Interactive agent for a topological multi-tier business application composer

• US 20040205691A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: England, Laurence E., Glaser, Howard J., Poole, Rebecca L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A computer-implemented Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for use in constructing a multi-tier business application for a multiple tier computer network. The IDE is used to create and maintain the multi-tier business application quickly and easily on the multiple tier computer network. The IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer and associated Meta-model, wherein the Composer allows the developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application and the graphical representation of the multi-tier business application is then persistently stored in the Meta-model The IDE also includes an Interactive Agent that monitors the Meta-model for an occurrence of a specific event and then triggers the display of a dialog box or other graphical element in the user interface of the IDE to interact with the developer by displaying context information comprising a list of suggested and recommended actions that advance the creation of the multi-tier business application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system of developing multi-tier business applications, comprising:

an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), executed by a computer, for creating and maintaining a multi-tier business application on a multiple tier computer network, wherein the IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer that is used by a developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application, a Meta-model that captures and persistently stores information entered via the Composer, and an Interactive Agent that monitors the Meta-model for an occurrence of one or more specific events, whereupon the Interactive Agent triggers a display of a graphical element in the Composer to interact with the developer, and the graphical element includes context information comprising a list of suggested and recommended actions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the Interactive Agent includes a Novice mode, and the Interactive Agent is triggered in the Novice Mode when an event occurs that is selected from a group comprising:

opening a new window;

adding a new type of graphical element to a window;

repetitiously adding a same type of graphical ele ment to a window;

transitioning from one window to another window;

defining more than a predetermined number of tiers;

defining less than a predetermined number of tiers;

defining more than a predetermined number of workstations;

defining less than a predetermined number of workstations;

defining more than a predetermined number of applications;

defining less than a predetermined number of applications;

defining more than a predetermined number of data paths;

defining less than a predetermined number of data paths;

failure to use a specified feature in a window; and

an apparent non-awareness of a specified feature in a window.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the Interactive Agent includes an Advanced mode, and the Interactive Agent is triggered in the Advanced Mode when an event occurs that comprises a possible non-optimization in a portion of the multi-tier business application based upon an heuristic analysis of the information gathered by the Composer and stored within the Meta-model.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the possible non-optimization is determined by examining attributes of the multi-tier business application stored within the Meta-model.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the Meta-model is updated and kept in synchronization with any updates made to the multi-tier business application via the Composer window.

6. A computer-implemented method for developing multi-tier business applications, comprising:

creating and maintaining a multi-tier business application on a multiple tier computer network using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) executed by a computer, wherein the IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer that is used by a developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application, a Meta-model that captures and persistently stores information entered via the Composer, and an Interactive Agent that monitors the Meta-model for an occurrence of one or more specific events, whereupon the Interactive Agent triggers a display of a graphical element in the Composer to interact with the developer, and the graphical element includes context information comprising a list of suggested and recommended actions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the Interactive Agent includes a Novice mode, and the Interactive Agent is triggered in the Novice Mode when an event occurs that is selected from a group comprising:

opening a new window;

adding a new type of graphical element to a window;

repetitiously adding a same type of graphical element to a window;

transitioning from one window to another window;

defining more than a predetermined number of tiers;

defining less than a predetermined number of tiers;

defining more than a predetermined number of workstations;

defining less than a predetermined number of workstations;

defining more than a predetermined number of applications;

defining less than a predetermined number of applications;

defining more than a predetermined number of data paths;

defining less than a predetermined number of data paths;

failure to use a specified feature in a window; and

an apparent non-awareness of a specified feature in a window.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the Interactive Agent includes an Advanced mode, and the Interactive Agent is triggered in the Advanced Mode when an event occurs that comprises a possible non-optimization in a portion of the multi-tier business application based upon an heuristic analysis of the information gathered by the Composer and stored within the Meta-model.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the possible non-optimization is determined by examining attributes of the multi-tier business application stored within the Meta-model.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the Meta-model is updated and kept in synchronization with any updates made to the multi-tier business application via the Composer window.

11. An article of manufacture embodying logic for developing multi-tier business applications, the logic comprising:

creating and maintaining a multi-tier business application on a multiple tier computer network using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) executed by a computer, wherein the IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer that is used by a developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application, a Meta-model that captures and persistently stores information entered via the Composer, and an Interactive Agent that monitors the Meta-model for an occurrence of one or more specific events, whereupon the Interactive Agent triggers a display of a graphical element in the Composer to interact with the developer, and the graphical element includes context information comprising a list of suggested and recommended actions.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the Interactive Agent includes a Novice mode, and the Interactive Agent is triggered in the Novice Mode when an event occurs that is selected from a group comprising:

opening a new window;

adding a new type of graphical element to a window;

repetitiously adding a same type of graphical element to a window;

transitioning from one window to another window;

defining more than a predetermined number of tiers;

defining less than a predetermined number of tiers;

defining more than a predetermined number of workstations;

defining less than a predetermined number of workstations;

defining more than a predetermined number of applications;

defining less than a predetermined number of applications;

defining more than a predetermined number of data paths;

defining less than a predetermined number of data paths;

failure to use a specified feature in a window; and

an apparent non-awareness of a specified feature in a window.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the Interactive Agent includes an Advanced mode, and the Interactive Agent is triggered in the Advanced Mode when an event occurs that comprises a possible non-optimization in a portion of the multi-tier business application based upon an heuristic analysis of the information gathered by the Composer and stored within the Meta-model.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the possible non-optimization is determined by examining attributes of the multi-tier business application stored within the Meta-model.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the Meta-model is updated and kept in synchronization with any updates made to the multi-tier business application via the Composer window.