Run time dependency management facility for controlling change propagation utilizing relationship graph
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the computer-implemented propagation of changes made to at least one data file throughout a system of interrelated data files resident on a computer system, said data files being interrelated by one or more software tools resident on said computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a run-time dependency management facility on said computer system, said run-time dependency management facility being effective to generate under computer control a graph indicating relationships among said data files and said software tools;
b) changing data in at least one of said data files under computer control;
c) determining under computer control that said change to said data in said data file is not a significant change in response to said changing; and
d) activating under computer control at least one propagation barrier in response to said determination, said propagation barrier being effective to prevent computer-implemented propagation of said change in said data file through at least one data file which is interrelated with said data file.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the propagation of changes made to a data file in a system of interrelated data files is described. In one embodiment of the method of the invention, a run-time dependency management facility is provided on the computer system which is effective to generate under computer control a graph indicating relationships among the data files and software tools present on the system. A change is made to at least one of the data files and a determination is made as to whether that change is significant. If a significant change is made, then at least one propagation barrier is provided which is effective to prevent computer-implemented propagation of the change in said data file through at least one data file which is interdependent with the changed data file. In another embodiment, a computer readable medium containing program instructions for providing a run-time dependency management facility on a computer in which the run-time dependency facility is effective to generate under computer control a graph indicating relationships among the data files and the software tools residing on the system. The computer readable medium further includes program instructions for determining under computer control that the change to data in at least one of the data files is not a significant change. Finally the computer readable medium includes program instructions for generating at least one propagation barrier in response to the determination which is effective to prevent propagation of the changes in the data file through at least one data file which is interrelated with the changed data file. The above-described computer readable medium may also include program instructions for a clever tool which can determine whether changes made to the changed data file are significant.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the computer-implemented propagation of changes made to at least one data file throughout a system of interrelated data files resident on a computer system, said data files being interrelated by one or more software tools resident on said computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a run-time dependency management facility on said computer system, said run-time dependency management facility being effective to generate under computer control a graph indicating relationships among said data files and said software tools; b) changing data in at least one of said data files under computer control; c) determining under computer control that said change to said data in said data file is not a significant change in response to said changing; and d) activating under computer control at least one propagation barrier in response to said determination, said propagation barrier being effective to prevent computer-implemented propagation of said change in said data file through at least one data file which is interrelated with said data file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system for controlling the computer-implemented propagation of changes made to at least one data file throughout a system of interrelated data files resident on a computer system, said data files being interrelated by one or more software tools resident on said computer system, said system comprising:
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a) a run-time dependency management facility, said run-time dependency management facility being effective to generate under computer control a graph indicating relationships among said data files and said software tools; b) an evaluator for determining under computer control that said change to said data in said data file is not a significant change, said evaluator being configured to be activated by a change in one of said data files; and c) a propagation barrier activator for activating under computer control at least one propagation barrier in response to a determination by said evaluator that said change is not significant, wherein said propagation barrier is effective to prevent computer-implemented propagation of said change in said data file through at least one data file which is interdependent with said changed data file. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for:
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a) providing a run-time dependency management facility on a computer system, said run-time dependency management facility being effective to generate under computer control a graph indicating relationships among interrelated data files and software tools resident on the computer system; b) determining under computer control that said change to data in at least one of said data files is not a significant change, in response to said changing; and c) activating under computer control at least one propagation barrier in response to said determination, said propagation barrier being effective to prevent computer-implemented propagation of said change in said data file through at least one data file which is interrelated with said changed data file. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification