Derived Container Images for Legacy App Deployment in Hyperscalers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deployment methods for legacy applications in cloud platforms, particularly those using customized scripts, face challenges when transitioning from private to public cloud environments, such as hyperscalers, due to incompatibilities with different deployment technologies and inefficient resource usage.

Innovation Solution

An image derivation system is employed, utilizing a set of images including a base image, intermediate derived images, and final derived images specific to programming languages, which are used to instantiate application components within containers, executing a common script to optimize deployment across cloud platforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If customized deployment scripts are used for legacy applications, then application deployment compatibility is maintained, but deployment time and resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment compatibilityVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring deployment images with all necessary custom scripts, dependencies, and application characteristics before deployment. The image derivation system prepares these images in advance, so that during actual deployment, the pre-configured images are simply executed rather than scripts being run from scratch, significantly reducing deployment time while maintaining compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating derived images that replicate the exact deployment environment and script execution context from private cloud to public cloud. Instead of transferring and re-executing numerous custom scripts, the entire script execution environment is copied into a container image, allowing rapid deployment without re-running setup scripts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple custom scripts are executed for deployment, then application-specific configurations are maintained, but memory footprint and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication configurationVSAvoidmemory footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple custom scripts, their dependencies, and execution environments into a single integrated container image. Instead of having separate script files and dependencies that consume individual memory resources, everything is combined into one optimized image that can be executed as a unified unit, reducing overall memory footprint while preserving all application-specific configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses containerization technology that creates a lightweight, flexible execution environment. The container image acts as a thin film that encapsulates all script execution needs without requiring the full overhead of traditional script interpretation environments, reducing memory consumption while maintaining script functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional deployment methods are used in hyperscalers, then legacy application characteristics are preserved, but deployment efficiency and scaling capability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication characteristicsVSAvoiddeployment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the deployment model from script-based to image-based execution. The derived images are specifically configured with parameters optimized for hyperscaler environments, including pre-set environment variables, configured dependencies, and optimized execution paths, enabling both legacy application characteristics and hyperscaler efficiency to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical script execution system with an automated container image execution system. Instead of manually or sequentially running multiple custom scripts, the system uses pre-configured container images that automatically execute all necessary deployment steps, replacing a complex mechanical process with a streamlined automated system that maintains application characteristics while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12504960B2Optimizing legacy application deployment using derived images in hyperscalers

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 SAP SE

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for providing, in a repository of a cloud computing environment, a set of images that are executable to deploy one or more instances of an application to the cloud computing environment, the set of images including a base image, one or more intermediate derived images, and one or more final derived images, executing the base image and the one or more intermediate derived images to configure the cloud computing environment for deployment of at least one instance of the application and to install one or more packages used by instances of the application, and executing the one or more final derived images to instantiate that at least one instance of the application within the cloud computing environment.