Apparatus and method for managing a plurality of software dependency maps and software installation using the same

摘要

A virtual installation map, and method involving installing a software functionality using the same, the virtual installation map including a first software installation map including a plurality of software elements representative of a related software file, the software elements also including at least one dependency to another software element. The virtual installation map further including a second software installation map also including a second plurality of software elements representative of related software file along with related dependencies. The first and second software installation maps may be hosted in separate databases and may relate to software products provided by different vendors. One or both software installation maps may include a pointer or other reference to the other installation map thereby providing a virtual installation map, in one example.

主权项

1. A software management system for managing multiple software installation maps, comprising:
a processing device storing and executing: a first module stored and executed on the processing device, the first module configured for hosting a first software installation map, the first software installation map comprising:
a first plurality of software elements representing a first plurality of software files;a first plurality of dependency pointers representing a plurality of dependencies between the first plurality of software files;a first confidence factor associated with the first plurality of dependency pointers indicating at least a number of a plurality of successful prior installations involving the first plurality of dependency pointers; and a second module configured for hosting a second software installation map, the second software installation map configured to communicate with the first software installation map to collectively define a virtual software installation map to generate a software installation route, wherein the software installation route includes the first plurality of software files from the first software installation map and a second plurality of software files from the second software installation map, the second software installation map comprising:
a second plurality of software elements representing the second plurality of software files; anda second plurality of dependency pointers representing a plurality of dependencies between the second plurality of software files.