Method, system, and computer program product for an automation tool adapter for use with multiple different automation tools

• US 20050071422A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hyman, Stewart Jason, Booth, Bruce R., Keown, Karry Allan, Childress, Rhonda L.
• Application Number:
  US10/671,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for providing a single automation tool adapter for use with multiple different automation tools. Multiple different clients are monitored for automation requests. An automation request that is to be executed within one of the automation tools is received from one of the clients in an original format. A second format that is required by the automation tool is determined. The automation request is converted from the original format to the second format. The automation request is then submitted in the second format to the automation tool for processing. Automation requests are submitted to an automation tool in a format that is required by the automation tool.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for providing a single automation tool adapter for use with multiple different automation tools, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a plurality of clients for automation requests;

receiving, from one of said plurality of clients, an automation request in an original format to be executed within one of said automation tools;

determining a second format required by said one of said automation tools;

converting said automation request from said original format to said second format; and

submitting said automation request in said second format to said one of said automation tools for processing, wherein automation requests are submitted to one of said automation tools in a format required by said one of said automation tools.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said steps of monitoring a plurality of clients for automation requests and receiving, from one of said plurality of clients, an automation request further includes the steps of:

providing a plurality of request queues; and

checking each one of said plurality of request queues for a message.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

each one of said plurality of request queues being located in a different one of said plurality of clients.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining said second format required by said one of said automation tools utilizing a configuration file that includes a specification of a format for each one of said plurality of automation tools.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said automation request in said original format which is an XML document format; and

converting said automation request from said XML document format to a flat file containing a set of name/value pairs, wherein said flat file format is said second format.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

including a unique identifier in each one of a plurality of received requests;

said automation request being included in said plurality of received requests; and

including a first identifier in said automation request.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

including a unique identifier in each one of a plurality of received automation requests; and

tracking each one of said plurality of received automation requests utilizing said unique identifier.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

processing said automation request by said one of said automation tools;

generating, by said one of said automation tools, a reply to said automation request in response to a completion of processing of said automation request by said one of said automation tools;

said reply being in said second format;

converting said reply to said original format; and

transmitting said converted reply in said original format to said one of said plurality of clients.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

including a unique identifier in each one of a plurality of received requests;

said automation request being included in said plurality of received requests;

including a first identifier in said automation request;

including said first identifier in said converted reply.

10. A data processing system for providing a single automation tool adapter for use with multiple different automation tools, comprising:

a plurality of clients generating automation requests;

an automation request received from one of said plurality of clients in an original format to be executed within one of said automation tools;

a second format required by said one of said automation tools;

said automation request being converted from said original format to said second format; and

said automation request being submitted in said second format to said one of said automation tools for processing, wherein automation requests are submitted to one of said automation tools in a format required by said one of said automation tools.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of request queues; and

a queue listener for checking each one of said plurality of request queues for a message.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of request queues being located in a different one of said plurality of clients.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a configuration file that includes a specification of a format for each one of said plurality of automation tools for determining said second format required by said one of said automation tools.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

said original format being an XML document format; and

said second format being a flat file containing a set of name/value pairs.

15. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a unique identifier included in each one of a plurality of received requests;

said automation request being included in said plurality of received requests; and

said automation request including a first identifier.

16. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a unique identifier included in each one of a plurality of received automation requests; and

said unique identifier for tracking each one of said plurality of received automation requests.

17. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

said one of said automation tools for processing said automation request;

said one of said automation tools generating a reply to said automation request in response to a completion of processing of said automation request by said one of said automation tools;

said reply being in said second format;

said reply being converted to said original format; and

said converted reply being transmitted in said original format to said one of said plurality of clients.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a unique identifier included in each one of a plurality of received requests;

said automation request being included in said plurality of received requests;

said automation request including a first identifier;

said converted reply including said first identifier.

19. A computer program product in a data processing system for providing a single automation tool adapter for use with multiple different automation tools, said product comprising:

instruction means for monitoring a plurality of clients for automation requests;

instruction means for receiving, from one of said plurality of clients, an automation request in an original format to be executed within one of said automation tools;

instruction means for determining a second format required by said one of said automation tools;

instruction means for converting said automation request from said original format to said second format; and

instruction means for submitting said automation request in said second format to said one of said automation tools for processing, wherein automation requests are submitted to one of said automation tools in a format required by said one of said automation tools.

20. The product according to claim 19, wherein said instruction means for monitoring a plurality of clients for automation requests and receiving, from one of said plurality of clients, an automation request further includes:

instruction means for providing a plurality of request queues; and

instruction means for checking each one of said plurality of request queues for a message.

21. The product according to claim 20, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of request queues being located in a different one of said plurality of clients.

22. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for determining said second format required by said one of said automation tools utilizing a configuration file that includes a specification of a format for each one of said plurality of automation tools.

23. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for receiving said automation request in said original format which is an XML document format; and

instruction means for converting said automation request from said XML document format to a flat file containing a set of name/value pairs, wherein said flat file format is said second format.

24. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for including a unique identifier in each one of a plurality of received requests;

said automation request being included in said plurality of received requests; and

instruction means for including a first identifier in said automation request.

25. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for including a unique identifier in each one of a plurality of received automation requests; and

instruction means for tracking each one of said plurality of received automation requests utilizing said unique identifier.

26. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for processing said automation request by said one of said automation tools;

instruction means for generating, by said one of said automation tools, a reply to said automation request in response to a completion of processing of said automation request by said one of said automation tools;

said reply being in said second format;

instruction means for converting said reply to said original format; and

instruction means for transmitting said converted reply in said original format to said one of said plurality of clients.

27. The product according to claim 26, further comprising:

instruction means for including a unique identifier in each one of a plurality of received requests;

said automation request being included in said plurality of received requests;

instruction means for including a first identifier in said automation request;

instruction means for including said first identifier in said converted reply.