Configuration change without disruption of incomplete processes

• US 8,255,429 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Lang, Klaus-Peter, Eschenroeder, Klaus, Wagner, Frank, Fitzer, Joachim, Lange, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/336,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 707/802, 707/803, 707/999.102
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Various embodiments include one or more of systems, methods, software, and data structures to provide flexibility when configuring systems to new or different processes while not disrupting incomplete processes. Some embodiments include receiving input representative of a configuration change to at least one configuration setting and storing a copy of a setting of the at least one configuration setting from a current configuration to an historical configuration setting storage location. Such embodiments may further include storing the input representative of the configuration change into the current configuration. Following such configuring processes already initiated may be completed according to the copied historical configuration setting and new processes may be initiated according to the new configuration setting. These and other embodiments are described herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving input into a computing system including at least one processor, the input representative of a configuration change to at least one configuration setting of a computer application executed by the at least one processor;

storing a copy of a setting of the at least one configuration setting from a current configuration setting storage location in an historical configuration setting storage location in a data storage device of the computing system;

storing the input representative of the configuration change in the current configuration setting storage location as a new configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting of the computer application;

completing processes initiated according to the copied at least one configuration setting stored in the historical configuration setting storage location to prevent disruption of incomplete processes; and

subsequent to the storing of the input representative of the configuration change as the new configuration setting, initiating new processes according to the new configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the historical configuration storage location and the current configuration storage location are both the same database table;

the database table includes a termination column for each configuration setting stored in the table; and

the termination column of configuration settings stored in the table is populated with data indicating when the respective configuration setting is not a current configuration setting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the termination column stores at least a date at which respective configuration settings are no longer current configuration settings.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

current and historical configuration settings are each stored with a configuration setting identifier; and

processes initiated according to a set of configuration settings are stored with a reference to the set of configuration settings based on the configuration setting identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the configuration setting identifier is a date-time-stamp of when a respective process was initiated and the configuration of the process is retrievable from one or both of the current and historical configuration setting storage locations by a date-time-stamp of an initiated process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input representative of a configuration change to the at least one configuration setting includes receiving input specifying a configuration change to master data and an indication to modify all processes including previously initiated processes.

7. A system comprising:

at least processors coupled to a bus;

a memory device coupled to the bus and storing an instruction set executable by the at least one processor to;

receive input representative of a configuration change to at least one configuration setting of a computer application executed at least in part on the system by the at least one processor;

store a copy of a setting of the at least one configuration setting from a current configuration setting storage location in an historical configuration setting storage location in a data storage device of the computing system;

store the input representative of the configuration change in the current configuration setting storage location as a new configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting of the computer application;

complete processes initiated according to the copied configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting stored in the historical configuration setting storage location to prevent disruption of incomplete processes; and

subsequent to the storing of the input representative of the configuration change as the new configuration setting, initiate new processes according to the new configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a network interface coupled to the bus; and

wherein the current configuration setting storage location and the historical configuration setting storage location are remote data storage locations accessible via the network interface.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the historical configuration storage location and the current configuration storage location are both the same database table and are accessible over a network interface of the system;

the database table includes a termination column for each configuration setting stored in the table; and

the termination column of configuration settings stored in the table is populated with data indicating when the respective configuration setting is not a current configuration setting.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the termination column stores at least a date at which respective configuration settings are no longer current configuration settings.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein:

current and historical configuration settings are each stored with a configuration setting identifier; and

processes initiated according to a set of configuration settings are stored with a reference to the set of configuration settings based on the configuration setting identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuration setting identifier is a date-time-stamp of when a respective process was initiated and the configuration of the process is retrievable from one or both of the current and historical configuration setting storage locations by a date-time-stamp of an initiated process.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, with instructions stored thereon, which when executed by computer, cause the computer to perform actions comprising:

receiving input into a computing system including at least one processor, the input representative of a configuration change to at least one configuration setting of a computer application executed by the at least one processor;

storing a copy of a setting of the at least one configuration setting from a current configuration setting storage location in an historical configuration setting storage location in a data storage device of the computing system;

storing the input representative of the configuration change in the current configuration setting storage location as a new configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting of the computer application;

completing processes initiated according to the copied at least one configuration setting stored in the historical configuration setting storage location to prevent disruption of incomplete processes; and

subsequent to the storing of the input representative of the configuration change as the new configuration setting, initiating new processes according to the new configuration setting of the at least one configuration setting.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

the historical configuration storage location and the current configuration storage location are both the same database table;

the database table includes a termination column for each configuration setting stored in the table; and

the termination column of configuration settings stored in the table is populated with data indicating when the respective configuration setting is not a current configuration setting.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the termination column stores at least a date at which respective configuration settings are no longer current configuration settings.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

current and historical configuration settings are each stored with a configuration setting identifier; and

processes initiated according to a set of configuration settings are stored with a reference to the set of configuration settings based on the configuration setting identifier.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the configuration setting identifier is a date-time-stamp of when a respective process was initiated and the configuration of the process is retrievable from one or both of the current and historical configuration setting storage locations by a date-time-stamp of an initiated process.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein receiving input representative of a configuration change to the at least one configuration setting includes receiving input specifying a configuration change to master data and an indication to modify all processes including previously initiated processes.