Systems and methods for the creation of software packages using layered systems
First Claim
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1. A method of utilizing a layered computing environment to create a program product, the method comprising the steps of:
- utilizing a computing environment including layered system software, wherein the layered system software is executed to perform at least the functions of;
(i) receiving from applications read requests for read operations to a file system, the read requests each containing a file reference,(ii) for file references of the received read requests, attempting to identify an owner layer from a set of enabled layers, wherein said attempting identifies an owner layer from enabled layers found to have a virtual object corresponding to the file reference, if at least one enabled layer having such a virtual object is found, the identification of an owner layer being made without regard to whether or not the received read request originated from an application contained in an enabled layer;
(iii) if, for a particular read request, an owner layer is identified for the file reference of that read request, identifying a virtual read reference utilizing information contained in the identified owner layer, the virtual read reference referencing a corresponding file structure to the file reference of the particular read request,(iv) following an identification of a virtual read reference, causing a read operation to execute using that virtual read reference,(v) if, for a particular read request, an owner layer is not identified for the file reference of that read request, causing a read operation to execute using the file reference of the particular read request,(vi) receiving from applications write requests for write operations to a file system, the write requests each containing a file reference,(vii) for file references of particular received write requests, determining if the write request is to be captured to an enabled layer, and if the write request is to be captured, attempting to identify an owner layer for the write request from a set of currently enabled layers,(viii) if, for a particular write request, an owner layer is identified for the file reference of that write request, identifying a virtual write reference utilizing information contained in the identified owner layer, the virtual write reference corresponding to the file reference of the particular write request,(ix) following the identifying a virtual write reference, causing a write operation to execute using that virtual write reference,(x) if, for a particular write reference, an owner layer is not identified for the file reference of that write request, causing a write operation to execute using the file reference of the particular write request,(xi) receiving management commands through an applications programmer interface, those management commands including commands to start and stop a capture operation,(xii) entering a capture mode,(xiii) ending a capture mode, and(xiv) exporting the captured layer to a portable media format; and
whereby said method further includes the step of performing an installation action between the entering of and exiting of a capture mode.
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Abstract
The claimed inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the claimed inventions relate to methods of capturing software packages using layered computing systems and software package products produced by those methods.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of utilizing a layered computing environment to create a program product, the method comprising the steps of:
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utilizing a computing environment including layered system software, wherein the layered system software is executed to perform at least the functions of; (i) receiving from applications read requests for read operations to a file system, the read requests each containing a file reference, (ii) for file references of the received read requests, attempting to identify an owner layer from a set of enabled layers, wherein said attempting identifies an owner layer from enabled layers found to have a virtual object corresponding to the file reference, if at least one enabled layer having such a virtual object is found, the identification of an owner layer being made without regard to whether or not the received read request originated from an application contained in an enabled layer; (iii) if, for a particular read request, an owner layer is identified for the file reference of that read request, identifying a virtual read reference utilizing information contained in the identified owner layer, the virtual read reference referencing a corresponding file structure to the file reference of the particular read request, (iv) following an identification of a virtual read reference, causing a read operation to execute using that virtual read reference, (v) if, for a particular read request, an owner layer is not identified for the file reference of that read request, causing a read operation to execute using the file reference of the particular read request, (vi) receiving from applications write requests for write operations to a file system, the write requests each containing a file reference, (vii) for file references of particular received write requests, determining if the write request is to be captured to an enabled layer, and if the write request is to be captured, attempting to identify an owner layer for the write request from a set of currently enabled layers, (viii) if, for a particular write request, an owner layer is identified for the file reference of that write request, identifying a virtual write reference utilizing information contained in the identified owner layer, the virtual write reference corresponding to the file reference of the particular write request, (ix) following the identifying a virtual write reference, causing a write operation to execute using that virtual write reference, (x) if, for a particular write reference, an owner layer is not identified for the file reference of that write request, causing a write operation to execute using the file reference of the particular write request, (xi) receiving management commands through an applications programmer interface, those management commands including commands to start and stop a capture operation, (xii) entering a capture mode, (xiii) ending a capture mode, and (xiv) exporting the captured layer to a portable media format; and whereby said method further includes the step of performing an installation action between the entering of and exiting of a capture mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A program product containing both a captured layer and computer instructions for operating a layered computing environment, said program product comprising:
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a layer captured by utilizing a layered computing environment to create a program product; a set of computer readable media comprising at least one medium upon which is stored said captured layer and computer instructions, said instructions being executable by a computing system to achieve the functions of; (i) receiving from applications read requests for read operations to a file system, each read request containing a file reference appropriate to a file system organization, (ii) for file references of the received read requests, attempting to identify an owner layer from a set of enabled layers, wherein said attempting identifies an owner layer from enabled layers found to have a virtual object corresponding to the file reference, if at least one enabled layer having such a virtual object is found, the identification of an owner layer being made without regard to whether or not the received read request originated from an application contained in an enabled layer; (iii) if, for a particular read request, an owner layer is identified for a file reference, identifying a virtual read reference corresponding to the read reference of the particular read request utilizing information contained in the identified owner layer, (iv) following the identifying a virtual read reference, causing a read operation to execute using that virtual read reference, (v) if, for a particular read request, an owner layer is not identified for a file reference, causing the read operation to execute using the file reference of the particular read request; and whereby the computer instructions, when executed by a computing system, provide access to the contents of layers to applications not contained in a layer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A program product containing a captured layer, an executable form of an application and computer instructions for operating a layered computing environment, said program product comprising:
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an application layer captured by utilizing a layered computing environment to create a program product; an executable form of an application contained within said application layer; and a set of computer readable media comprising at least one medium upon which is stored said application layer and said executable form of an application, said set of computer readable media further having stored thereon computer instructions for operating a layered computing environment, said instructions being executable by a computing system to achieve the functions of; (i) receiving from applications read requests for read operations to a file system, the read requests each containing a file reference, (ii) for the file reference of a received read requests, attempting to identify an owner layer from a set of currently enabled layers, wherein said attempting identifies an owner layer from enabled layers found to have a virtual object corresponding to the file reference, if at least one enabled layer having such a virtual object is found, (iii) if said application layer is identified as the owner layer, identifying a virtual read reference utilizing information contained in the application layer, (iv) following the identifying a virtual read reference, causing the read operation to execute using the virtual read reference, (v) if an owner layer is not identified for the file reference, causing the read operation to execute using the file reference of the read request; whereby in said attempting to identify said application layer is identified as the owner layer if (1) the file corresponding to the file reference is stored in said application layer and (2) the received read request was originated from a process executing from said executable form of an application or a copy of that application, or a child process of that process; and further whereby in said attempting to identify, if the received read request was originated from a process not executing from any of said executable form of an application or a copy or child process of that application, said application layer is identified as the owner layer if a file corresponding to the file reference is stored in said application layer and said application layer has priority over other layers that store a file corresponding to the file reference.
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Specification