Systems and methods of configuration management for enterprise software

• US 8,255,357 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Heimbach, James H., Korber, Brad M., Trumble, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIE, ANGELA M
• Application Number:
  US11/610,328
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/610, 707/618, 707/999.2, 707/634, 707/705, 707/781
• US Class Current: 707/609
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems

Abstract

Systems and methods of configuration management for enterprise software are disclosed. Some method embodiments comprise: storing updated configuration information for a software tool in a configuration database; periodically accessing the configuration database to retrieve updated configuration information; and when an updated configuration is found, replacing a configuration file for the software tool with an updated configuration file that incorporates the updated configuration information. In some embodiments, an API of the software tool may be automatically invoked to provide the software tool with updated configuration information. Using a separate configuration database in this manner enables a flexible web-based interface for many individuals to configure a shared tool without requiring downtime. Where needed, database access may be limited to authorized users. The configuration information may include user roles, listbox values, menu items, and other parameters affecting the user interface of the software tool.

Claims

1. A configuration management method that comprises:

storing updated configuration information for an enterprise software tool in a configuration database, wherein the enterprise software tool is accessible to a user, and wherein the updated configuration information comprises updated user access rights for the enterprise software tool;

periodically accessing the configuration database to retrieve the updated configuration information;

when the updated configuration information is found, replacing at least one configuration file comprising user access rights for the enterprise software tool with an updated configuration file that incorporates the updated configuration information comprising the updated user access rights while the enterprise software tool is running without interruption to the user accessing the enterprise software tool; and

verifying the user'"'"'s authority based on the updated user access rights before enabling continued access to the enterprise software tool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration file is a text file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration database is a relational database that is accessible to users of the software tool via a web interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodic accesses are performed at least once per day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodic accesses are performed at least once every ten minutes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated configuration information includes new listbox values and relationships.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the software tool is a change management tool for enterprise software projects.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated configuration information includes new user roles.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying a user'"'"'s authority before enabling access to the configuration database.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing approval from a designated user before designating new configuration information as suitable for an updated configuration file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacing is performed by invoking an application programming interface (API) of the enterprise software tool to cause the enterprise software tool to directly replace the at least one configuration file.

12. An enterprise system that comprises:

a change management tool having a configuration file identifying listbox values, a listbox hierarchy, and an interrelationship between the listbox values and the listbox hierarchy for a user interface comprising at least one listbox;

a configuration database stored on a non-transitory computer readable media for specifying a new listbox value, a new listbox hierarchy, and a new interrelationship for the user interface;

a web server, implemented on a computer, accessible to users that provides access to the configuration database, accepts a user input comprising the new listbox value, the new listbox hierarchy, and the new interrelationship for the user interface, stores the input in the configuration database when designated by a user, and generates an output file containing the new listbox value, the new listbox hierarchy, and the new interrelationship for the user interface; and

a process that retrieves the output file and that updates the configuration file accordingly, wherein the process updates the configuration file with the new listbox value, the new listbox hierarchy, and the new interrelationship for the user interface while the change management tool is running without interruption to a user accessing the change management tool.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the process invokes an application programming interface (API) of the change management tool to update the configuration file.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the change management tool has a configuration file identifying user access rights, wherein the user access rights are updated by the process in accordance with information from the configuration database.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the change management tool is accessible to a plurality of users.