Entity-Wide Software Tracking Modules for Maintenance Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large entities face complexity and disparate processes in maintaining and tracking software updates across their information technology infrastructures, leading to manual, time-consuming, and often outdated tracking of maintenance status across multiple mainframe environments with varying software libraries and maintenance levels.
Innovation Solution
An entity-wide software tracking and maintenance tool is introduced, which generates and incorporates tracking modules into maintenance updates to provide a unified method for tracking and reporting maintenance across the entire entity, allowing for automatic updates and consistent reporting through a centralized interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual tracking methods are used for maintenance updates across multiple mainframe environments, then flexibility in handling different vendor processes is maintained, but tracking accuracy and timeliness deteriorate due to human error and information silos
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal tracking module that can handle multiple vendor-specific maintenance processes through a single standardized interface. The tracking module is designed to be vendor-agnostic, accepting maintenance updates from different vendors (IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, etc.) and normalizing them into a common format for centralized tracking across all mainframe environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking module serves as an intermediary between diverse vendor maintenance processes and the centralized tracking system. It translates various vendor-specific procedures into a unified tracking format, enabling accurate monitoring without requiring changes to vendor processes or manual intervention.
2Measurement precision
If centralized automated tracking is implemented across the entity, then tracking accuracy and timeliness improve, but system complexity increases due to integrating multiple mainframe environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex tracking system into modular components: individual tracking modules for each mainframe environment that can be independently deployed and managed. Each tracking module handles a specific vendor or environment, reducing the complexity burden on any single component while maintaining centralized coordination through standard interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking modules are designed with homogeneous structures and standardized interfaces, allowing them to be replicated across different mainframe environments. This uniformity simplifies deployment, maintenance, and integration, as each module follows the same design patterns and communication protocols regardless of the underlying vendor-specific environment.
3Ease of manufacture
If vendor-specific maintenance processes are maintained separately, then ease of implementation for each vendor is preserved, but overall productivity deteriorates due to inability to query entity-wide maintenance status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple vendor-specific maintenance processes into a single centralized tracking system. While each vendor's maintenance process remains independent and can be implemented separately, their tracking information is combined in real-time, enabling entity-wide maintenance status queries and improving overall productivity without disrupting individual vendor workflows.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual maintenance tracking is performed by individual agents, then adaptability to specific maintenance contexts is maintained, but information accessibility deteriorates as only the working agent has knowledge of maintenance status
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking module implements continuous feedback loops that automatically update maintenance status information and make it accessible to all authorized users. As maintenance progresses through different stages, the system continuously captures and disseminates status information, ensuring that all agents and stakeholders have real-time visibility without requiring direct communication with the working agent.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing an entity wide software tracking and maintenance tool for monitoring maintenance and software updates across an entity. As such, the invention provides a uniform and stable method of monitoring software updates and software installation across an entity's information technology infrastructure. The invention receives software updates or new programs for installation across the entity. The invention then creates a tracking module to link to the maintenance update. The tracking module is a self-contained, self-describing module that contains static information related to the maintenance. Subsequently, the tracking module allows users to monitor the progress of maintenance levels. In some embodiments, the user may query the system to determine the progress of a specific maintenance. In some embodiments, the system may automatically notify a user of the success or failure of maintenance at one or more stages.