Software management software

• US 9,256,344 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gulasky, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAO, THUY CHAN
• Application Number:
  US13/836,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/31 Programming languages or programming paradigms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Computer systems are managed by providing systems programmers with visual displays and user interfaces that identify certain issues and allow the system programmer to readily apply fixes, patches, and other updates without tediously sifting through a mountain of information and manually addressing those issues. The systems herein, provide a more streamlined approach for the system programmer by reducing the possibility of overlooking a particular issue that may adversely affect the system.

Claims

1. In a mainframe system, a machine-executable process, comprising:

collecting data indicative of a condition that impacts a mainframe system, the data being collected as the condition arises;

evaluating by a processor, a degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system by correlating and analyzing the collected data, and scoring each system based upon a determined risk level;

determining an actionable task associated with the condition;

placing an entry representing the condition in an ordered listing based on the degree to which the condition impacts the system;

displaying on a user interface, the ordered listing by;

displaying at least two of;

systems running without a high-impact pervasive (HIPER) condition installed;

systems running without a Program Temporary Fix (PTF) Resolving a PTF-in-Error (PE) PTF (PRP) installed;

systems running with a Program Error PTF installed;

systems running back-leveled maintenance;

systems running without a needed FIXCAT installed;

systems running a back-leveled product release;

systems running without recommended health checks; and

systems running products without a valid License Managed Program (LMP) key; and

displaying at least one of;

the condition; and

the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system;

receiving a user input through the user interface indicating that the user selected a user-selectable icon that is associated with the actionable task of the condition;

executing the actionable task in response receiving the user input;

clearing the entry from the ordered listing;

re-ordering the ordered listing in response to clearing the entry; and

re-displaying the ordered listing.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein evaluating the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system comprising at least one of:

applying a pre-defined rule associated with the condition; and

parsing the data for a degree indicator.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein evaluating the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system comprising at least one of:

evaluating a new product release to be applied in the mainframe system;

evaluating a service item to be executed in the mainframe system;

evaluating a software item to be removed from the mainframe system;

evaluating a software licensing key associated with a software item installed on the mainframe system; and

evaluating mainframe operating status.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein:

clearing the entry upon comprises;

clearing the entry by a separate management application executing in the mainframe system.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein clearing the entry comprising at least one of:

deleting the entry from the system;

removing the entry from the user interface;

marking the entry as being completed on the user interface;

moving the entry to a different location on the user interface; and

changing the appearance of the entry on the user interface.

6. A mainframe system, comprising:

a data collector to collect data indicative of a condition that impacts the mainframe system, the data collector to further collect data as the condition arises;

a hardware processor to;

evaluate a degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system by correlating and analyzing the collected data, and scoring each system based upon a determined risk level;

determine an actionable task associated with the condition; and

place an entry representing the condition in an ordered listing based on the degree to which the condition impacts the system;

a user interface to display the ordered listing so as to;

display at least two of;

systems running without a high-impact pervasive (HIPER) condition installed;

systems running without a Program Temporary Fix (PTF) Resolving a PTF-in-Error (PE) PTF (PRP) installed;

systems running with a Program Error PTF installed;

systems running back-leveled maintenance;

systems running without a needed FIXCAT installed;

systems running a back-leveled product release;

systems running without recommended health checks; and

systems running products without a valid License Managed Program (LMP) key; and

display at least one of the condition and the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system, the user interface further to receive a user input indicating that the user selected a user-selectable icon that is associated with the actionable task of the condition;

wherein the hardware processor further;

executes the actionable task in response receiving the user input;

clears the entry from the ordered listing;

re-orders the ordered listing in response to clearing the entry; and

re-displays the ordered listing via the user interface.

7. The mainframe system of claim 6, the user-selectable icon being indicative of a condition in the mainframe system, the condition being at least one of:

a High-Impact PERvasive (HIPER) condition;

a Program Temporary Fix (PTF) for installation;

a PTF-in-Error (PE) condition;

a License Managed Program (LMP) expiration condition; and

a system check condition.

8. The mainframe system of claim 6 further comprising:

a data source stored in memory that is communicatively coupled to the data collector.

9. The mainframe system of claim 8, wherein the data source comprises at least one of:

a mainframe software manager (MSM);

an online software repository; and

a runtime library.

10. The mainframe system of claim 6, wherein the hardware processor evaluates the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system comprising at least one action to:

apply a pre-defined rule associated with the condition; and

parse the data for a degree indicator.

11. The mainframe system of claim 6, wherein the hardware processor evaluates the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system comprising at least one action to:

evaluate a new product release to be applied in the mainframe system;

evaluate a service item to be executed in the mainframe system;

evaluate a software item to be removed from the mainframe system;

evaluate a software licensing key associated with a software item installed on the mainframe system; and

evaluate mainframe operating status.

12. A computer-readable memory with executable program code stored thereon, wherein the program code includes instructions that when executed by a mainframe computer hardware processor, perform operations to:

collect data indicative of a condition that impacts a mainframe system, the data being collected as the condition arises;

evaluate a degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system by correlating and analyzing the collected data, and scoring each system based upon a determined risk level;

determine an actionable task associated with the condition;

place an entry representing the condition in an ordered listing based on the degree to which the condition impacts the system;

display on a user interface, the ordered listing so as to display at least one of;

populate a multi-system dashboard displaying at least two of;

systems running without a high-impact pervasive (HIPER) condition installed;

systems running without a Program Temporary Fix (PTF) Resolving a PTF-in-Error (PE) PTF (PRP) installed;

systems running with a Program Error PTF installed;

systems running back-leveled maintenance;

systems running without a needed FIXCAT installed;

systems running a back-leveled product release;

systems running without recommended health checks; and

systems running products without a valid License Managed Program (LMP) key; and

display at least one of;

the condition; and

the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system;

receive a user input through the user interface-indicating that the user selected a user-selectable icon that is associated with the actionable task of the condition;

execute the actionable task in response receiving the user input;

clear the entry from the ordered listing;

re-order the ordered listing in response to clearing the entry; and

re-display the ordered listing.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 12, wherein the program code is further executable to evaluate the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system comprising at least one program code to:

apply a pre-defined rule associated with the condition; and

parse the data for a degree indicator.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 12, wherein the program code to evaluate the degree to which the condition impacts the mainframe system comprising at least one of program code to:

evaluate a new product release to be applied in the mainframe system;

evaluate a service item to be executed in the mainframe system;

evaluate a software item to be removed from the mainframe system;

evaluate a software licensing key associated with a software item installed on the mainframe system; and

evaluate mainframe operating status.

15. The computer-readable memory of claim 12, wherein the program code to clear the entry upon comprises program code to clear the entry by a separate management application executing in the mainframe system.

16. The computer-readable memory of claim 12, wherein the program code to clear the entry comprising at least one of program code to:

delete the entry from the system;

remove the entry from the user interface;

mark the entry as being completed on the user interface;

move the entry to a different location on the user interface; and

change the appearance of the entry on the user interface.