Runtime Object Certificate Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex software development processes face challenges in tracking and ensuring the completeness and correctness of runtime objects during software deployments, especially with frequent updates that include multiple runtime packages based on different design-time objects, leading to difficulties in validation and potential unauthorized changes.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method involving the generation and validation of certificates with fingerprints for runtime objects, ensuring their integrity and correctness through a certification process that includes obtaining, validating, and comparing fingerprints to determine the validity of the objects before deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If software development processes involve numerous iterations and frequent updates with multiple runtime packages, then software functionality and adaptability are improved, but tracking and validating runtime objects becomes more difficult and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update frequencyVSAvoidruntime object validation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system generates certificates and fingerprints for runtime objects during the build process, before deployment occurs. This preliminary certification ensures that the correct set of runtime objects is identified and validated upfront, preventing tracking errors even as update frequency increases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The validation process compares fingerprints of deployed runtime objects against certificates generated during build. This feedback mechanism automatically detects any mismatches or unauthorized changes, ensuring reliability regardless of how frequently updates are released

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple runtime packages based on different design-time objects are included in updates, then software versatility is improved, but keeping track of which runtime objects to deploy becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveruntime package varietyVSAvoidruntime object tracking

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates cryptographic fingerprints (hash copies) of runtime objects and stores them in certificates during the build process. These fingerprint copies serve as unique identifiers that enable automatic tracking and verification of which runtime objects should be deployed, eliminating manual tracking errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

Certificates act as intermediary documents that link design-time objects to their corresponding runtime objects. The certificate contains fingerprints that serve as mediators for verifying the correct deployment of runtime objects, even when multiple packages with different design-time origins are involved

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If comprehensive validation of runtime objects is performed to ensure completeness and correctness, then deployment reliability is improved, but deployment time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment validityVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual validation processes with automated cryptographic fingerprint comparison. Instead of manually verifying runtime object correctness, the system automatically compares fingerprints against certificates, achieving comprehensive validation quickly and accurately without significant deployment time overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11716319B2Software deployment certification

Publication Date: 2023.08.01 SAP SE

AI summary

The present disclosure pertains to validation of runtime objects for a software deployment using a certificate. After creating the runtime objects during a build process, a certificate may be generated based on the runtime objects. The certificate may include a fingerprint of the runtime objects that may be used before deployment to determine whether the runtime objects have been changed. Before deployment, the runtime objects and the certificate may be obtained and the certificate may be validated. In addition, the runtime objects may be validated using the fingerprint included in the certificate. For instance, the fingerprint may be re-generating based on the runtime objects for deployment. The runtime objects may be validated by comparing the re-generated fingerprint to the fingerprint in the certificate. The runtime objects may be deployed if the certificate and the runtime objects are valid.