration parameters to the subset of mobile drive units of the plurality of mobile drive units operating in the inventory workspace, the configuration parameters configured to affect a particular implementation of an application of rules of the computer application at the subset of mobile drive units.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

identify additional configuration parameters for the desired implementation configuration that are not selected from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected at least two scores of applicability for the desired implementation configuration; and

receive values for defining the identified additional configuration parameters.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to apply the selected configuration parameters to the subset of mobile drive units configured to run the desired implementation configuration for the computer application.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to compare the selected configuration parameters to configuration parameters of a running instance of the computer application to identify differences there between.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a selection of a computer platform on which the desired implementation configuration for the computer application is to be implemented; and

at least one of;

(a) select one or more configuration parameters from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected computer platform, or (b) identify one or more configuration parameters corresponding to the selected computer platform that are not selected from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected computer platform.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a selection of a software version of the computer application for the desired implementation configuration; and

at least one of;

(a) select one or more configuration parameters from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected software version, or (b) identify one or more configuration parameters corresponding to the selected software version that are not selected from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected software version.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a selection of an implementation environment for the desired implementation configuration of the computer application, the implementation environment selected from the group consisting of a production environment and a test environment; and

at least one of;

(a) select one or more configuration parameters from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected implementation environment, or (b) identify one or more configuration parameters corresponding to the selected implementation environment that are not selected from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected implementation environment.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a selection of a time frame for the desired implementation configuration, the selected time frame being a current time frame or a prior time frame; and

at least one of;

(a) select one or more configuration parameters from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected time frame, or (b) identify one or more configuration parameters corresponding to the selected time frame that are not selected from the candidate configuration parameters based on the selected time frame.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the applicability data includes hierarchically organized scopes of applicability; and

the selected configuration parameters include configuration parameters for at least one higher level scope of applicability relative to one of the selected scopes of applicability.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the applicability data includes non-hierarchical scopes of applicability.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for managing configuration parameters for a computer application implementable on a subset of mobile drive units of a plurality of mobile drive units operating in an inventory workspace that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to at least:

select scope-aware configuration data comprising candidate configuration parameters, values assigned to the candidate configuration parameters, and applicability data indicating a scope of applicability of each of a plurality of the candidate configuration parameters,

the scope of applicability affecting which of the scope-aware configuration data is implemented on a subset of mobile drive units of a plurality of mobile drive units operating in an inventory workspace;

receive a selection of at least two scopes of applicability for a desired implementation configuration for a computer application implementable in a plurality of different configurations, each of the plurality of different configurations having a respective resulting overall combined set of the candidate configuration parameters, the plurality of different configurations including two configurations having different respective overall combined sets of the candidate configuration parameters;

receive designation information including at least one of;

(a) a software version for the desired implementation configuration, (b) an implementation environment for the desired implementation configuration selected from a group consisting of a production environment and a test environment, or (c) a current time frame or a previous time frame for the desired implementation configuration;

select configuration parameters from the scope-aware configuration data including the candidate configuration parameters, values assigned to the candidate configuration parameters, and applicability data indicating a scope of applicability of each of a plurality of the candidate configuration parameters, the applicability data indicating a scope of applicability for each of the selected configuration parameters matching one of the selected at least two scopes of applicability and the designation information regarding the desired implementation configuration; and

transmit the configuration parameters to the subset of mobile drive units of the plurality of mobile drive units operating in the inventory workspace, the configuration parameters configured to affect a particular implementation of an application of rules of the computer application at the subset of mobile drive units.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to at least compare the selected configuration parameters to configuration parameters of a running instance of the computer application to identify differences there between.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to at least update or add to the candidate configuration parameters to reflect at least one of the identified differences between the selected configuration parameters and configuration parameters of the running instance of the computer application.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to at least receive an override of at least one of the selected configuration parameters.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to at least one of:

select one or more configuration parameters from the candidate configuration parameters based on the designation information.