Systems and methods for infrastructure and middleware provisioning
Inventors
Assignees
Andrei Iancu Under Secretary Of Commerce For Intellectual Property And Director Of United States Patent And Trademark Office And Successors Thereto • Ashley Moody Florida Office Of Attorney General And Successors Thereto • Heuer Joan D • Jeanette Nunez Lieutenant Governor Of Florida And Successors Thereto • Laurel M Lee Florida Secretary Of State And Successors Thereto • Steven Mnuchin United States Secretary Of Treasury And Successors Thereto • Bureau of the Fiscal Service
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Publication Number
US-9830145-B2
Publication Date
2017-11-28
Expiration Date
2026-08-14
Abstract
Systems, methods, and computer readable media are provided for provisioning a service using a web-based user interface. An exemplary method may include establishing, using the web-based user interface, a profile including one or more services; and configuring an environment by specifying a computer to use for provisioning the one or more services in the profile. Furthermore, the method may include provisioning the one or more services in the configured environment, such that the one or more services generate a return code indicating a status of the provisioning.
Core Innovation
The invention provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for provisioning software products using a web-based user interface. An exemplary method includes establishing, via the web-based interface, a profile comprising one or more services and configuring an environment by specifying computers to use for provisioning these services. The provisioning process results in the services generating return codes indicating the provisioning status.
The problem addressed arises from the resource-intensive, error-prone, and time-consuming manual processes companies currently use for developing, testing, installing, and configuring software products across numerous servers and varying environments. Manual provisioning, including environment configuration and software updates, is costly and prone to errors due to complexities across different stages such as development, testing, and production. Automated provisioning is needed to reduce errors and resource expenditure.
The invention solves this by providing a system that allows automated provisioning of environment components using profiles managed through a web-based interface. This system supports multiple users and roles, enables configuration of infrastructure and middleware services, manages authorization, logs provisioning activities, and provides feedback on provisioning status. The solution supports customization of environments across diverse operating systems and computers, facilitating deployment, rollback, and testing of software in different environments with greater efficiency and reliability.
Claims Coverage
The claims include three independent claims covering a method, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a system for provisioning a distributed software product. The claims address establishing service profiles, environment configuration, provisioning services across multiple computers, and executing the distributed software product with specific communications involving port modification and re-provisioning.
Profile establishment using a web-based user interface
Establishing a profile that includes a plurality of services to provision a distributed software product, where the services perform specific tasks and the profile is created via a web-based user interface.
Environment configuration specifying multiple computers
Configuring an environment within the profile by specifying multiple computers for provisioning the services, including identifying which computer installs each service when services span multiple computers.
Provisioning services generating return codes indicating status
Provisioning the plurality of services on the identified computers in the configured environment with selected services generating return codes that indicate the status of provisioning, such as success or errors.
Execution of distributed software with tiered provisioning communications
Executing the distributed software product by executing portions of provisioned services on a client computer and on multiple host computers. This includes transmitting provisioning communications between the client and hosts and between hosts to update profiles by modifying reserved ports and re-provisioning services accordingly.
The independent claims cover a comprehensive solution for automated provisioning of distributed software products using a web-based interface, focusing on profile creation, environment configuration involving multiple computers, status reporting via return codes, and a specific execution communication protocol for dynamic profile updates and provisioning across client and host computers.
Stated Advantages
Reduces time consumption, errors, and expenses associated with manual software provisioning.
Enables automated infrastructure and middleware provisioning across diverse environments and multiple computers.
Provides role-based and resource-based authorization for secure and flexible access to provisioning functions.
Facilitates easy creation, modification, and execution of profiles for provisioning, improving reusability and management.
Offers monitoring and logging of provisioning activities for troubleshooting and auditing.
Supports integration with third-party tools and middleware products for comprehensive automation.
Documented Applications
Provisioning software products in development, testing, and production environments.
Installation and configuration of middleware products such as Tomcat, Apache, WebLogic, and WebMethods.
Automatic deployment and rollback of software programs and patches across multiple servers with various operating systems.
Creation and management of user identifiers and file systems as part of infrastructure services.
Use in IT departments for automating repeated configuration tasks, improving reliability and scalability of software delivery.
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