Method and system for restoring software

• US 8,843,919 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Weathersby, Richard D., Black, Darren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): APONTE, FRANCISCO JAVIER
• Application Number:
  US12/951,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 717101-178
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• 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

Abstract

Method and system are disclosed for restoring multiple instances of a software application to a predetermined baseline state. The method/system of the invention creates a baseline template from a single correct or “golden” installation of the software application. The baseline template may then be deployed to restore previously used instances of the software application to a baseline state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

monitoring a software application utilized by a plurality of users to identify a specific reference including a name of a host computing system;

installing the software application on a host computing system, wherein the installation produces a file having the specific reference that is a host computing system specific reference;

replacing the host computing system specific reference with a generic reference;

creating a baseline template of the software application including the generic reference, wherein the baseline template may be used to automatically restore multiple instances of the software application to a baseline state via a restoration tool that includes a file transfer function, an unpacking function for expanding the baseline template, and a referencing function for inserting a specific reference into the software application;

uploading the baseline template to a user computer system along with any required scripting routines by utilizing the file transfer function; and

replacing the generic reference with a user computer system specific reference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application includes at least one of a patch, fix, modification, and customization for the software application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacing the host computing system specific reference with a generic reference is performed by executing one or more scripting routines.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the baseline template of the software application includes creating one or more backup files.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more backup files are organized according to a function in the software application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the file having a host computing system specific reference is a custom file that is specific to the host computing system.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

verifying that the installed software application is working properly.

8. A system comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled with the processor, the system configured to:

monitor a software application utilized by a plurality of users to identify a specific reference including a name of a host computing system;

install the software application on a host computing system, wherein the installation produces a file having the specific reference that is a host computing system specific reference specific reference;

replace the host computing system specific reference with a generic reference;

create a baseline template of the software application including the generic reference, wherein the baseline template may be used to automatically restore multiple instances of the software application to a baseline state via a restoration tool that includes a file transfer function, an unpacking function for expanding the baseline template, and a referencing function for inserting a specific reference into the software application;

upload the baseline template to a user computer system along with any required scripting routines by utilizing the file transfer function; and

replace the generic reference with a user computer system specific reference.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the software application includes at least one of a patch, fix, modification, and customization for the software application.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the host computing system specific reference is replaced with a generic reference by executing one or more scripting routines.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the baseline template of the software application includes one or more backup files.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more backup files are organized according to a function in the software application.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the file having a host computing system specific reference is a custom file that is specific to the host computing system.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having, stored thereon, computer-executable instructions being executable by a processor to:

monitor a software application utilized by a plurality of users to identify a specific reference including a name of a host computing system;

install the software application on a host computing system, wherein the installation produces a file having the specific reference that is a host computing system specific reference specific reference;

replace the host computing system specific reference with a generic reference;

create a baseline template of the software application including the generic reference, wherein the baseline template may be used to automatically restore multiple instances of the software application to a baseline state via a restoration tool that includes a file transfer function, an unpacking function for expanding the baseline template, and a referencing function for inserting a specific reference into the software application;

upload the baseline template to a user computer system along with any required scripting routines by utilizing the file transfer function; and

replace the generic reference with a user computer system specific reference.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the software application includes at least one of a patch, fix, modification, and customization for the software application.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the host computing system specific reference is replaced with a generic reference by executing one or more scripting routines.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the baseline template of the software application includes one or more backup files.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more backup files are organized according to a function in the software application.