Conflict checking using configuration images

• US 6,564,369 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pearson Technical Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pearson Technical Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Hove, James B., Gorr, Arthur, Pearson, Kim A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAM, TUAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/137,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 707/200-203, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 717/120, 717/121, 717/122, 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 717/174, 717/175-178
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A configuration image file is a single file containing all the information needed to troubleshoot, distribute or delete software from one or multiple computers. Information contained in configuration image files can comprise files, folders, shortcuts, and registry settings. The individual items in a configuration image file are entries. A conflict checking system includes conflict checking functions to check for potential conflicts in one or more configuration image files. A conflict exists when one or more configuration image files includes entries that are inconsistent. One version of the system identifies folder conflicts. A folder conflict exists when the same entry exists in more than one folder location in one or more configuration image files. Another version of the system identifies version conflicts. A version conflict exists when different versions of the same file exist in the same location within two configuration image files. Another version of the system identifies registry conflicts. A registry conflict exists when two registry values have the same name and belong to the same registry key, but have different data.

Claims

1. A method of checking for conflicts using configuration image files with multiple entries, the method comprising:

examining one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

identifying in one or more configuration image files at least two instances of one of the entries; and

checking for an inconsistency between the instances wherein the inconsistency indicates a potential conflict.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entry is a system file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the inconsistency indicates a potential conflict when the instances of the entry are located in different folders in a configuration image file.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the inconsistency indicates a potential conflict when the instances of the entry are located in different folders and wherein the different folders are located in different configuration image files.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the entries is selected from the group consisting of:

system files and program files.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the inconsistency indicates a potential conflict when the instances are located in a folder in different configuration image files and the instances are different versions of the entry.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entries are registry keys.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the inconsistency indicates a potential conflict when the instances are located in at least one configuration image file and the instances are registry values with the same name and different data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the entries are initialization files.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying instances is performed by comparing entries within a configuration image file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying instances is performed by comparing entries in two or more configuration image files.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying instances is performed by comparing entries in a configuration image file to a computer'"'"'s software.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying instances is performed by comparing entries in a first group of configuration image files to entries in a second group of configuration image files.

14. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

15. A method of checking for a conflict in one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, the method comprising:

examining one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

identifying in the one or more configuration image files at least two entries having a matching entry name;

comparing storage location information stored in the configuration image file for each one of the entries with the matching entry name;

comparing characteristic information stored in the configuration image file for each one of the entries with the matching entry name; and

identifying a potential conflict based on results of comparing storage location information and characteristic information of the two entries.

16. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 15.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a conflict report presenting the potential conflict identified.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising presenting a message on a computer screen presenting the potential conflict identified.

19. A method of checking for a folder conflict in one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, the method comprising:

examining one of more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the entries comprise files;

determining if two or more instances occur in the one or more configuration image files for one of the entries; and

determining if the instances exist in different folders in the configuration image files when two or more instances occur.

20. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 19.

21. A method of checking for a version conflict in one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, the method comprising:

examining two or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

determining if two or more instances occur in the two or more configuration image files for one of the entries; and

determining if the instances exist in folders with an identical name in different configuration image files when two or more instances occur, and

determining if each one of the instances is a different version, when the instances exist in folders with an identical name in different configuration image files.

22. The method of checking for version conflicts of claim 21, wherein the different version of the instances is identified by comparing at least one of the characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

entry size, entry version information, entry modification date, and entry modification time.

23. A method of checking for a registry value conflict in multiple configuration image files having multiple entries, the method comprising:

examining two or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

determining if two or more instances occur in different configuration image files for a registry key entry; and

determining if the instances have a value with an identical name and different data when two or more instances occur.

24. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 23.

25. A computerized system for detecting conflicts in configuration image files, the system comprising:

a plurality of configuration image files, each one of the configuration image files comprising one or more entries, wherein an entry comprises characteristic information for a software component and a copy of the contents of the component of the software computer; and

a programming module for detecting conflicts within the plurality of configuration image files.

26. The computerized system of claim 25, wherein the program module detects folder conflicts.

27. The computerized system of claim 25, wherein the program module detects version conflicts.

28. The computerized system of claim 25, wherein the program module detects registry value conflicts.

29. A method of checking for a conflict in one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, the method comprising:

determining if a folder conflict exists, comprising;

examining one or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

determining if two or more copies occur for a system file in the configuration image files; and

determining if the copies exist in at least two different folders in the configuration image files when two copies occur;

determining if a version conflict exists, comprising;

examining two or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

determining if two or more instances occur for one of the entries in the configuration image files;

when two or more instances occur, then determining if the instances exist in folders with an identical name in two different configuration image files; and

when the instances exist in folders with an identical name in different configuration image files, determining if each one of the instances is a different version; and

determining if a registry value conflict exists, comprising;

examining two or more configuration image files having multiple entries, wherein at least some of the multiple entries are files;

determining if two or more copies occur for a registry key entry in the configuration image files; and

determining if the copies have a value with an identical name and different data when two or more copies occur.

30. The method of checking for a conflict as claimed in claim 29, wherein the entries for which a version conflict is identified are copies of program files.

31. The method of checking for a conflict as claimed in claim 29, wherein the entries for which a version conflict is identified are copies of system files.

32. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 29.