International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)

A method, system, and computer program product for automatizing software bundles are provided. This method involves detecting first software scanners in computing devices that are associated with an hardware device. The licensed software applications and the second scanners that are installed in the computers are identified. The the configuration files used to initiate execution of the licensed software are pulled from a database. An operational attribute list is created and operational data is retrieved. In addition, a list of licensed software programs used by the computing device group and a graph presenting the communication links between the computing device as well as the hardware device are produced and the software that is licensed are implemented with regard to operational capabilities for the group of computing devices.

The invention is an automated method for bundling software software application packages. Particularly, the method and associated system enhances the software technology that is associated with hardware scanners for licensed software applications as well as for executing licensed software applications that allow operational functionality.

A first aspect of the invention provides an automated software application bundling method comprising: detecting, by a processor of a server hardware device, first software scanners installed within a plurality of computing devices associatedwith a hardware device; detecting, by the processor via the first software scanners, licensed software applications installed within a group of computing devices of the plurality of computing devices; detecting, by the processor, second software scannersinstalled within the group of computing devices; retrieving from a specialized database, by the processor via the second software scanners, configuration files associated with initiating execution of the licensed software applications installed withinthe group of computing devices; retrieving, by the processor, operational data collected by the first scanners and the second scanners; generating, by the processor based on the operational data, a list describing operational attributes of the pluralityof computing devices; generating, by the processor based on the operational data, a list of licensed software applications installed within the group of computing devices; generating, by the processor based on the operational data, a graph presentingcommunication connections between the plurality of computing devices and the hardware device; and executing, by the processor based on analysis of the list describing operational attributes, the list of licensed software applications, and the graph, thelicensed software applications with respect to enabling operational functionality for the group of computing devices.

A second aspect of the invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executedby a processor of a server hardware device implements an automated software application bundling method, the method comprising: detecting, by the processor, first software scanners installed within a plurality of computing devices associated with ahardware device; detecting, by the processor via the first software scanners, licensed software applications installed within a group of computing devices of the plurality of computing devices; detecting, by the processor, second software scannersinstalled within the group of computing devices; retrieving from a specialized database, by the processor via the second software scanners, configuration files associated with initiating execution of the licensed software applications installed withinthe group of computing devices; retrieving, by the processor, operational data collected by the first scanners and the second scanners; generating, by the processor based on the operational data, a list describing operational attributes of the pluralityof computing devices; generating, by the processor based on the operational data, a list of licensed software applications installed within the group of computing devices; generating, by the processor based on the operational data, a graph presentingcommunication connections between the plurality of computing devices and the hardware device; and executing, by the processor based on analysis of the list describing operational attributes, the list of licensed software applications, and the graph, thelicensed software applications with respect to enabling operational functionality for the group of computing devices.

The third element of the invention is an server-hardware device which includes an processor as well as an electronic storage unit that can be read by computers. This memory unit contains instructions that, when executed by processor, perform an automated process of bundling software applications. It detects first software scanners within a pluralityof computing device, then it retrieves from a database that is specially designed for the second scanner’s configuration files. The processor then uses the operational data to produce an inventory of software applications that are licensed within the group.

The present invention offers a simple method and associated system capable of automatically bundling software applications.

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