Claims
- 1. A method in a data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at a release level N-M, wherein M is greater than zero and less than N, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:
- designating a unit of data having an executable portion within a computer operating at release level N;
- specifying an intent to transfer said designated unit of data having an executable portion from said computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M;
- automatically converting said executable portion of said unit of data from operation at said release level N to operation at said release level N-M in response to said specifying of said intent to transfer said designated unit of data; and
- thereafter transferring said converted designated unit of data to said computer operating at said release level N-M wherein said converted designated unit of data will execute properly within said computer operating at said release level N-M.
- 2. The method in a data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 1, wherein said unit of data having an executable portion includes a plurality of segments and wherein said step of automatically converting said executable portion of said unit of data from operation at said release level N to operation at said release level N-M in response to said specifying of said intent to transfer said designated unit of data comprises:
- determining which of said plurality of segments of said unit of data will not operate at said release level N-M;
- altering each of said segments of said unit of data which will not operate at said release level N-M so that each of said segments will operate at said release level N-M; and
- combining each altered segment of said unit of data with any unaltered segment of said unit of data to create a converted unit of data to create a converted unit of data which will operate at release level N-M.
- 3. The method in a data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 1, further including the step of adding a descriptor to said converted designated unit of data indicating that said converted designated unit of data will operate at said release level N-M.
- 4. The method in a data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 1, further including the step of transmitting an error message to a user in response to an inability of said system to automatically convert said executable portion of said unit of data from operation at said release level N to operation at said release level N-M in response to said specifying of said intent to transfer said designated unit of data.
- 5. A data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at a release level N-M, wherein M is greater than zero and less than N, said data processing system comprising:
- means for permitting a user to designate a unit of data having an executable portion within a computer operating at release level N;
- means for permitting a user to specify an intent to transfer said designated unit of data having an executable portion from said computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M;
- means for automatically converting said executable portion of said unit of data from operation at said release level N to operation at said release level N-M in response to said specifying of said intent to transfer said designated unit of data; and
- means for transferring said converted designated unit of data to said computer operating at release level N-M wherein said converted designated unit of data will execute properly within said computer operating at said release level M minus M.
- 6. The data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 5, wherein said unit of data having an executable portion includes a plurality of segments and wherein said means for automatically converting said executable portion of said unit of data from operation at said release level N to operation at said release level N-M in response to said specifying of said intent to transfer said designated unit of data comprises:
- means from determining which of said plurality of segments of said unit of data will not operate at said release level N-M;
- means for altering each of said segments of said unit of data which will not operate at said release level N-M so that each segments will operate at release level N-M; and
- means for combining each altered segment of said unit of data with any unaltered segment of said unit of data to create a converted unit of data which will operate at release level N-M.
- 7. The a data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 5, further including means for adding a descriptor to said converted designated unit of data indicating that said converted designated unit of data will operate at said release level N-M.
- 8. The data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 5, further including means for transmitting an error message to a user in response to an inability of said system to automatically convert said executable portion of said unit of data from operation at said release level N to operation at release level N-M in response to said specifying of said intent to transfer said designated unit of data.
- 9. The data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 5, wherein said unit of data comprises a program.
- 10. The data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 5, wherein said means for transferring said converted designated unit of data to said computer operating at said release level N-M comprises a communications line coupling said computer operating at release level N to said computer operating at said release level N-M.
- 11. The data processing system having multiple computers operating at diverse release levels for transferring a unit of data having an executable portion from a computer operating at release level N to a computer operating at release level N-M according to claim 6, wherein said unit of data includes a first field comprising information indicating whether or not a segment may be converted from operation at said release level N to operation at said release level N-M.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/401,210, filed Aug. 31, 1989 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry |
IBM AS/400 System to System/38 Record Copy Facility PRPQ Specifications Oct., 1988. |
Upward and Downward Compatibility Between Non-Compatible Profiles--IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 28 No. 9 2/86 p. 4073. |
Expanded Control Information Recorded in Nondestructive Memory During Coexistence of Multiple Releases of a Product --IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 24 No. 7A 12/81 pp. 3204-3206. |
Management of Programming Compatibility within a System of Separate Dependent Elements --IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 31 No. 8 1/89 pp. 317-320. |
Improved Buffering for Printer Device Driver--IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 28 No. 11 4/86 p. 5068. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
401210 |
Aug 1989 |
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