Providing customizable configuration data in computer systems

• US 20060010434A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Herzog, Wolfgang, Frenzel, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A configuration server includes a configuration repository that stores a wide range of configuration information for possible use by application programs. The configuration repository may include configuration parameters, settings for the parameters, and meta-data of definitions and descriptions of the parameters. Configuration information is selected from the configuration repository and stored in a configuration directory for later use by application programs at runtime. The configuration information is accessed from the configuration directory when needed by an application program or a component thereof.

Claims

1. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a configuration information handling component to perform operations comprising:

accessing a configuration information collection that includes a collection of configuration information entries stored on a first computer system, each configuration information entry (1) being associated with a configuration component that is used by a first software application executing on a second computer system and by a second software application, and (2) having a configuration attribute having a value for the associated configuration attribute;

providing a configuration information entry to the first software application module for use in configuring the first software application when the first software application is executing; and

providing the configuration information entry to the second software application module for use in configuring the second software application when the second software application is executing.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the configuration component comprises a configuration attribute related to a data object that is used by the first software application and by the second software application.

3. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the configuration component comprises a configuration information entry related to a business process that is used by the first software application and by the second software application.

4. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises using asynchronous communication to provide a configuration information entry to a first software application.

5. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises using synchronous communication to provide a configuration information entry to a first software application.

6. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises providing a configuration information entry to a first software application in response to a request from the first software application.

7. A method for configuration information handling, the method comprising:

accessing a configuration information collection that includes a collection of configuration information entries stored on a first computer system, each configuration information entry (1) being associated with a configuration component that is used by a first software application executing on a second computer system and by a second software application, and (2) having a configuration attribute having a value for the associated configuration attribute;

providing a configuration information entry to the first software application module for use in configuring the first software application when the first software application is executing; and

providing the configuration information entry to the second software application module for use in configuring the second software application when the second software application is executing.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the configuration component comprises a configuration attribute related to a data object that is used by the first software application and by the second software application.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the configuration component comprises a configuration information entry related to a business process that is used by the first software application and by the second software application.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises using asynchronous communication to provide a configuration information entry to a first software application.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises using synchronous communication to provide a configuration information entry to a first software application.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises providing a configuration information entry to a first software application in response to a request from the first software application.

13. A system for configuration information handling, the system being configured to:

access a configuration information collection that includes a collection of configuration information entries stored on a first computer system, each configuration information entry (1) being associated with a configuration component that is used by a first software application executing on a second computer system and by a second software application, and (2) having a configuration attribute having a value for the associated configuration attribute;

provide a configuration information entry to the first software application module for use in configuring the first software application when the first software application is executing; and

provide the configuration information entry to the second software application module for use in configuring the second software application when the second software application is executing.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the configuration component comprises a configuration attribute related to a data object that is used by the first software application and by the second software application.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the configuration component comprises a configuration information entry related to a business process that is used by the first software application and by the second software application.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises using asynchronous communication to provide a configuration information entry to a first software application.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises using synchronous communication to provide a configuration information entry to a first software application.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein providing the configuration information entry to the first software application comprises providing a configuration information entry to a first software application in response to a request from the first software application.