Application configuration change log

• US 20040260718A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fedorov, Vladimir D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for undoing, redoing or rolling back a configuration setting change for an application. Application configuration information related to the setting change can be received and stored by a log, wherein a history of the configuration setting changes for the application can be maintained. The system can also display the history of changes made for viewing and selecting. When a user wishes to revert a configuration setting back to a previous one, the user can select the desired setting for reversion and a call to a reversion routine can be made. At least a portion of the application information may then be passed to the reversion routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

Claims

1. In a computer system that supports one or more software applications having one or more configuration settings which determine the operational behavior of the one or more software applications and which are subject to change over time, a method of reverting a current configuration setting for an application to a previous configuration setting, the method comprising acts of:

receiving application configuration information to be used in reverting to the previous configuration setting;

storing the application configuration information to maintain a history of one or more configuration setting changes for the application;

displaying a representation of the application configuration information within one or more user interfaces for viewing and selecting the application configuration information;

retrieving the application configuration information; and

calling a reversion routine and passing at least a portion of the application configuration information to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the routine displays a link that gives user instructions on procedural steps to perform in order to revert to the previous configuration setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the routine automatically reverts to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reversion to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting is one of an undo, redo or rollback operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the application configuration information is XML data comprising a header portion and an application portion, wherein the header portion comprises data used in the displaying a representation of the application configuration information, and wherein the application portion comprises data that is passed to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the header data used in the displaying a representation of the application configuration information is selected from at least one of a title, application name, date or time.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the header portion further comprises the reversion routine called.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the header portion further comprises a pointer to the reversion routine called.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reversion routine calls one or more other routines for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more user interfaces is a browser.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the application configuration information received is based upon a request from a user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the application configuration information received is based upon a selection from the application.

13. In a computer system that supports one or more software applications having one or more configuration settings which determine the operational behavior of the one or more software applications and which are subject to change over time, a method for reverting a current configuration setting for an application to a previous configuration setting, the method comprising steps for:

maintaining a history of one or more configuration setting changes for an application;

identifying, from within the maintained history, application configuration information; and

reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting using at least a portion of the identified application configuration information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step for maintaining a history comprises the acts of:

receiving the application configuration information; and

storing the application configuration information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting comprises the acts of:

retrieving the application configuration information; and

calling a reversion routine and passing the at least a portion of the identified application configuration information to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the reversion routine displays a link that gives user instructions on procedural steps to perform in order to revert to the previous configuration setting.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the reversion routine automatically reverts to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the reversion to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting is one of an undo, redo or rollback operation.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the application configuration information is XML data comprising a header portion and an application portion, wherein the header portion comprises data used in displaying a representation of the application configuration information, and wherein the application portion comprises data that is passed to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the header data used in the displaying a representation of the application configuration information is selected from at least one of a title, application name, date or time.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the header portion further comprises the reversion routine called.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the header portion further comprises a pointer to the reversion routine called.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the reversion routine calls one or more other routines for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

24. In a computer system that supports one or more software applications having one or more configuration settings which determine the operational behavior of the one or more software applications and which are subject to change over time, a computer readable media carrying computer executable instructions that implement a method of reverting a current configuration setting for an application to a previous configuration setting, the method comprising acts of:

receiving application configuration information to be used in reverting to the previous configuration setting;

storing the application configuration information to maintain a history of one or more configuration setting changes for the application;

displaying a representation of the application configuration information within one or more user interfaces for viewing and selecting the application configuration information;

retrieving the application configuration information; and

calling a reversion routine and passing at least a portion of the application configuration information to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the reversion to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting is one of an undo, redo or rollback operation.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the application configuration information is XML data comprising a header portion and an application portion, wherein the header portion comprises data used in the displaying a representation of the application configuration information, and wherein the application portion comprises data that is passed to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the header data used in the displaying a representation of the application configuration information is selected from at least one of a title, application name, date or time.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the header portion further comprises the reversion routine called.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the header portion further comprises a pointer to the reversion routine called.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the reversion routine calls one or more other routines for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

31. In a computer system that supports one or more software applications having one or more configuration settings which determine the operational behavior of the one or more software applications and which are subject to change over time, a computer readable media carrying computer executable instructions that implement a method for reverting a current configuration setting for an application to a previous configuration setting, the method comprising steps for:

maintaining a history of one or more configuration setting changes for an application;

identifying, from within the maintained history, application configuration information; and

reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting using at least a portion of the identified application configuration information.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step for maintaining a history comprises the acts of:

receiving the application configuration information; and

storing the application configuration information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting comprises the acts of:

retrieving the application configuration information; and

calling a reversion routine and passing the at least a portion of the identified application configuration information to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the reversion routine displays a link that gives user instructions on procedural steps to perform in order to revert to the previous configuration setting.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the reversion routine automatically reverts to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the reversion to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting is one of an undo, redo or rollback operation.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the application configuration information is XML data comprising a header portion and an application portion, wherein the header portion comprises data used in displaying a representation of the application configuration information, and wherein the application portion comprises data that is passed to the routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the header data used in displaying a representation of the application configuration information is selected from at least one of a title, application name, date or time.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the header portion further comprises the reversion routine called.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the header portion further comprises a pointer to the reversion routine called.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the reversion routine calls one or more other routines for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

42. In a computer system that supports one or more software applications having one or more configuration settings which determine the operational behavior of the one or more software applications and which are subject to change over time, a method for facilitating the reversion of an application'"'"'s current configuration setting to a previous configuration setting, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a package of information, wherein the package is to be used in reverting to the previous configuration setting;

storing the package of information for subsequent retrieval and for maintaining a history of one or more configuration setting changes for the application;

receiving a request from the application for the package of information when reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting; and

retrieving and sending the package of information to the application for processing when reverting to the previous configuration setting.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the package of information is XML data comprising a header portion and an application portion, wherein the header portion comprises data used in displaying a representation of the application configuration information, and wherein the application portion comprises data that is passed to a reversion routine for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the header data used in the displaying a representation of the application configuration information is selected from at least one of a title, application name, date or time.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the header portion further comprises the reversion routine called.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the header portion further comprises a pointer to the reversion routine called.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the reversion routine calls one or more other routines for reverting to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the routine displays a link that gives user instructions on procedural steps to perform in order to revert to the previous configuration setting.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the routine automatically reverts to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the reversion to the application'"'"'s previous configuration setting is one of an undo, redo or rollback operation.