Managing Software Component Version Identifications in a Componentised Software System
First Claim
1. A method for managing software component version identifications in a componentised software system in which one or more software components are arranged to export one or more application program interfaces (APIs), said method comprising:
- a) deriving a first set of meta data defining one or more data structures for one or moreAPIs exported by a software component;
b) storing said first set of meta data in relation to said software component;
c) deriving a second set of meta data for said software component; and
d) identifying any differences between said second set of meta data and said first set of meta data so as to enable notification of any identified differences.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus and software for managing software component version identifications in a componentised software system in which one or more software components are arranged to export one or more application program interfaces (APIs). The system is arranged to derive meta data defining data structures for APIs exported by a software component and to identify any differences between the meta data and previously derived meta data for the same component so as to enable notification of any identified differences.
54 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing software component version identifications in a componentised software system in which one or more software components are arranged to export one or more application program interfaces (APIs), said method comprising:
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a) deriving a first set of meta data defining one or more data structures for one or more APIs exported by a software component; b) storing said first set of meta data in relation to said software component; c) deriving a second set of meta data for said software component; and d) identifying any differences between said second set of meta data and said first set of meta data so as to enable notification of any identified differences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for managing software component version identifications in a componentised software system in which one or more software components are arranged to export one or more application program interfaces (APIs), said apparatus comprising:
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means for deriving a set of meta data defining one or more data structures for one or more APIs exported by a software component; means for storing the set of meta data in relation to said software component; means for comparing the stored set of metadata with a second set of meta data generated by the deriving means for a different version of said software component; and
means for identifying any differences between said second set of meta data and said first set of meta data so as to enable notification of any identified differences. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A storage medium containing computer-readable program code for controlling a computer to manage software component version identifications in a componentised software system in which one or more software components are arranged to export one or more application program interfaces (APIs), said storage medium comprising:
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code for deriving a set of meta data defining one or more data structures for one or more APIs exported by a software component; code for storing the set of meta data in relation to said software component; code for comparing the stored set of meta data with a second set of meta data generated by the deriving code for a different version of said software component; and code for identifying any differences between said second set of meta data and said first set of meta data so as to enable notification of any identified differences. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
code for applying a set of compatibility rules to said identified differences, said compatibility rules defining acceptable differences between said sets of meta data so as to enable notification of any contravened rules.
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17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which at least one of said exported APIs has an associated version identification and said storage medium further comprises code responsive to the contravention of any of said compatibility rules for applying a set of version identification rules, said version identification rules determining any necessary updates to said version identification of said software component API;
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code for updating said version identification in response to the results of said version identification rules.
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18. The storage medium of claim 16 in which the code for deriving the meta data operates on a syntax tree created by a compiler for said software component.
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19. The storage means of claim 16 in which said meta data comprises descriptions of the methods, fields and constructors for a given API.
Specification