Developing applications using configurable patterns

• US 20060075382A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Shaburov, Victor V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products, implementing techniques for developing applications using configurable patterns. The techniques include determining the functionality of a pre-existing application; selecting one or more patterns based on the functionality of the pre-existing application, and configuring the patterns so that the patterns execute similar functionality as the pre-existing application. The patterns comprise multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements. The patterns specify predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements. The predefined actions match actions performed by the pre-existing application. Configuring the patterns includes importing database structure from a database used by the pre-existing application, generating a visual model of a query performed on the database by the pre-existing application, converting the visual model of a query into a query statement, and configuring the patterns to use the query statement.

Claims

1. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

developing a pattern-based application that matches the functionality of a pre-existing application by;

selecting a pattern from a set of patterns, the pattern comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, the pattern specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements, the predefined actions matching actions performed by the pre-existing application;

importing database structure from a database used by the pre-existing application;

generating a visual model of a query performed on the database by the pre-existing application;

generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query; and

configuring the pattern to use the query.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein importing database structure from a database includes communicating with the database through a generic interface layer that provides a generic way to communicate with different types of back-end databases developed by different database vendors.

3. The product of claim 2, wherein the generic interface layer uses JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) technology.

4. The product of claim 1, wherein the visual model of a query is generated using a visual query modeler, the visual query modeler being a tool that generates a visual model of a query and allows a user to modify the query by manipulating the visual model of the query.

5. The product of claim 4, wherein the visual query modeler is an on-line tool that runs in a web browser.

6. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the query takes as input one or more input fields and produces as a output one or more output fields; and

configuring the pattern to use the query includes selecting which input fields and output fields to be displayed by the pattern.

7. The product of claim 6, wherein configuring the pattern to use the query includes adapting the query to include one or more additional output fields selected based on relations in the database.

8. The product of claim 1, further comprising automatically generating one or more additional queries based on the selected pattern.

9. A method for developing a pattern-based application, the method comprising:

determining the functionality of a pre-existing application;

selecting one or more patterns based on the functionality of the pre-existing application, the patterns comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, the patterns specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements, the predefined actions matching actions performed by the pre-existing application; and

configuring the patterns so that the patterns execute similar functionality as the pre-existing application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring the patterns includes:

importing database structure from a database used by the pre-existing application;

generating a visual model of a query performed on the database by the pre-existing application;

generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query; and

configuring the patterns to use the query.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein importing database structure from a database includes communicating with the database through a generic interface layer that provides a generic way to communicate with different types of back-end databases developed by different database vendors.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the generic interface layer uses JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) technology.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the visual model of a query is generated using a visual query modeler, the visual query modeler being a tool that generates a visual model of a query and allows a user to modify the query by manipulating the visual model of the query.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the visual query modeler is an on-line tool that runs in a web browser.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the query statement takes as input one or more input fields and produces as a output one or more output fields; and

configuring the pattern to use the query includes selecting which input fields and output fields to be displayed by the patterns.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein configuring the patterns to use the query includes adapting the query to include one or more additional output fields selected based on relations in the database.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating one or more additional queries automatically based on the selected patterns.

18. Apparatus comprising:

means for developing a pattern-based application that matches the functionality of a pre-existing application, the means including;

means for selecting a pattern from a set of patterns, the pattern comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, the pattern specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements, the predefined actions matching actions performed by the pre-existing application;

means for importing database structure from a database used by the pre-existing application;

means for generating a visual model of a query performed on the database by the pre-existing application;

means for generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query; and

means for configuring the pattern to use the query.