Software packaging structure having hierarchical replaceable units

• US 5,237,688 A
• Filed: 11/18/1987
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Calvert, Nathaniel, Johnston, David L., Shaffer, Dennis L., Turk, Gary A., Olson-Williams, Helen M., Satin, Robert H., Naylor, James L., Effle, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US07/122,293
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 364/300, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 395/700, 395/600
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A software management structure is disclosed. A software application package is made up of several linked replaceable units (RU). Each RU is serviceable without adversely effecting the other RUs. The RUs are linked together in a hierarchical fashion in a series of levels. In the preferred embodiment, five levels are used: Application Group level (AG), Loadable Code Group level (LCG), Primary Functional Group level (PFG), Secondary Functional Group level (SFG), and Operational Code Group level (OCG). The AG level defines a group of computer programs combined to perform a high level application tailor fit to meet the needs of the user. The LCG level defines individual programs each created to perform a general task. The PFG level refines the common programs defined in the LCG level to a more specific set of primary functions. The SFG level refines the primary functions defined in the PFG level to an even more specialized set of secondary functions tailored closely to fit a specific user'"'"'s needs. The OCG level contains the operational code needed to run the specialized user application package defined by the preceding four levels.

Claims

1. A method of creating a program package having a plurality of primary functions and a plurality of secondary functions, comprising the machine executed steps of:

creating a plurality of fifth level replaceable units containing operational code or data needed to perform each of said plurality of secondary functions;

creating a fourth level replaceable unit for each of said plurality of secondary functions;

linking said fourth level replaceable unit to its corresponding plurality of fifth level replaceable units;

creating a third level replaceable unit for each of said plurality of primary functions;

linking said third level replaceable unit to its corresponding plurality of fourth level replaceable units;

creating a second level replaceable unit, said second level replaceable unit comprising a list of hardware on which said second level replaceable unit is dependent for proper operation; and

linking said second level replaceable unit to said plurality of third level replaceable units,

wherein said second level replacement unit, said third level replacement unit, and said fourth level replacement unit contain no operational code necessary to perform said plurality of secondary functions,

wherein said second level replaceable unit, said third level replaceable unit, and said fourth level replaceable unit contain descriptions of the function of said operational code.

2. A method of creating a software application package, comprising the machine executed steps of:

selecting a first program package having a second level replaceable unit linked to a plurality of third level replaceable units linked to a plurality of fourth level replaceable units linked to a plurality of fifth level replaceable units, each of said third level replaceable units corresponding to a primary function of said first program package, each of said fourth level replaceable units corresponding to a secondary function of said first program package, and said fifth level replaceable units containing operational code or data needed to perform said secondary functions of said first program package;

selecting a second program package having a second level replaceable unit linked to a plurality of third level replaceable units linked to a plurality of fourth level replaceable units linked to a plurality of fifth level replaceable units, each of said third level replaceable units corresponding to a primary function of said second program package, each of said fourth level replaceable units corresponding to a secondary function of said second program package, and said fifth level replaceable units containing operational code or data needed to perform said secondary functions of said second program package;

creating a first level replaceable unit;

linking said first level replaceable unit to said second level replaceable unit of said first program package and to said second level replaceable unit of said second program package,

wherein said first level replacement unit, said second level replacement unit, said third level replacement unit, and said fourth level replacement unit contain no operational code necessary to perform said plurality of secondary functions,

wherein said first level replaceable unit, said second level replaceable unit, said third level replaceable unit, and said fourth level replaceable unit contain descriptions of the function of said operational code.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the machine executed step of:

selecting some of said plurality of primary and secondary function from said first and second program packages to be included in said application package.

4. A method of creating a software application package, comprising the machine executed steps of:

displaying on a computer screen first textual descriptions of a plurality of first functions of a first program package having a first plurality of replaceable units;

selecting some of said first textual descriptions of said plurality of first functions;

displaying on said computer screen second textual descriptions of a plurality of second functions of a second program package having a second plurality of replaceable units;

selecting some of said second textual descriptions of said plurality of second functions; and

creating said application package from said some of said plurality of first functions and said some of said plurality of second functions selected in said selecting steps by combining said first plurality of replaceable units corresponding with said some of said first functions with said second plurality of replaceable units corresponding with said some of said plurality of said second functions.

5. A method for storing a computer program having a hierarchical software management structure on a storage medium, comprising the machine executed steps of:

generating storing a first replaceable unit further comprising a first header and first body, said first header comprising first identification data, said first header further comprising a first list of hardware on which said first replaceable unit is dependent for proper operation, said first body further comprising second identification data;

generating and storing a second replaceable unit further comprising a second header and a second body, said second header comprising said second identification data; and

linking said first replaceable unit to said second replaceable unit in a hierarchical fashion,

said second body comprising operational code necessary to run said computer program,

said first body contains no operational code necessary to run said computer program,

said first header further comprising a description of the function of said operational code.

6. A method of storing a computer program having a hierarchical software management structure on a storage medium, comprising the machine executed steps of:

generating and storing a first replaceable unit further comprising a first header and first body, said first header comprising first identification data, said first body further comprising said second identification data and said third identification data;

generating and storing a second replaceable unit further comprising a second header and a second body, said second header comprising said second identification data;

generating and storing a third replaceable unit further comprising a third header and a third body, said third header comprising said third identification data; and

linking said first replaceable unit to said second replaceable unit and said third replaceable unit in a hierarchical fashion;

said second body comprises first operational code necessary to run a first portion of said computer program on a first computer using a first machine instruction set,

said third body comprises second operational code necessary to run a second portion of said computer program on a second computer incompatible with said first computer, said second computer using a second machine instruction set.