Software Release Manager for Automated Package Change Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual notation of software development, testing, and release processes is time-consuming, prone to errors, and fails to capture all important information, leading to inefficiencies in software package management.

Innovation Solution

An automated software package release manager (SRM) that captures, aggregates, and organizes software package development, testing, and release information, reducing manual tasks by performing functions such as information collection, aggregation, approval management, compliance checking, change log generation, package compare, and deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual notation is used for tracking software development, testing, and release processes, then flexibility and ease of implementation are maintained, but time consumption increases, error rates rise, and information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware package management efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual notation tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service through the software package manager that automatically captures, aggregates, and organizes information from multiple sources including version control systems, issue trackers, and testing frameworks. This eliminates the need for manual notation by developers, testers, and managers, as the system autonomously tracks and records all software package lifecycle information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (handwritten notes, spreadsheets, and manual tracking) with an automated computer-based system. The software package manager uses programmatic interfaces and automated data collection to substitute human manual notation with machine-driven information capture and management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If manual tracking methods are used, then system complexity is minimized, but information completeness and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of software package informationVSAvoidcomplexity of information management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The software package manager is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions: capturing information from various sources, aggregating data from multiple teams and tools, organizing information systematically, generating reports, and providing access to all stakeholders. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate manual processes into a single automated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The software package manager acts as an intermediary layer between various development tools, testing frameworks, and stakeholders. It standardizes information exchange through defined interfaces and protocols, enabling seamless integration without requiring direct complex connections between all system components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If manual processes are used for package release management, then automation resources are conserved, but productivity and accuracy of release management deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease management speedVSAvoidlevel of automated information management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated actions by pre-configuring information capture rules, aggregation methods, and organization structures before the software package development begins. Templates and protocols are established in advance to automatically guide information collection and processing throughout the software lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250370743A1Automated software package release management

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for automated software package release management. Software package development, testing, and release information is automatically captured, aggregated, organized and stored for accessibility and association with released software packages. Automated software package information management increases productivity and accuracy by removing most manual notation tasks from developers, testers, approvers, etc. A software release manager (SRM) may perform automated information collection, aggregation, approval management, compliance checking, change log generation, package compare, package deployment, notification, etc. for multiple software packages. For example, software package information can be distributed in notifications or accessed individually in a user interface. Users can make menu selections or query the software package manager, for example, to automatically and quickly determine and indicate software package-related information, such as the differences between released or unreleased packages, project status, approvals, test results, compliance, component change histories, etc.