Flow Runtime Versioning for Cloud Platform Stability

The patent segments the software versioning by introducing API version identifiers that distinguish between different versions of the flow engine software. This allows the system to segment user flows into different version groups based on their compatibility requirements, enabling selective application of software changes to specific user flows without affecting others. The segmentation is achieved through versioned API calls and targeted deployment mechanisms that isolate changes to specific version groups.

The patent implements dynamic versioning by allowing the system to dynamically determine which software version to apply based on the API version identifier associated with each user flow. The flow engine dynamically checks the version identifier and applies the appropriate software version at runtime, rather than using a static versioning approach. This dynamic behavior enables continuous software updates while maintaining backward compatibility and preventing disruptions to existing user flows.

The patent applies local quality by treating different user flows differently based on their API version identifiers. Instead of uniformly applying software changes to all flows, the system identifies the specific version group affected by the change and applies the update only to those flows. This localized approach minimizes the impact on existing user flows while maintaining efficient deployment of improvements to eligible flows.

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-identifying the API version identifier for each user flow before applying software changes. This preliminary identification allows the system to pre-determine which flows are compatible with upcoming software changes and prepare the deployment strategy accordingly. By knowing the version identifiers in advance, the system can plan and execute updates in a way that minimizes disruption to active flows.

The patent achieves universality by using a single API version identifier field to serve multiple purposes: identifying flow compatibility requirements, determining software version selection, and managing deployment strategies. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate versioning mechanisms into one unified system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliable flow execution continuity.

The patent employs copying by creating versioned copies of the flow engine software for different API versions. Instead of modifying the original software in place, the system maintains separate versioned copies that can be selectively deployed. This copying approach isolates changes to specific versions without affecting the original or other versions, simplifying the version management process while ensuring continuous and reliable flow execution.