Preparation of a software configuration using an XML type programming language

• US 20040003388A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christian Jacquemot, Laurent Latil, Vadim Abrossimov
• Original Assignee: Christian Jacquemot, Laurent Latil, Vadim Abrossimov
• Inventors: Jacquemot, Christian, Latil, Laurent, Abrossimov, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Configuring software for a target comprises preparing a command file which specifies a subset of components selected from a group of components, and parameters for tuning at least some of the selected subset of components. The command file is written using a single object-oriented programming language, capable of managing tree structures of objects, preferably an XML type language, having a Document Type Definition enabling it to work as a programming language. An image file is prepared from the command file, to be loaded on the target.

Claims

1. A method of configuring software for a target, comprising:

a. preparing commands (509) which specify;

a1. a subset of components selected from a group of components,

a2. parameters (546) for tuning a least some of the selected components in said subset, and

b. preparing an image file (540) from the command file, said image file constituting loadable software in a target,

wherein step a. comprises writing said commands in a command file (509) using a single object-oriented programming language, capable of managing tree structures of objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said command file (509) is an XML file, and said single programming language is specified using an XML document type definition (201), having at least one nestable element predefined to receive an attribute pointing on a file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has a predefined element adapted to form a condition, and has other elements adapted to receive a condition as an attribute, for conditionally processing such other elements.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has a predefined element adapted to form a constraint, and has other elements adapted to receive a constraint as an attribute, for conditionally accepting values of such other elements.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has a predefined element adapted to launch an application with a parameter.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has predefined feature and tunable elements for adapting the configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command file (509) and image file (548) are prepared on a host system separate from the target.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of :

c. loading (550) the image file in the target.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein step c) further comprises loading (550) the subset of components on the target.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the image file (550) includes at least an operating system kernel and an operational file system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the image file defines (550) parameters, actions, and memory layout of the software.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) comprises:

b1. preparing a make file (535) from said command file, and

b2. building said image file (548) using said make file.

13. A computer program product, comprising the group of components of step a1., the code of the XML document type definition (201) in claim 2, and the code for implementing step b.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising code for implementing step a3. of claim 8.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising code for implementing step c. of claim 9.

16. A system for configuring software for a target, comprising a host having

a. A group of components;

b. Software for preparing a command file (200,509) which specifies

b1. a subset of components (545,546) selected from the group of components,

b2. parameters (546) for tuning at least some of the selected subset of components,

b3. loading (550) of the subset of components on the target, said software using a single object-oriented programming language, capable of managing tree structures of objects,

c. Software for preparing an image file (548).

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said command file (200,509) is an XML file, and said single programming language is specified using an XML document type definition (201), having at least one nestable element predefined to receive an attribute pointing on a file.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has a predefined element adapted to form a condition, and has other elements adapted to receive a condition as an attribute, for conditionally processing such other elements.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has a predefined element adapted to form a constraint, and has other elements adapted to receive a constraint as an attribute, for conditionally accepting values of such other elements.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has a predefined element adapted to launch an application with a parameter.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said XML document type definition (201) has predefined feature and tunable elements for adapting the configuration.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

d. A link (900) for loading the image file and the selected subset of components in the target.

25. The combination of the command file of claim 22 with the corresponding image file.

23. A command file from which an image file for a target can be prepared, the command file specifying

a. a subset of components (545,546) selected from a group of components,

b. parameters (546) for tuning at least some of the selected subset of components,

c. loading of the subset of components on the target.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium, having a command file (200,509) from which an image file for a target can be prepared, the command file specifying

a. a subset of components (545,546) selected from a group of components,

b. parameters (546) for tuning at least some of the selected subset of components,

c. loading of the subset of components on the target.

26. An XML processor, comprising:

a parser for acquiring at least a portion of an XML type file, and a corresponding document type definition (201), and

an analyser (211) for identifying objects in said portion of said XML type file, said objects comprising variables, values, operations, conditions and commands,

whereby said XML type file may be used as a program file.

27. A Document Type Description for an XML type file, comprising a set of definitions of XML elements (201) comprising variables, values, operations, conditions and commands, whereby an XML type file may be used as a program file.

28. The Document Type Description of claim 27, further comprising definitions of XML entities (201), usable in said definitions of XML elements.