System Image Fingerprinting for Source Repository Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated software deployment systems face challenges in identifying the originating source code repository (SCR) of a system image (SI), particularly when digital tags are absent or semantics are unavailable, making it difficult to trace the specific source code responsible for a particular runtime environment.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for creating fingerprints of both system images and code repositories, correlating between them to quickly and reliably identify the originating SCR by determining degrees of correlation based on file paths and characteristics, using processing circuitry to analyze file sizes, digests, global symbols, and function symbols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital tags are used to identify source code repositories, then identification reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to tag management and semantics maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from digital tags and relocates it to file-based fingerprints. Instead of relying on tags embedded in the system image, the method extracts file characteristics (paths, sizes, digests, symbols) from the actual source code files themselves to create a fingerprint that directly identifies the repository, eliminating tag management complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces file fingerprints as an intermediary between the system image and source code repository identification. The fingerprint acts as a mediator that captures essential file characteristics without requiring digital tags, enabling reliable identification through file content analysis rather than metadata dependency
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive file analysis is performed to create accurate fingerprints, then identification precision is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file analysis process into distinct characteristic types (path, size, digest, global symbols, function symbols) and selectively collects relevant segments based on the fingerprinting requirements. This segmentation allows precise identification by focusing on the most discriminative characteristics rather than analyzing every possible file attribute
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selecting a representative subset of file characteristics that are sufficient for accurate identification. Instead of analyzing all possible file attributes, the method focuses on key characteristics (path, size, digest, symbols) that provide the necessary identification precision with minimal processing overhead
3Reliability
If multiple file characteristics are collected and correlated, then identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to correlation processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple file characteristic collection operations into a unified fingerprint generation process. Instead of separately processing path analysis, size analysis, digest calculation, and symbol extraction as independent complex operations, the method combines these into a single fingerprinting mechanism that systematically collects and correlates characteristics in an integrated manner
Data Source
AI summary
A method of identifying a source code repository (SCR) of a given system image (SI) as an originating SCR, comprising: a) providing an operating environment initialized from the given system image, and a plurality of SCRs; b) identifying one or more SI files as created in a final stage of a system image build; c) selecting one or more of the identified SI files, and determining, for each of the selected SI files, a respective file path and one or more respective file characteristics, thereby constituting an SI fingerprint; d) determining respective degrees of correlation between the SI fingerprint and respective SCR fingerprints of each of the plurality of SCRs; and e) identifying at least one SCR as an originating SCR based on the determined respective degrees of correlation.