Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080244563 | Dynamic configuration environment for setup - A setup or installation operation is divided into discrete task components, each of which has a data input. The data input may be in the form of an information file that is populated by user input, discovery routines, or from predefined data. When an installation is successfully completed, the information file may be saved and be used to track a configuration history. The same information file may be used for a silent setup where an installation operation may be executed without any user input. The setup system may be extensible by adding additional discrete task components and extending the information file to include data used by the additional components. | 10-02-2008 |
20080244564 | Bookmark and configuration file for installation sequence - A bookmark file is stored in persistent storage and is updated as various tasks are completed during an installation process. The bookmark file may be read when an installation process is started so that the installation process may continue from a point after the last successfully completed task, if the installation process had failed and was restarted. The bookmark file may also include data collected from a user interface during the installation process. When an installation process is restarted, some embodiments may present the data in a user interface for the user to modify. The installation process may be defined in a configuration file that includes metadata that defines the sequence of installation tasks as well as some error handling for various tasks. | 10-02-2008 |
20080244565 | Dynamic software installation and configuration - A setup workflow may be defined in a complex workflow manner that may have branching, error compensation, and relationships defined between a software product to be installed and previously installed or future products that may be installed. As a setup workflow operates, a remote device may be contacted for an updated setup step that may also include relationship definitions between the new setup step and other steps or installed components. The new step may be for a remotely provided service that may be used in lieu of a locally installed product. The setup workflow may include dependencies and coordinate setup workflows across multiple devices. | 10-02-2008 |
20090089776 | Configuration and Change Management System with Restore Points - A configuration and change management system may have installation and configuration processes that include a discovery mechanism for discovering incomplete installations or configuration changes, a cleanup mechanism for placing the system in a state to continue, an installation or configuration mechanism, and a rollback mechanism for rolling back to a defined restore point if a problem is detected. The configuration and change management system may be used for initial installation, as well as configuration changes after installation. The system may be used in a multiple server environment with interdependencies between devices, as well as a multiple services environment with interdependencies between applications and services, including services provided over the Internet. | 04-02-2009 |
20090100158 | Backup and Recovery System for Multiple Device Environment - A backup system stores configuration data for several interdependent systems in a single backup store. As the systems are being configured and when changes are made to the systems, the backup store is updated with the change. The systems may be configured with each system having a designated role. During a restore operation, an otherwise unallocated system may assume a particular role and use the configuration logic defined for the role that may be taken from the backup store. The system may perform the restore in conjunction with the other systems and the interdependencies with the systems. | 04-16-2009 |
20100031248 | Installation Sequence Manager - An installation manager may have a user interface that may enable a user to modify the execution of an installation sequence. A user may indicate an installation step or task within a step that may for pausing the sequence, skipping the step or task, repeating a step or task, or closely monitoring a specific step or task. The user's modifications to the installation sequence may be presented in the user interface, and the modifications may persist even when a system reboot operation is performed during the sequence. The installation manager may enable a user to augment the installation sequence by pausing the sequence, inspecting an item or performing an additional task, and resuming the sequence. | 02-04-2010 |
20100042988 | Installation Management using Virtual Machines - Computer components may be installed and configured using virtual machines, where a trusted relationship with a virtual machine is created when a virtual machine is launched on a device with an installation manager. The installation manager may provide configuration options, scripts, and other information to a configuration agent operating in the virtual machine. Additional virtual machines may be launched on other devices and trusted relationships established with the installation manager, which may also manage configuration agents on the additional virtual machines. In some embodiments, a remote controller may be used to control functions of the installation manager. | 02-18-2010 |
20100058105 | Environment Wide Configuration System - An installation and configuration system consolidates workloads of multiple applications and services, including applications or services that may be installed or configured on multiple server devices or remotely hosted services. The system gathers environmental information, analyzes dependencies among the workloads, and populates the input data used by the workloads from a common database. The system then executes the workloads, allowing branching within the workloads or the sequence of workloads. An example of branching may include detecting an error condition, pausing the sequence, and presenting alternative fixes to a user. | 03-04-2010 |
20100058120 | Dynamic Inline Sequence Interface - A user interface displays multiple steps in sequential relationship to each other, and may group various steps together and provide completion indicators for each step as well as an overall completion indicator. Error conditions, status information, queries, and details about a particular step or group of steps may be displayed inline with the steps in a task detail portion of the user interface. The task detail portion may be collapsible and expandable by the user. Progress and completion indicators may be updated for each step, groups of steps, and the overall sequence. In a typical use, a software installation sequence may comprise installation steps from multiple software components. The user interface may illustrate the status of individual tasks, groups of task, and the overall sequence as the tasks are performed, and enable errors to be resolved by displaying queries and other information inline with the steps. | 03-04-2010 |
20110087767 | Computer Environment Analysis Tool - A computer environment analysis tool may have a modular architecture that comprises data collection modules and data analysis modules. The data collection modules may populate multiple data sets defined by a schema, and the data analysis modules may analyze or interpret the data from the database to produce report output. A reporting module may generate information that may be consumed by a user or other service. The data collection modules may be specialized modules that collect specific types of data from local and remote devices, and the data analysis modules may analyze the data for specific business logic, such as determining if a computer environment is capable of upgrading or deploying various changes. | 04-14-2011 |
20110276696 | Provider Connection Framework - A library of routines may serve as a connection point between multiple services. Each service may be a consumer or provider of data, and may be connected through the library using a registry service. The library may include a provider access mechanism through which provider services may transmit availability of an interface, as well as a consumer access mechanism through which an interface to be consumed may be transmitted. A registry service may match providers with consumers and facilitate communication between the two. The library may be configured to allow providers and consumers to be added or removed at any time. | 11-10-2011 |
20110283138 | Change Tracking and Management in Distributed Applications - A monitoring and management system for distributed and interacting systems stores configuration settings after a successful installation or modification and compares values to the stored configuration settings. When a discrepancy is found, a messaging system may relay the information to a console where the issue may be dispositioned. In some cases, the configuration settings may be updated, while in other cases, the monitored setting may be restored to the stored configuration setting. A set of wizards or other user interface mechanisms may be used to restore the system to order. | 11-17-2011 |
20110289160 | Mail Service Management System - An electronic mail management system may have a standardized interface to which different mail providers may provide an adapter. The standardized interface may have a predefined set of functions that each mail provider may provide, and the mail management system may have a user interface through which the functions may be managed. In some cases, a mail provider may have additional or customized functions that may be added to the user interface and made available to an administrator. Through the user interface, an administrator may be able to add, delete, configure, and move mailboxes, as well as other functions. | 11-24-2011 |