WEBSITE UPDATE METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20140173566A1
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Jack P., Deshmukh, Sonali, Blank, Izrail, Milman, Ilya
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs

Abstract

Websites, including supporting databases, are updated with little or no downtime. In one aspect, a database is replicated prior to updating, so that updates can be performed on one copy while the other remains operational. In another aspect, the data remains in one location while an application programming interface for interacting with the data using new software code is introduced. Another application programming interface remains operational while the update is taking place. Public and private synonyms are used to direct web traffic to the appropriate application programming interface during the update process.

Claims

1. At a computer system, the computer system including a processor and a database, the database storing a set of data in a first format, a method for updating a website, the website being available via a plurality of servers, the method comprising:

splitting the plurality of servers into a first subset of the plurality of servers and a second subset of the plurality of servers, the plurality of servers using software code of a first code release;

disabling public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers;

privately updating the website through the second subset of the plurality of servers while the website traffic is redirected to the first subset of the plurality of servers, including;

the processor updating software code on the second subset of the plurality of servers to a second code release;

determining that a table structure of the set of data is to be changed to a new table structure as part of the website update;

accessing data transformation code developed for the website update, wherein the data transformation code includes one or more data transforms; and

the processor applying a data transform from the data transformation code to the set of data to move the set of data from the first format to a different second format to match the new table structure; and

subsequent to privately updating the website, re-enabling public access to the second subset of the plurality servers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to re-enabling public access to the second subset of the servers:

disabling public access to the first subset of the plurality servers;

updating software code on the first subset of the plurality servers to the second code release; and

re-enabling public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising distributing the website traffic among the first subset of the plurality of servers and the second subset of the plurality of servers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to enabling public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers:

disabling public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers;

updating software code on the first subset of the plurality of servers to the second code release;

re-enabling public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers; and

consolidating the first subset of the plurality of servers and the second subset of the plurality of servers into a single set of a plurality of servers.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to disabling public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers:

completing at least one transaction already in progress at the first subset of the plurality of servers.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to privately updating the website;

establishing a first application programming interface referencing the set of data, wherein the first application programming interface uses the first code release to access the set of data in the first format; and

configuring a first synonym to refer inbound transaction requests arriving at the database to the first application programming interface; and

subsequent to privately updating the website;

establishing a second application programming interface referencing the set of data, wherein the second application programming interface using the second code release; and

configuring a second synonym to refer inbound transaction requests arriving at the database to the second application programming interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

subsequent to configuring the second synonym to refer inbound transaction requests arriving at the database to the second application programming interface, testing the updated software code using the second synonym.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the database comprises at least one database table, and wherein the at least one database table comprises a table structure.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, prior to referring inbound transaction requests arriving at the database to the second application programming interface, changing at least one table structure at the database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein updating software code on the second subset of the plurality of servers comprises replacing the first code release with the second code release.

11. A computer program product for use at a computer system, the computer system including a database, the database storing a set of data in a first format, the computer program product for implementing a method for updating a website, the website being available via a plurality of servers, the computer program product comprising one or more computer storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed at a processor, cause the computer system to perform the method, including the following:

split the plurality of servers into a first subset of the plurality of servers and a second subset of the plurality of servers, the plurality of servers using software code of a first code release;

disable public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers;

privately update the website through the second subset of the plurality of servers while the website traffic is redirected to the first subset of the plurality of servers, including;

update software code on the second subset of the plurality of servers to a second code release;

determine that a table structure of the set of data is to be changed to a new table structure as part of the website update;

access data transformation code developed for the website update, wherein the data transformation code includes one or more data transforms; and

apply a data transform from the data transformation code to the set of data to move the set of data from the first format to a different second format to match the new table structure; and

subsequent to privately updating the website, re-enable public access to the second subset of the plurality servers.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to, subsequent to enabling public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers:

disable public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers;

update software code on the first subset of plurality of servers to the second code release; and

re-enable public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to distribute the website traffic among the first subset of the plurality of servers and second subset of the plurality of servers.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to, subsequent to enabling public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers:

disable public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers;

update software code on the first subset of the plurality of servers to the second code release;

re-enable public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers; and

consolidate the first subset of the plurality of servers and the second subset of the plurality of servers into a single set of a plurality of servers.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to, prior to disabling public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers, complete at least one transaction already in progress at the first subset of the plurality of servers.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to update software code on the second subset of the plurality of servers to a second code release comprise computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to replace the first code release with the second code release.

17. A system for implementing a website update, the website being available via a plurality of servers, the system comprising:

a processor;

system memory;

a database, the database storing a set of data in a first format;

one or more computer storage devices having stored thereon a website traffic director, the website redirector configured to;

split the plurality of servers into a first subset of the plurality of servers and a second subset of the plurality of servers, the plurality of servers using software code of a first code release;

disable public access to the second subset of the plurality of servers;

privately update the website through the second subset of the plurality of servers while the website traffic is redirected to the first subset of the plurality of servers, including;

update software code on the second subset of the plurality of servers to a second code release;

determine that a table structure of the set of data is to be changed to a new table structure as part of the website update;

access data transformation code developed for the website update, wherein the data transformation code includes one or more data transforms; and

apply a data transform from the data transformation code to the set of data to move the set of data from the first format to a different second format to match the new table structure; and

subsequent to privately updating the website, re-enable public access to the second subset of the plurality servers.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the website traffic director is further configured to, subsequent to enabling public access to the second subset of the plurality servers:

disable public access to the first subset of the plurality servers;

update software code on the first subset of the plurality of servers to the second code release; and

re-enables public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the website traffic director being configured to reenable public access to the first subset of the plurality of servers the website traffic director being configured to consolidate the first subset of the plurality of servers and second subset of the plurality of servers into a single set of a plurality of servers.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the website traffic director being configured to update software code on the second subset of the plurality of servers comprise the website traffic director replacing the first code release with the second code release.