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US5740431A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Configuration file management

Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1996-01-24
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Granted: 1998-04-14
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Expires: 2016-01-24
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Abstract

Abstract A computing system (10) includes a program (16) that performs processing tasks. A configuration file manager (22) generates configuration information for the program (16) using an environment (26) and configuration files (28, 30, 32). Parameter expressions in the environment (26) and configuration files (28, 30, 32) are arranged in a hierarchy to promote organization and management of configuration information.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter D. Rail

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
A computing system, comprising: a program operable to perform processing tasks, the program further operable to access configuration information for program execution; a first configuration file having a plurality of first parameter expressions; a second configuration file specified in the first configuration file, the second configuration file having a plurality of second parameter expressions; and a configuration file manager coupled to the first configuration file and the second configuration file, the configuration file manager operable to generate configuration information for the program using the first parameter expressions and the second parameter expressions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 92 words
A computing system, comprising: a program operable to perform processing tasks, the program further operable to access configuration information for program execution; a first configuration file having a plurality of first parameter expressions; a second configuration file specified in the first configuration file, the second configuration file having a plurality of second parameter expressions; and a configuration file manager coupled to the first configuration file and the second configuration file, the configuration file manager operable to generate configuration information for the program using the first parameter expressions and the second parameter expressions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The computing system of claim 1, wherein one of the first parameter expressions that specifies a first value of a parameter overrides one of the second parameter expressions that specifies a second value of the parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The computing system of claim 1, wherein the first configuration file comprises an include statement that specifies the second configuration file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The computing system of claim 3, wherein the include statement is placed at the beginning of the first configuration file such that processing of the include statement occurs before processing of the remaining first parameter expressions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a memory to store configuration information for access by the configuration file manager during program execution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
The computing system of claim 1, further comprising environmental parameters, wherein the configuration file manager is operable to generate configuration information for the program using the first parameter expressions, the second parameter expressions, and the environmental parameters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computing system of claim 1, wherein the configuration file manager is written in portable source code operable to run on different operating systems.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first parameter expressions and the second parameter expressions comprises a composite parameter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 80 words
A method for executing a program, comprising: processing a plurality of first parameter expressions in a first configuration file; processing, in response to an include statement in the first configuration file, a plurality of second parameter expressions in a second configuration file, wherein the second configuration file is hierarchically more general than the first configuration file; storing the processed first parameter expressions and the processed second parameter expressions as configuration information; and executing the program using the stored configuration information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 80 words
A method for executing a program, comprising: processing a plurality of first parameter expressions in a first configuration file; processing, in response to an include statement in the first configuration file, a plurality of second parameter expressions in a second configuration file, wherein the second configuration file is hierarchically more general than the first configuration file; storing the processed first parameter expressions and the processed second parameter expressions as configuration information; and executing the program using the stored configuration information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 9, wherein one of the first parameter expressions that specifies a first value of a parameter overrides one of the second parameter expressions that specifies a second value of the parameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of specifying the first configuration file in a program statement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of processing a plurality of first parameter expressions comprises: reading a first parameter expression in the first configuration file; determining if the first parameter expression is an include statement; and translating the first parameter expression if the first parameter expression is not an include statement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of processing a plurality of first parameter expressions comprises: reading a first parameter expression in the first configuration file; translating the first parameter expression; writing the translated expression to memory; and outputting the translated expression to a log file.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating configuration information comprises generating configuration information using first parameter expressions, second parameter expressions, and environmental parameters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of executing the program comprises: accessing the configuration file manager when the program desires configuration information; retrieving the desired configuration information using the configuration file manager; and communicating the desired configuration information to the program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the include statement is placed at the beginning of the first configuration file such that processing of the include statement occurs before processing of the remaining first parameter expressions.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 83 words
A method for establishing configuration information for a program, comprising: specifying a first configuration file; invoking a configuration file manager; processing, in response to an include statement in the first configuration file, a plurality of second parameter expressions in a second configuration file using the configuration file manager; processing a plurality of first parameter expressions in the first configuration file using the configuration file manager; and storing in memory the processed first parameter expressions and the processed second parameter expressions as configuration information.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 83 words
A method for establishing configuration information for a program, comprising: specifying a first configuration file; invoking a configuration file manager; processing, in response to an include statement in the first configuration file, a plurality of second parameter expressions in a second configuration file using the configuration file manager; processing a plurality of first parameter expressions in the first configuration file using the configuration file manager; and storing in memory the processed first parameter expressions and the processed second parameter expressions as configuration information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 17, wherein one of the first parameter expressions that specifies a first value of a parameter overrides one of the second parameter expressions that specifies a second value of the parameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of processing a plurality of first parameter expressions comprises: reading a first parameter expression in the first configuration file; determining if the first parameter expression is an include statement; and translating the first parameter expression if the first parameter expression is not an include statement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of processing a plurality of first parameter expressions comprises: reading a first parameter expression in the first configuration file; translating the first parameter expression; writing the translated expression to memory; and outputting the translated expression to a log file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of generating configuration information comprises generating configuration information using first parameter expressions, second parameter expressions, and environmental parameters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 63 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of processing, in response to an include statement in the second configuration file, a plurality of third parameter expressions in a third configuration file, wherein one of the second parameter expressions that specifies a second value of a parameter overrides one of the third parameter expressions that specifies a third value of the parameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the include statement is placed at the beginning of the first configuration file such that processing of the include statement occurs before processing of the remaining first parameter expressions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5202983A Cited
US5497492A Cited
US5565054A Cited
US5530862A Cited
US5548757A Cited
US5535411A Cited
US5640562A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-04-13 2001-10-13 2002-04-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-04-13 2005-10-13 2006-04-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-04-13 2009-10-13 2010-04-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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