Application loader for support of version management

• US 20080133590A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blanch, Robert Francis, Birk Olsen, Jesper Kenneth, Parthasarathy, Srinivasan
• Granted Patent: US 7,974,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/103Y
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44536 Selecting among different versions

Abstract

A system for supporting version management is provided. The system includes a first application having a plurality of versions. Each of the plurality of versions is associated with a separate a version-specific assembly. A loader is configured to load one of the version-specific assemblies, the assembly then being utilized as a basis for deriving an object from a database associated with the first application. The object is provided to a second application, typically in response to a corresponding request.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of supporting version management, the method comprising:

receiving a request;

identifying a database associated with the request;

loading an assembly that corresponds to the identified database;

utilizing the assembly as a basis for obtaining or generating an object; and

returning the object in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request comprises receiving a request from an application that is external from a business application with which the identified database is associated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein loading an assembly comprises loading a report factory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein loading an assembly comprises loading a form factory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving through a loader interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein returning the object comprises returning an object that implements multiple versions of interfaces associated with a business application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein returning the object comprises returning an object that is capable of being cast in accordance with an interface version that is older than a most recently released version.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein loading an assembly comprises loading an assembly from a database that also contains application data that is directly related to the object.

9. A system for supporting version management, the system comprising:

a first application having a plurality of versions;

a version-specific assembly associated with each of the plurality of versions;

a loader configured to load one of the version-specific assemblies and utilize it as a basis for deriving an object from a database associated with the first application, wherein the loader is further configured to provide the object to a second application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the loader is further configured such that the one of the version-specific assemblies that is loaded is one that is identified as being affiliated with a database of the same version.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the loader is configured to provide the object to the second application by way of a loader interface.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second application is binded to a loader interface but not to the loader itself.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the version-specific assemblies are stored somewhere other than with the loader.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the loader is configured to provide the object to the second application in response to a request for access to a database specifically affiliated with the one of the version-specific assemblies utilized by the loader.

15. A loader for supporting version management, wherein the loader is configured to select, based on a request received from a first application, one of a plurality of assemblies associated with a second application.

16. The loader of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of assemblies is associated with a different version of the second application.

17. The loader of claim 15, wherein the loader is further configured to utilize the selected assembly to derive data from a database associated with the second application.

18. The loader of claim 15, wherein the request from the first application is received through a loader interface to which the first application is bound.

19. The loader of claim 15, wherein the selected assembly is a form factory.

20. The loader of claim 15, wherein the selected assembly is a report factory.