Technique for efficiently maintaining system configuration

• US 5,909,575 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Perry, Dewayne E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US08/846,980
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/701, 395/712
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

During a reconfiguration of a software-based system, an addition process for loading software components onto the system is performed, followed by a removal process for purging therefrom those components which are no longer required in the new configuration. In accordance with the invention, the dependencies of the software components currently in the system and those to be added thereto are identified. Using the knowledge of such dependencies, the addition process ensures the minimal addition of software components to the system, and the removal process ensures the maximal removal of software components therefrom in realizing the new configuration.

Claims

1. Apparatus for effecting a reconfiguration of a system, the system including storage for accommodating a plurality of components therein to realize first system functions, the reconfiguration of the system involving placing at least a first component into the storage and removing at least a second component in the storage therefrom to realize second system functions, the apparatus comprising:

a processor for identifying one or more components on which said at least first component depends;

a comparator for comparing the identified components with the plurality of components in the storage; and

an interface for placing into the storage said at least first component and any one or more of said identified components which are different from each of the plurality of components in the storage, and then removing said at least second component from the storage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of components are software components.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of components are hardware components.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor includes said comparator and said interface.

5. Apparatus for effecting a reconfiguration of a system, the system including storage for accommodating a plurality of components therein to realize first system functions, the reconfiguration of the system involving placing at least a first component into the storage and removing at least a second component in the storage therefrom to realize second system functions, the apparatus comprising:

a processor for identifying a first ensemble of one or more components on which said at least second component depends, said processor identifying a second ensemble of any components on which one or more of said plurality of components, other than said at least second component, depend; and

an interface for placing said at least first component into the storage and then removing from the storage said at least second component and any one or more of the components in the first ensemble which are different from each of the components in the second ensemble.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of components are software components.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of components are hardware components.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processor includes said interface.

9. Apparatus for reconfiguring a system, the system including storage for accommodating a plurality of components therein to realize predetermined system functions, the apparatus comprising:

first means for placing at least a first component into the storage;

second means for identifying one or more components on which the first component depends;

third means for placing into the storage any one or more of the identified components which are different from each of the plurality of components in the storage;

fourth means for removing at least a second component in the storage therefrom, the second component being removed from the storage after the first component being placed thereinto;

fifth means for identifying a first ensemble of one or more components on which the second component depends;

sixth means for identifying a second ensemble of any components on which one or more of the components currently in the storage depend; and

seventh means for removing from said system any one or more of the components in the first ensemble which are different from each of the components in the second ensemble.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first means includes said third means.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second means includes said fifth means and said sixth means.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fourth means includes said seventh means.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said system is capable of generating a product.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said system is configured in response to a change in the product.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said system is capable of providing a service.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said system is configured in response to a change in the service.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of components are software components.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of components are hardware components.

19. A method implemented in an apparatus for effecting a reconfiguration of a system, the system including storage for accommodating a plurality of components therein to realize first system functions, the reconfiguration of the system involving placing at least a first component into the storage and removing at least a second component in the storage therefrom to realize second system functions, the method comprising:

identifying one or more components on which said at least first component depends;

comparing the identified components with the plurality of components in the storage; and

after placing into the storage said at least first component and any one or more of said identified components which are different from each of the plurality of components in the storage, removing said at least second component from the storage.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said plurality of components are software components.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said plurality of components are hardware components.

22. A method implemented in an apparatus for effecting a reconfiguration of a system, the system including storage for accommodating a plurality of components therein to realize first system functions, the reconfiguration of the system involving placing at least a first component into the storage and removing at least a second component in the storage therefrom to realize second system functions, the method comprising:

identifying a first ensemble of one or more components on which said at least second component depends;

identifying a second ensemble of any components on which one or more of said plurality of components, other than said at least second component, depend; and

after placing said at least first component into the storage, removing from the storage said at least second component and any one or more of the components in the first ensemble which are different from each of the components in the second ensemble.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said plurality of components are software components.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said plurality of components are hardware components.

25. A method implemented in an apparatus for reconfiguring a system, the system including storage for accommodating a plurality of components therein to realize predetermined system functions, the method comprising the steps of:

placing at least a first component into the storage;

identifying one or more components on which the first component depends;

placing into the storage any one or more of the identified components which are different from each of the plurality of components in the storage;

after the placing steps, removing at least a second component in the storage therefrom;

identifying a first ensemble of one or more components on which the second component depends;

identifying a second ensemble of any components on which one or more of the components currently in the storage depend; and

removing from said system any one or more of the components in the first ensemble which are different from each of the components in the second ensemble.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said system is capable of generating a product, said method reconfiguring said system in response to a change in the product.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said system is capable of providing a service, said method reconfiguring said system in response to a change in the service.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said plurality of components are software components.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said plurality of components are hardware components.