Software Deployment Automation via Virtual Expert Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional software deployment and maintenance processes require hands-on interaction from IT experts, making them expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to automate, especially when transferring software applications between different environments with unique configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that separates site-specific or confidential information from operating system native commands, allowing non-experts to define, parameterize, and execute software installation and maintenance procedures, enabling automated deployment across multiple environments without direct access to sensitive information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hands-on software deployment methods are used, then deployment reliability is ensured through expert interaction, but deployment time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the expert's knowledge and actions through recording their hands-on deployment procedures. This virtual replica can then be executed automatically on different systems without requiring the expert's physical presence, thereby maintaining deployment reliability while eliminating the time loss associated with manual expert intervention in each deployment scenario
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical expert hands-on interaction with an automated virtual system. By capturing the expert's actions as virtual instructions and replacing manual execution with automated script execution, the system maintains deployment reliability while dramatically reducing deployment time and the need for continuous expert involvement
2Manufacturing precision
If IT experts manually configure software for each environment, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but deployment cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the expert's configuration knowledge and applies it consistently across multiple environments. This virtual replica ensures configuration accuracy by replicating the expert's proven procedures while enabling parallel deployment across multiple systems, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a universal virtual expert system that can be applied across multiple different software deployment scenarios and environments. This multi-functional virtual system maintains configuration accuracy through standardized procedures while enabling efficient deployment across diverse systems, thereby improving overall productivity
3Ease of operation
If site-specific information is embedded in deployment commands, then deployment simplicity is maintained, but information security and confidentiality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments deployment commands into two distinct parts: generic virtual expert instructions that remain secure and site-specific parameter values that are injected at execution time. This segmentation allows the core deployment logic to be simplified and reused while keeping sensitive information isolated and secure, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and information security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual expert system as an intermediary between the deployer and the target system. This intermediary handles the sensitive site-specific information securely by receiving it as input, processing it through the virtual expert's knowledge base, and executing the deployment without exposing the sensitive data in the deployment commands themselves, thereby maintaining both simplicity and security
4Ease of repair
If remote access is granted to IT experts for system maintenance, then maintenance capability is improved, but system security and confidentiality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the expert's maintenance knowledge and procedures. This virtual replica can be executed remotely to perform maintenance tasks without requiring the expert to have direct access to the system, thereby improving maintenance capability while eliminating the security risks associated with granting remote access to human experts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human expert access with an automated virtual expert system. By substituting human interaction with virtual instruction execution, the system maintains enhanced maintenance capability through remote operation while eliminating the security and confidentiality risks inherent in granting remote access to personnel
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for software deployment or maintenance where procedures for software installation or maintenance are defined by a skilled individual; site-specific or confidential information is separated from operating system native commands; parameterized commands referencing a hierarchy of variables are acquired by another individual; site-specific or confidential information of the other individual is combined with parameterized commands; new operating system native commands are generated; and, the new operating system native commands are execute on a computing system to reproduce the procedures for software installation or maintenance originally defined by the skilled individual.The software deployment or maintenance procedures originally defined by the skilled individual may be applied to any number of computing systems maintained by any number of other individuals without the skilled individual's further involvement in the process. The site-specific or confidential information belonging to the other individuals is not shared with the skilled individual.