System and method for adding user-defined objects to a modeling tool

• US 20050160401A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.), Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Deffler, Tad A., Russo, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/890,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system and method for adding user-defined object to a modeling tool are provided. In one aspect, a meta-meta model includes at least a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects used to define meta data of a model of a selected domain. A user is enabled to create one or more instances of the plurality of objects to define one or more concepts that describe the selected domain. A user is further enabled to associate the one or more instances to define one or more relationships among the one or more instances.

Claims

1. A method for adding user-defined objects to a modeling tool, comprising:

providing a meta-meta model that includes at least a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects used to define meta data of a model of a selected domain;

allowing a user to create one or more instances of the plurality of objects, the one or more instances defining one or more concepts that describe the selected domain; and

allowing a user to associate the one or more instances to define one or more relationships among the one or more instances.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

allowing a user to define one or more behavioral rules associated with the one or more instances.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

providing a set of application interface functions for creating the one or more instances of the plurality of objects that conform to the meta-meta model.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of application interface functions include a function to create an object and a function to set a property value on an object created.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of application interface functions include:

a function to create,an object type object;

a function to create a property type object; and

a function to create a property usage object for associating a created object type object with a created property type object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a meta-meta model includes:

providing an object type object;

providing a property type object;

providing a property usage type object; and

providing one or more rules specifying one or more relationships among the object type object, the property type object, and the property usage type object.

7. A system for adding user-defined objects to a modeling tool, comprising:

a meta-meta model structured to include at least a plurality of objects and defining relationships among the plurality of objects, the plurality of objects used to define meta data of a selected domain; and

a set of application interface functions operable to create the plurality of objects and to define one or more property values on the plurality of objects.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the meta-meta model includes at least an object type, a property type, and a property usage type.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the meta-meta model includes at least an object type, a property type, and an association type.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the set of application interface functions includes at least:

a create object type module operable to create one or more object type objects;

a create property type module operable to create one or more property type objects; and

a create property usage module operable to associate the one or more property type objects with the one or more object type objects.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of application interface functions further include:

a module operable to define one or more behavioral rules associated with an object type object, a property type object, or combinations thereof.

12. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for adding user-defined objects to a modeling tool, comprising:

providing a meta-meta model that includes at least a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects used to define meta data of a model of a selected domain;

allowing a user to create one or more instances of the plurality of objects, the one or more instances defining one or more concepts that describe the selected domain; and

allowing a user to associate the one or more instances to define one or more relationships among the one or more instances.

13. The program storage device of claim 12, further including:

allowing a user to define one or more behavioral rules associated with the one or more instances.

14. The program storage device of claim 12, further including:

providing a set of application interface functions for creating the one or more instances of the plurality of objects that conform to the meta-meta model.

15. The storage device of claim 14, wherein the set of application interface functions include a function to create an object and a function to set a property value on an object created.

16. The storage device of claim 14, wherein the set of application interface functions include:

a function to create an object type object;

a function to create a property type object; and

a function to create a property usage object for associating a created object type object with a created property type object.