Project-based configuration management method and apparatus

• US 6,928,447 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kaler, Christopher G., Lovell, Martyn S., Grier, Michael J., Kruy, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/850,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/203, 707/200
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A configuration management system creates (602) each configuration by assigning a configuration identifier to each configuration. In addition, relational information is computed (706) that indicates the relationships between the configuration and any configurations upon which it is based. The system then tracks (604) changes to files of the configuration by storing information associating each new file version with the configuration identifier. The system also tracks (1210) changes to file properties. A configuration is then reconstructed (608) as of a desired date, by identifying (2104, 2106) the file versions and properties associated with that configuration as of the desired date. A determination is made (2110) whether a user that has requested the file versions has access privileges by first checking a security cache (2600) for the user privileges information. If the information is not on the cache, it is computed from a security table (2800) and stored on the cache. The system automatically compresses (3118) and reconstitutes (3006) file versions that are stored in the version store.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a configuration management system, for automatically reconstituting compressed versions of files within a version store, the method comprising:

monitoring a number of requests for a full content version of a file that is stored as a compressed version in the version store;

determining if the number of requests exceeds a threshold; and

if the number of requests exceeds the threshold, reconstituting the file to a full content version of the file, and storing the full content version of the file in the version store.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein monitoring the number of requests comprises:

maintaining a request counter for the compressed version of the file; and

incrementing the request counter each time a request for the full content version of the file is received.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising periodically decrementing the request counter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a length of time since the full content version of the file was reconstituted;

determining whether the length of time exceeds a threshold length of time; and

if the length of time exceeds the threshold length of time, compressing the full content version of the file and storing the compressed in the version store.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein determining the length of time comprises:

associating a time stamp to the full content version of the file, indicating when the compressed version was reconstituted;

comparing the time stamp to a current time; and

determining the length of time as a difference between the time stamp and the current time.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein compressing the full content version compnses compressing the full content version using a delta compression technique.

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

8. A method, performed by a configuration management system, for automatically compressing full content versions of flies stored within a version store, the method comprising:

determining whether versions of a file that are earlier than a latest version are stored in a compressed state in the version store;

if the versions are not stored in a compressed state, compressing at least one of the versions into a set of compressed versions; and

storing the set of compressed version in the version store.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

reconstituting a compressed version when a number of requests for a full content version of the compressed version exceed a threshold;

storing the full content version of the file in the version store;

indicating that the full content version is a reconstituted version; and

wherein the step of compressing at least one of the versions comprises;

determining whether the version is a reconstituted version; and

if the version is a reconstituted version, not including the version in the set of versions that are compressed.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising decrementing a request counter that is used to determine a number and frequency of requests for the full content version.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein compressing at least one of the versions comprises compressing at least one of the versions using a delta compression technique.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 8.