Dynamically reconfiguring time zones in real-time using plural time zone libraries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9740176-B2
Application number	US-201414462601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2014
Priority date	Aug 19, 2014
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A method for dynamically reconfiguring time zones in real-time using plural time zone (TZ) libraries is provided. The method provides integrating a first time zone information data (TZID) version and a second TZID version into a TZ library in an operating system. A first configuration comprising the TZ library and the first TZID version is selected. Responsive to adjusting the first configuration to a second configuration comprising the TZ library and the second TZID version, the second configuration is used automatically without restarting the operating system and without restarting an application.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer program product for dynamically reconfiguring time zones in real-time using a plurality of time zone (TZ) libraries comprising:
a computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
receiving, by a TZ management component of an operating system, a request for a time zone reconfiguration, wherein the request includes a preferred TZ library, a preferred TZ information data (TZID) version, a preferred TZ name, a plurality of TZ library rules of reconfiguration, and a TZ name retrieval policy;
searching each of a plurality of TZ libraries and each of a plurality of TZID versions, wherein the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions are integrated into the operating system, beginning with the preferred TZ library, in a user-defined pre-defined search order, for the preferred TZID version and the preferred TZ name;
based on the searching returning the preferred TZID version and the preferred TZ name, dynamically loading a corresponding TZ rule without restarting the operating system or application; and
based on the searching not returning the preferred TZID version and the preferred TZ name, dynamically loading a default TZ rule, based on a setting of a user-defined default TZ library pointer without restarting the operating system or application.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of TZ rules of reconfiguration include:
at least one pre-defined environment variable;
a list for prioritizing an order in which to load the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions;
a list of operating system directories and files used by the operating system to locate and load the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions; and
logic for selecting and reconfiguring the search order of the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions.

3. The computer program product of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a list of available TZID versions from a TZ library;
re-ordering the displayed list of available TZID versions and the default TZ library pointer, based on user-defined input;
updating the default TZ library pointer and the TZ version checker with the re-ordered list of available TZID versions; and
utilizing automatically the re-ordered list of available TZID versions without restarting the operating system and without restarting an application.

4. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the TZID versions are at least one of:
an ordered list;
a linked list;
one or more arrays;
one or more tables; and
a set of algorithms.

5. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the default TZ library pointer is set to a default TZ library and default TZID version pair, based on a user-defined search order.

6. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the user-defined default TZ library pointer is automatically reset to a new TZ library and a new TZID version pair, based on the TZ rules of reconfiguration dynamically changing the search order of the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions.

7. A computer system for dynamically reconfiguring time zones in real-time using a plurality of time zone (TZ) libraries comprising: a memory, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory, one or more non-transitory computer readable storage devices, and a plurality of program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the plurality of program instructions comprising:
receiving, a by TZ management component of an operating system, a request for a time zone reconfiguration, wherein the request includes a preferred TZ library, a preferred TZ information data (TZID) version, a preferred TZ name, a plurality of TZ library rules of reconfiguration, and a TZ name retrieval policy;
searching each of a plurality of TZ libraries and each of a plurality of TZID versions, wherein the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions are integrated into the operating system, beginning with the preferred TZ library, in a user-defined pre-defined search order, for the preferred TZID version and the preferred TZ name;
based on the searching returning the preferred TZID version and the preferred TZ name, dynamically loading a corresponding TZ rule without restarting the operating system or application; and
based on the searching not returning the preferred TZID version and the preferred TZ name, dynamically loading a default TZ rule, based on a setting of a user-defined default TZ library pointer without restarting the operating system or application.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the searching each of the plurality of TZ libraries and each of the plurality of TZID versions is performed utilizing TZ rules of reconfiguration and the default TZ library pointer, and wherein each of the plurality of TZ libraries includes a different plurality of TZID versions.

9. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein:
the default TZ library pointer is set to a default TZ library and default TZID version pair, based on a user-defined search order; and
the default TZ library pointer is automatically reset to a new TZ library and a new TZID version pair, based on the TZ rules of reconfiguration dynamically changing the search order of the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions.

10. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of TZ rules of reconfiguration include:
at least one pre-defined environment variable;
a list for prioritizing an order in which to load the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions;
a list of operating system directories and files used by the operating system to locate and load the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions; and
logic for selecting and reconfiguring the search order of the plurality of TZ libraries and the plurality of TZID versions.

11. The computer system of claim 7 , further comprising:
displaying a list of available TZID versions from a TZ library;
re-ordering the displayed list of available TZID versions and the default TZ library pointer, based on user-defined input;
updating the default TZ library pointer and the TZ version checker with the re-ordered list of available TZID versions; and
utilizing automatically the re-ordered list of available TZID versions without restarting the operating system and without restarting an application.

12. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the TZID versions are at least one of:
an ordered list;
a linked list;
one or more arrays;
one or more tables; and
a set of algorithms.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Clissold David N
• Liu Su
• Ow Michael
• Tinnakul Teerasit

Classifications

• G06F16/2477

  Temporal data queries · CPC title

• G06F8/65

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F9/44505 Primary

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G04G5/00 Primary

  Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication (radio-controlled time-pieces G04R) · CPC title