System and method for configuring an application

• US 20030046444A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Murray, Douglas G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A system and method for configuring an application is provided. Specifically, calls are made from a configuration tool to entry points in a configuration interface, which is implemented as part of the application. In response to the calls, configuration data is modified. Thus, the present invention allows an application to be configured from a configuration tool without having to reverse engineer the application'"'"'s configuration.

Claims

1. A system for configuring an application, comprising:

a configuration interface having entry points;

an access system for accessing configuration data in the application; and

a modification system for modifying the accessed configuration data in response to calls made to the entry points.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the entry points comprise a generic entry point and specific a entry point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the calls are made from a configuration tool.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the configuration tool is a configuration program.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a pertinent set of configuration data accessed in response to the calls.

6. A system for configuring an application, comprising:

a configuration interface having generic entry points and specific entry points;

a retrieval system for retrieving configuration data from the application to the configuration interface;

a modification system for modifying the retrieved configuration data in response to calls made to the generic entry points and the specific entry points; and

a sending system for sending the modified configuration data to the application.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the calls are made from a configuration tool.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the configuration tool is a configuration program.

9. A system for configuring an application, comprising:

a configuration interface having generic entry points and specific entry points;

a retrieval system for retrieving configuration data from the application to a configuration tool;

a modification system for modifying the retrieved configuration data in response to calls made to the generic entry points and the specific entry points; and

a sending system for sending the modified configuration data to the application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the calls are made from the configuration tool.

11. A system for configuring an application, comprising:

an application having a configuration interface, wherein the configuration interface has entry points;

a configuration tool for making calls to the entry points;

a retrieval system for retrieving configuration data from the application;

a modification system for modifying the retrieved configuration data in response to calls made to the entry points; and

a sending system for sending the modified configuration data to the application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration data is retrieved from the application to the configuration interface, and wherein the modified configuration data is sent from the configuration interface to the application.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration data is retrieved from the application to the configuration tool, and wherein the modified configuration data is sent from the configuration tool to the application.

14. A method for configuring an application, comprising the steps of:

providing a configuration interface having entry points;

accessing configuration data in the application; and

modifying the accessed configuration data in response to calls made to the entry points.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the entry points comprise generic entry points and specific entry points.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of making calls to the entry points from a configuration tool.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the accessing step comprises the step of accessing a pertinent set of configuration data based upon calls made to the entry points from a configuration tool.

18. A method for configuring an application, comprising the steps of:

providing a configuration interface having generic entry points and specific entry points;

retrieving configuration data from the application to the configuration interface;

modifying the retrieved configuration data in response to calls made to the generic entry points and the specific entry points; and

sending the modified configuration data to the application.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of making calls to the generic entry points and the specific entry points from a configuration tool.

20. A method for configuring an application, comprising the steps of:

providing a configuration interface having generic entry points and specific entry points;

retrieving configuration data from the application to a configuration tool;

modifying the retrieved configuration data in response to calls made to the generic entry points and the specific entry points; and

sending the modified configuration data to the application.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of making calls to the generic entry points and the specific entry points from the configuration tool.

22. A method for configuring an application, comprising the steps of:

providing an application having a configuration interface, wherein the configuration interface has entry points;

making calls to the entry points and the specific entry points from a configuration tool;

retrieving configuration data from the application;

modifying the retrieved configuration data in response to the calls made to the entry points; and

sending the modified configuration data to the application.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the retrieving step comprises the step of retrieving configuration data from the application to the configuration tool.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the retrieving step comprises the step of retrieving configuration data from the application to the configuration interface.

25. A program product stored on a recordable medium for configuring an application, which when executed, comprises:

a configuration interface having generic entry points and specific entry points;

program code configured to retrieve configuration data from the application;

program code configured to modify the retrieved configuration data in response to calls made to the generic entry points and the specific entry points; and

program code configured to send the modified configuration data to the application.

26. The program product of claim 25, wherein the configuration data is retrieved from the application to a configuration tool.

27. The program product of claim 26, wherein the configuration tool is a configuration program.

28. The program product of claim 25, wherein the configuration data is retrieved from the application to the configuration interface.