# US 8,572,156 B2 · Enhanced connectivity in distributed computing systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,572,156 B2 - Document ID: US8572156B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/965,238 - Filed: 2010-12-10 - Published: 2012-06-14 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-10 - Assignees: Sap SE - Applicants: Wulf Kruempelmann; Thomas Brodkorb - Inventors: Wulf Kruempelmann; Thomas Brodkorb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8572156B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/3698: Environments for analysis, debugging or testing of software - G06F 11/3688: {for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Techniques are provided for exchanging configuration settings in a distributed software system in which interrelated software processes execute on both a client system and a service provider. Automation scripts are generated and used by the client system and the service provider to establish and initiate respective test environments. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method comprising: initiating, at a service provider in a distributed software system in which configuration software settings are exchanged among interrelated software processes executing on both a client system and the system provider, generation of a test environment at the service provider for the client system, the test environment at the service provider being generated to interact with a test environment at the client system and to test a plurality of business processes before deployment, each test environment being respectively utilized by the service provider and the client system to test changes to a distributed software environment prior to the changes being made available to production environments at the service provider and at the client system; fetching, by the service provider, technical data associated with the test environment at the service provider from a remote database; receiving, by the service provider from the client system, test environment data; generating, by the service provider using the fetched technical data and the received test environment data, automation scripts for the service provider and the client system, the automation scripts respectively defining configuration settings for the service provider and the client system; executing, at the service provider, the automation scripts for the service provider; transmitting, by the service provider to the client system, the automation scripts for the client system; and initiate, at the service provider, testing of the test environment at the service provider and the test environment at the client system once the automation scripts have been executed on both the service provider and the client system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the scripts executed on the client system is operated under the control of the service provider. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein placeholders utilized by the test environment of the service provider and/or placeholders utilized by the test environment of the client system are replaced by the automation scripts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the service provider to the client system, additional data complementary to the transmitted automation scripts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4, wherein the additional data comprises: one or more plug-in modules, business process information, and/or automated tests to execute in the test environment of the client system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as in claim 5, wherein, upon initiation of the automation script by the client system, the client system checks requirements, installs plug-ins if needed, generates data destinations for the test environment of the client system, and/or automatically tests the generated data destinations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the client system generates a log of actions that take place and data that is transmitted from the test environment of the client system to the test environment of the service provider. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the service provider generates a log of actions that take place and data that is transmitted from the test environment of the service provider to the test environment of the client system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, further comprising: fetching, by the service provider, technical data from the client system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method as in claim 9, wherein the technical data fetched from the client system includes: firewall information, system identification, host information, and/or user information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the automation scripts are XML schemas. ### Claim 12 A system comprising: a service provider providing one or more networked software solutions, the service provider comprising one or more servers, each server including at least one data processor and memory; a client system remote from the service provider consuming the one or more networked software solutions of the service provider, the client system comprising one or more servers, each server including at least one data processor and memory; wherein: generation of a test environment is initiated at the service provider for the client system, the test environment at the service provider being generated to interact with a test environment at the client system and to test a plurality of business processes before deployment, each test environment being respectively utilized by the service provider and the client system to test changes to a distributed software environment prior to the changes being made available to production environments at the service provider and at the client system; technical data associated with the test environment is fetched from a remote database by the service provider; test environment data is received by the service provider from the client system; automation scripts for the service provider and the client system are generated using the fetched technical data and the received test environment data, the automation scripts respectively defining configuration settings for the service provider and the client system; the automation scripts for the service provider are executed; the automation scripts are transmitted by the service provider to the client system; and testing of the test environment at the service provider and the test environment at the client system is initiated once the automation scripts have been executed on both the service provider and the client system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system as in claim 12, wherein the scripts executed on the client system is operated under the control of the service provider. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A system as in claim 12, wherein the service provider transmits additional data complementary to the transmitted automation scripts to the client system, the additional data including: one or more plug-in modules, business process information, and/or automated tests to execute in the test environment of the client system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A system as in claim 14, wherein, upon initiation of the automation script by the client system, the client system checks requirements, installs plug-ins if needed, generates data destinations for the test environment of the client system, and/or automatically tests the generated data destinations. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A system as in claim 12, wherein the client system generates a log of actions that take place and data that is transmitted from the test environment of the client system to the test environment of the service provider; and wherein the service provider generates a log of actions that take place and data that is transmitted from the test environment of the service provider to the test environment of the client system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A system as in claim 12, wherein the service provider fetches technical data from the client system, the technical data comprising: firewall information, system identification, host information, and/or user information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A system as in claim 12, wherein the automation scripts are XML schemas. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A system as in claim 12, further comprising at least one data processor executing a management infrastructure, the management infrastructure including a landscape directory for defining technical data regarding the service provider and landscape data defining technical data for the client system. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which when executed by at least one data processor, result in operations comprising: initiating, at a service provider in a distributed software system in which configuration software settings are exchanged among interrelated software processes executing on both a client system and the system provider, generation of a test environment at the service provider for the client system, the test environment at the service provider being generated to interact with a test environment at the client system and to test a plurality of business processes before deployment, each test environment being respectively utilized by the service provider and the client system to test changes to a distributed software environment prior to the changes being made available to production environments at the service provider and at the client system; providing, at the service provider, the test environment at the service provider to enable the client system to access the test environment; fetching, by the service provider, technical data associated with the test environment at the service provider from a remote database; receiving, by the service provider from the client system, test environment data; generating, by the service provider using the fetched technical data and the received test environment data, automation scripts for the service provider and the client system, the automation scripts respectively defining configuration settings for the service provider and the client system; executing, at the service provider, the automation scripts for the service provider; transmitting, by the service provider to the client system, the automation scripts for the client system to enable the automation scripts to be executed at the client system under the control of the service provider; and initiate, at the service provider, testing of the test environment at the service provider and the test environment at the client system once the automation scripts have been executed on both the service provider and the client system.