Software configuration program for software applications

• US 20050240917A1
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Wu, Yuh-Cherng
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Techniques are provided that are useful in generating a software configuration program that makes the configuration process simpler and more efficient. The techniques are especially useful in configuring a software application that is complex and may involve multiple steps to configure the application properly. The techniques provide both a design-time software tool that is used to design the software configuration program and a run-time software tool that is used to manage and control the execution of the software configuration program.

Claims

1. A method to be executed as part of a process for creating an executable configuration program that comprises multiple steps that are successively executed and wherein associated with each of the steps are user-selectable options, the method comprising:

creating a rule that during execution of the configuration program determines which of the user-selectable options for a step are displayed when a specified user-selectable option of a previous step is selected; and

binding the rule to the specified selectable option so that during execution of the configuration program the rule is executed when the specified user-selectable option is selected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the binding of the rule to the specified user-selectable option is performed by virtue of a designer selecting a user-selectable option for which to create the rule.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a textual explanation of the step that describes available user-selectable options for the step; and

binding the textual explanation to the step so that during execution of the configuration program the textual explanation of the step is displayed.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein creating the textual explanation comprises translating the textual explanation into at least one different language.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating the stability of a configured software application by executing the software application using a simulated user-selectable option.

6. A system comprising:

a computer network;

a service delivery device coupled to the network, the service delivery device including a processor and memory storing instructions that, in response to receiving a first type of request for access to a service, cause the processor to;

create an executable configuration program that comprises multiple steps that are successively executed and wherein associated with each of the steps are user-selectable options;

create a rule that during execution of the configuration program determines which of the user-selectable options for a step are displayed when a specified user-selectable option of a previous step is selected; and

bind the rule to the specified selectable option so that during execution of the configuration program the rule is executed when the specified user-selectable option is selected.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the first type of request, cause the processor to bind the rule to the specified user-selectable option by providing an ability to select a user-selectable option for which to create the rule.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the first type of request, cause the processor to:

create a textual explanation of the step that describes available user-selectable options for the step; and

bind the textual explanation to the step so that during execution of the configuration program the textual explanation of the step is displayed.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the first type of request, cause the processor to translate the textual explanation into at least one different language.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the first type of request, cause the processor to evaluate the stability of a configured software application by executing the software application using a simulated user-selectable option.

11. An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to:

create an executable configuration program that comprises multiple steps that are successively executed and wherein associated with each of the steps are user-selectable options;

create a rule that during execution of the configuration program determines which of the user-selectable options for a step are displayed when a specified user-selectable option of a previous step is selected; and

bind the rule to the specified selectable option so that during execution of the configuration program the rule is executed when the specified user-selectable option is selected.

12. The article of claim 11 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to bind the rule to the specified user-selectable option by providing an ability to select a user-selectable option for which to create the rule.

13. The article of claim 11 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to:

create a textual explanation of the step that describes available user-selectable options for the step; and

bind the textual explanation to the step so that during execution of the configuration program the textual explanation of the step is displayed.

14. The article of claim 13 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to translate the textual explanation into at least one different language.

15. The article of claim 13 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to evaluate the stability of a configured software application by executing the software application using a simulated user-selectable option.