System and method for providing service of automated creation of computer software production images

• US 20040205748A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Iyer, Krishnan P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A subscription-based image pack service program provides the service of automated creation of computer software production images for different customers. To build a production image, a user interacts with the image pack service to enter selections of components and settings to be included in the production image. The image pack service automatically retrieves the selected components and builds the production image using the components. The image pack service keeps track of configuration information of the production- image it has built, and notifies the user of recent changes/updates relating to the components and settings used in the production image. The user then decides whether the production image should be modified to incorporate the changes and, if so, uses the image pack service to generate the updated production image.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for providing service of automated generation of computer software production images, comprising:

receiving selection input identifying components selected for building a production image;

retrieving said selected components;

building the production image.

2. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving includes operating a user interface to interact with a user for the use to enter the selection input.

3. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving includes accessing a network site where a selected component is stored.

4. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the step of building builds the production image on a designated test machine.

5. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, having further computer-readable instructions for performs the steps of:

maintaining configuration information of the production image in a database;

receiving information regarding changes and updates available for components used in building the production image;

generating notification for notifying a user of the changes and updates available for components in the production image.

6. A computer-readable medium as in claim 5, wherein the database is located at a customer organization for which the production image is built.

7. A computer-readable medium as in claim 5, wherein the database is located at a service provider that provides the service of automated generation of computer software production images, and wherein the computer medium has further computer-readable instructions for performing the step of transmitting the configuration information of the production image over a network to the service provider.

8. A method of providing service of automated generation of computer software production images, comprising:

receiving, by a service program, selection input identifying components selected for building a production image;

retrieving, by the service program, said selected components;

building, bye the service program, the production image providing information regarding changes and updates available for components in the production image;

generating, by the service program, notification for notifying a user of the changes and updates available for the components in the production image.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the step of receiving includes operating a user interface of the service program to interact with a user for the user to enter the selection input.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein the step of retrieving includes accessing a network site where a selected component is stored.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein the step of building builds the production image on a designated test machine.

12. A method as in claim 8, having further steps of:

receiving, by the service program, a request to modify the production image;

rebuilding, by the service program, the production information according to the request.

13. A method as in claim 8, including the step of maintaining configuration information of the production image in a database.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the step of generating notification includes comparing the information regarding the changes and updates with the configuration information of the production image.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the database is located at a service provider that provides the service program, and wherein the step of maintaining the configuration information of the production image includes transmitting, by the service program, the configuration information over a network to the service provider.

16. A method as in claim 8, wherein the notification is an e-mail message to the user indicating that changes and updates are available.

17. A system for providing service of automated generation of computer software production images, comprising:

a service program provided for use by a user of a customer organization for generating production images for the customer organization, the service program being programmed to perform the steps of receiving selection input identifying components selected for building a production image;

retrieving said selected components; and

building the production image on a designated test computer;

a database for maintaining configuration information of the production image built by the service program.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the service program is further programmed to performed the steps of receiving information regarding changes and updates available for components in the production image, and generating notification for notifying a user of the changes and updates.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein the service program is programmed to provide a user interface to interact with a user for the user to enter the selection input.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein the service program is programmed to access network sites for retrieving components selected for building the production image.

21. A system as in claim 17, wherein the database is located at a service provider that provides the service program, and wherein the service program is programmed to transmit the configuration information over a network to the service provider.