US Patent:
20100299653, Nov 25, 2010
Inventors:
Jayaram R. Iyer - Kirkland WA, US
Gopal Parupudi - Sammamish WA, US
Mahmood G. Qadir - Redmond WA, US
Naveen R. Karri - Redmond WA, US
Anubhuti Manohar - Redmond WA, US
Chi-Kit Chan - Bellevue WA, US
Adil A. Sherwani - Boton MA, US
Christine H. Tran - Centreville VA, US
Jason Mimick - Warrenton VA, US
Kevin Joseph Fischer - Redmond WA, US
Assignee:
Microsft Corporation - Redmond WA
International Classification:
G06F 9/44
G06F 3/048
G06F 17/30
US Classification:
717121, 715810, 707E17044, 717168
Abstract:
Many current computer software platforms support user customization and version upgradability. Unfortunately, upgrading a computer software platform may result in significant loss of user customization data. Additionally, it may be advantageous for users to export and import their customization data to share as customized business solutions with other instances of the computer software platforms. Accordingly, a technique for creating and importing a configuration package and a technique for creating and utilizing an update package is disclosed herein. The configuration package allows configuration data of elements within a computer software platform to be exported and imported. The update package allows elements to be exported within the update package. The update package may be utilized in upgrading, overwriting, and/or creating a new instance of elements. When an existing element is upgraded with an update element within the update package, the existing element's original configuration may be retained.