Deployment Assurance Accelerators for Software Configuration Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current software deployment processes are prone to errors due to manual configuration and require individual testing code for each application, leading to increased costs and complexity, especially in environments like the healthcare insurance industry where system management is labor-intensive and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
The Deployment Assurance Services (DAS) Toolkit, also referred to as DAS Accelerators, provides a consistent, repeatable, and traceable process for deploying applications by discovering, identifying, and cataloging infrastructure and environmental configuration parameters systematically, without the need for custom testing code, using ODBC drivers and AI to facilitate audits and validations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual deployment and configuration modeling using custom testing code is used, then application-specific requirements can be validated, but deployment errors increase and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses system information collectors that create copies of system state data (registry hives, file system structures, database schemas) to validate deployment requirements. Instead of executing custom testing code, the system collects and analyzes copies of existing system information to verify configuration accuracy, thereby reducing deployment errors without increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation layer between deployment and verification. System information collectors gather raw system data, which is then processed by validation logic to check against deployment requirements. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for direct custom testing code execution while maintaining validation accuracy
2Reliability
If individual testing code is executed for each application prerequisite, then application-specific validation is achieved, but numerous different sets of testing code must be independently executed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal system information collectors that can validate multiple different applications and their prerequisites using a single unified collection framework. The same collector infrastructure validates registry settings, file configurations, and database schemas across all applications, eliminating the need for separate testing code for each application while maintaining comprehensive validation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple validation functions into a single integrated system. Instead of executing independent testing code for each application, the system combines all prerequisite validation logic into unified collection and validation processes that handle multiple applications simultaneously, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing validation accuracy
3Reliability
If testing code is introduced into the target system, then validation tests can be executed, but conflicts with existing code may arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying of system information (registry hives, file structures, database schemas) to perform validation without modifying the target system. By working with copies of existing system state, the validation process eliminates the risk of introducing new code that could conflict with existing applications, while maintaining reliable validation through accurate replication of system information
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-validation by collecting and analyzing its own system information without requiring external testing code. The validation logic uses the target system's existing structures and data to verify deployment requirements, eliminating the need to introduce new code into the system and thereby avoiding code conflicts
4Loss of information
If active interrogation using custom code is used, then detailed validation information can be obtained, but the process is not optimal for maximizing use of existing system resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to provide its own validation information by collecting and analyzing its existing system state. Instead of requiring external testing code to interrogate the system, the validation system uses the system's own registry, files, and database structures as sources of validation data, thereby maximizing use of existing resources while maintaining high-quality validation information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary information collection layer that bridges the gap between existing system resources and validation requirements. System information collectors gather data from existing system structures and present it in a validated format, eliminating the need for complex custom interrogation code while maintaining comprehensive validation information
Data Source
AI summary
Deployment assurance services Accelerators (“DAS Accelerators”) include audit functionality that performs a sequential audit of each server listed in a customer's server list from customer's target environment. And artificial intelligence engine (“AI engine”) scans each server to match all required Include entries, which enables categories of product specific checks. Checks for each product category are processed sequentially, including database specific checks. All database platforms can be configured to connect on custom\nonstandard ports, using unique credentials. After each server audit is completed, the audit results are outputted to an encrypted file, a csv or database, depending on how the execution was configured by the customer. Audits review hardware, software, registry, integration and configuration details from customer servers for, e.g., the purpose of validating fitness for use. Various validation and environment reports are generated based on the audit results.