Promotion of features in reusable software component types

• US 20030159131A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Starkey, Michael, Litoiu, Marin
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

In the process of hierarchical composition of software component types, the reusability of software component types is improved through the “promotion of features”. That is, a feature of an instance of a predetermined software component type may be promoted to a software component type containing instances of the predetermined software component type. The promoted feature may then be customized when the containing software component type is instantiated.

Claims

1. A method of improving reusability of a given software component type, where said given software component type is an aggregation of instances of a plurality of other software component types, comprising the step of:

promoting a given feature of at least one of said instances of said plurality of other software component types to said given software component type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said given feature may be customized in instances of said given software component type.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of promoting said given feature further comprises the substeps of:

receiving an indication of said given feature;

receiving an indication of said given software component type to which to promote said given feature;

creating a new feature for said given software component type; and

creating a first link from said new feature to said given feature.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, before said substep of receiving said indication of said given feature, the substeps of:

receiving an indication of a selected instance of a software component type among said instances of said plurality of other software component types; and

displaying a list of features for said selected instance.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of promoting said given feature further comprises the substeps of:

receiving an indication of a second feature; and

creating a second link, said second link being from said new feature to said second feature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of promoting said given feature further comprises the substeps of:

receiving an indication of a name; and

associating said given feature and said second feature with said name.

7. A method of improving reusability of a given software component type, wherein said given software component type is an aggregation of instances of a plurality of other software component types, said method comprising the step of:

promoting at least one of said instances of said plurality of other software component types to said given software component type.

8. A visual tool for developing software operable to promote a feature of an instance of a first software component type to a second software component type such that said feature may be customized in instances of said second software component type.

9. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when performed by a processor in a computer system for building software component types, cause the computer system to promote a feature of an instance of a first software component type to a second software component type such that said feature may be customized in instances of said second software component type.

10. A method of promoting a given feature of an instance of a first software component type, comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of said given feature;

receiving an indication of a second software component type to which to promote said given feature;

creating a new feature for said second software component type; and

creating a link from said new feature to said given feature.

11. A visual tool for building software component types, said visual tool comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a given feature;

means for receiving an indication of a second software component type to which to promote said given feature;

means for creating a new feature for said second software component type; and

means for creating a link from said new feature to said given feature.

12. A system for building a software component type, said system comprising:

at least one input peripheral adapted to;

receive an indication of a given feature; and

receive an indication of a second software component type to which to promote said given feature;

a processor adapted to;

receive said indications from said at least one input peripheral;

create a new feature for said second software component type; and

create a link from said new feature to said given feature.

13. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when performed by a processor in a computer system for building software component types, cause the computer system to:

receive an indication of a given feature;

receive an indication of a second software component type to which to promote said given feature;

create a new feature for said second software component type; and

create a link from said new feature to said given feature.

14. A first object for implementation by a computer in an object-oriented framework, said object comprising:

a first feature; and

a link adapted to relate said first feature of said first object to a second feature of a second object for implementation by said computer in said object-oriented framework.

15. A method of demoting a promoted feature, wherein said promoted feature is a new feature having a link to a given feature of an instance of a first software component type, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a second software component type including said promoted feature;

receiving an indication of said promoted feature to demote;

deleting said link from said new feature to said given feature; and

deleting said new feature.