Configuring Computer Systems with Business Configuration Information

• US 20100281243A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Lang, Klaus-Peter, Herzog, Wolfgang, Frenzel, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

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-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a computer system, user input indicating a context associated with operation of a particular software application program, wherein the context includes at least a geographic location within which the particular software application program is used;

identifying, by the computer system and based on the context indicated by the user input, at least one configuration information entry from a plurality of configuration information entries stored in a configuration repository, wherein each of the configuration information entries include configuration data designed to customize the particular software application program; and

storing the at least one configuration information entry in a configuration directory such that the at least one configuration information entry is accessible by a separate computing device running the particular software application program.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of configuration information entries are associated with at least one respective geographic location.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the at least one configuration information entry is identified based on a match between a geographic location associated with the at least one configuration information entry and the geographic location included in the context indicated by the user input.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of configuration information entries is organized in the configuration repository based on associated geographic locations.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location comprises a country or a geographic region.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, a request from the separate computing device for current configuration information for the particular software application program running on the separate computing device;

accessing the current configuration information for the particular software application program stored in the configuration directory, wherein the current configuration information for the particular software program includes the at least one configuration information entry; and

providing the accessed current configuration information to the separate computing device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the request indicates a geographic location associated with the separate computing device;

and wherein the method further comprises;

selecting the at least one configuration information entry as the current configuration information for the particular software application program based on the geographic location associated with the separate computing device matching a geographic location associated with the at least one configuration information entry.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the request is received during run-time of the particular software application program.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each configuration information entry includes (i) a configuration component available to be requested for a software application program and (ii) a configuration attribute and an associated attribute value that define terms for the software application program to apply to a business transaction of a business enterprise in an associated context, wherein the configuration repository stores the multiple entries of configuration information in XML format.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising activating a stored process in the computer system that converts the at least one configuration information entry from an XML format to a database table format in which access to the at least one configuration information entry is faster than in the XML format.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the configuration directory is stored separately from the particular software application program and is different than the configuration repository.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the configuration directory is configured to provide faster runtime access than the configuration repository.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each configuration information entry includes meta information reflecting constraints on an associated configuration attribute and an associated attribute value.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration information entry is identified based on a received indication of a configuration information set, which comprises an indication of a market segment that includes the geographic location within which the particular software application program is used.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the indication of the configuration information set is received based on receiving user selections in response to progressive user prompts that progressively prompt the user for increasing detail about the market segment.

16. A computer-readable medium, in a machine-readable storage device, storing a computer program product, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a configuration information handling component to perform operations comprising:

receiving user input indicating a context associated with operation of a particular software application program, wherein the context includes at least a geographic location within which the particular software application program is used;

identifying, based on the context indicated by the user input, at least one configuration information entry from a plurality of configuration information entries stored in a configuration repository, wherein each of the configuration information entries include configuration data designed to customize the particular software application program; and

storing the at least one configuration information entry in a configuration directory such that the at least one configuration information entry is accessible by a separate computing device running the particular software application program.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of configuration information entries are associated with at least one respective geographic location.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the at least one configuration information entry is identified based on a match between a geographic location associated with the at least one configuration information entry and the geographic location included in the context indicated by the user input.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the plurality of configuration information entries is organized in the configuration repository based on associated geographic locations.

20. A computer system comprising:

a first computer system comprising a storage device storing;

a configuration repository storing multiple entries of configuration information for a software application program, each entry designed for customizing the software application program for a specific situation and the software application program being designed to remotely request configuration information as needed, wherein the configuration repository organizes the multiple entries of configuration information based on information indicating one or more geographic locations associated with each configuration information entry, and

a configuration directory storing at least a first configuration information entry selected from among the multiple entries for a context associated with operation of the software application program, the first configuration information entry selected based on a user input during a process to customize the software application program indicating at least a portion of the context associated with the software application, wherein the context includes at least a geographic location within which the particular software application program is used, the configuration directory being stored separately from the software application program and different from the configuration repository;

a processing device, coupled to the storage device, for providing the first configuration information entry from the configuration directory to the software application program in response to a request; and

a second computer system that operates the software application program and that is remote from the first computer, the software application program being configured to send, from the second computer over a communications link to the first computer, the request for the first configuration information entry to the first computer system.