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Dynamic versioning system for multiple users of multi-module software system

  • US 5,881,292 A
  • Filed: 09/26/1996
  • Issued: 03/09/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions to perform a method for dynamically versioning a complex system comprised of a plurality of modules accessible by a plurality of users, said method comprising:

  • first step of maintaining only one copy of each of said plurality of modules that comprise each of a plurality of complex system versions simultaneously existing in time, wherein said one copy is located in a non-volatile complex system memory location;

    second step of maintaining, which includes maintaining an index system to identify each of said plurality of modules that comprise a version of said complex system, wherein any one of said plurality of modules can be a member of any number of said plurality of complex system versions that simultaneously exist in time; and

    third step of maintaining, which includes maintaining a virtual version of said complex system for each of said plurality of users having access to said complex system, wherein said virtual version remains constant over time from a perspective of each of said plurality of users independent of any one of said plurality of users saving a modified one of said plurality of modules to said non-volatile complex system memory location, said third step of maintaining includes;

    first step of granting shared read-only access to a present version of said complex system in response to a complex system access request by one of said plurality of users, wherein said present version is most recent in time of any version of said complex system prior to said complex system access request; and

    second step of granting, which includes grantings write access for at least one module of said present version in response to a request to save said at least one module by a saving one of said plurality of users by way of a new version of said at least one module from said present version, and a new version of said complex system containing said new version of said at least one module, wherein said new version of said complex system is defined by a master module containing pointers to each of said plurality of modules comprising a most recent version of said complex system.

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