System and method for modular business applications

• US 8,554,797 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Kemmler, Andreas, Kamenz, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Miranda
• Application Number:
  US13/328,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 707/792, 707/999.1
• US Class Current: 707/792
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99941 Database schema or data structure

Abstract

A method of adding a program module to an installed program code. A data object having an interface for importation of data into and exportation of data out of the data object, the data object further comprising the program module, a switch identifier and a specification of a call to be inserted into the installed code is provided. Insert the call as specified by the specification of the data object into the installed program code and receive a setting for the switch from a user and storing the setting in a database table.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of adding a program module to an installed program code comprising:

providing a data object having an interface for importation of data into and exportation of data out of the data object, the data object further comprising the program module, a switch identifier and a specification of a call to be inserted into the installed code,

inserting the call as specified by the specification of the data object into the installed program code,

receiving a setting for the switch from a user and storing the setting in a database table, wherein upon execution of the installed program code the data object is called by execution of the call that has been inserted into the installed program code, wherein the setting of the switch is retrieved from the database table using the switch identifier of the data object as an access key, wherein the switch setting indicates one of at least two logical states of the switch, and wherein, depending on the one of at least two logical states of the switch, the imported data is either modified or unmodified, before being exported via the interface,

updating of the installed program code after the program module has been added by providing an update for the installed program code, the update comprising the call as specified by the specification of the data object, and installing the update whereby the call that had been inserted into the installed program code is overwritten by the same call comprised in the update without affecting the setting of the switch stored in the storage means, and

updating the program module by the steps of providing an updated data object comprising the interface, the switch identifier and the updated program module, the updated data object being devoid of the specification, and overwriting the data object by the updated data object without affecting the installed program code and without invoking an installation program.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1 in a digital storage medium.

3. A computer system comprising:

an electronic processor for execution of an installed program code,

storage means for storing a data object having an interface for importation of data into and exportation of data out of the data object, the data object further comprising the program module, a switch identifier and a specification of a call to be inserted into the installed code, a database table for storing a setting for the switch received from a user,

an installation program for installation of the data object comprising inserting the call as specified by the specification of the data object into the installed program code, and

a user interface for receiving a setting of the switch from a user and for storing the received setting in the storage means using the switch identifier as an access key,

the electronic processor being operable to execute the installed program code with the inserted call by calling the data object upon execution of the call that has been inserted into the installed program code, wherein the setting of the switch is retrieved from the database table using the switch identifier of the data object as an access key, wherein the switch setting indicates one of at least two logical states of the switch, and wherein, depending on the one of at least two logical states of the switch, the imported data is either modified or unmodified, before being exported via the interface,

wherein the storage means stores an update for the installed program code, the update comprising the call as specified by the specification of the data object, wherein the installation program is operable to update the installed program code by the update stored in the storage means, wherein the call that has been inserted into the installed program code is overwritten by the same call comprised in the update without affecting the setting of the switch identified by the switch identifier stored in the storage means, and

wherein the storage means for storing updated data object comprises the interface, the switch identifier and the updated program module, the updated data object being devoid of the specification, the computer system being operable for overwriting the data object by the updated data object without affecting the installed program code and without invoking an installation program.