Pluggable model framework

• US 20060143592A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Bender, Lothar H., Bender, Joachim, Vettri, Raman Eraviputhur
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A pluggable model framework in a model-view-controller (MVC) environment. The pluggable model framework contains elements that relate to one or more of a development tool for an application, a metamodel that defines development objects associated with the application, a generator for generating code based on the metamodel, and an application run-time. The pluggable model framework includes an extension point that corresponds to at least one of the elements. A plug-in interfaces to the pluggable model framework by way of the extension point. The plug-in corresponds to a model used by the application.

Claims

1. A computer program product for implementing a pluggable model framework in an application that has a model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, the computer program product being tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product comprising instructions that cause a computer to:

define the pluggable model framework, the pluggable model framework comprising elements that relate to one or more of a development tool for an application, a metamodel that defines development objects associated with the application, a generator for generating code based on the metamodel, and an application run-time, the pluggable model framework comprising an extension point that corresponds to at least one of the elements; and

interface a plug-in to the pluggable model framework through the extension point, the plug-in containing data for use with a model used by the application, the data for interfacing to an external system.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the pluggable model framework comprises plural extension points, each of the plural extension points corresponds to one of the elements, and an extension point for each element in the pluggable model framework is for a counterpart element in the plug-in.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the application development tool comprises an element to interface with the external system to determine requirements of the external system and thereby determine how to construct the model.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the application development tool comprises an editor framework for editing the metamodel.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the application development tool comprises a wizard framework for identifying a type of the model based on the plug-in and for invoking a wizard designed for the type of the model.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the application development tool comprises an extension plug-in framework for monitoring the extension point and for providing information from the extension point to one or more of the elements.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the application development tool comprises a user interaction framework that handles activities relating to a user interface for the application.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the model further comprises generic model functionality that is common to plural types of models.

8. A system comprising:

a client for rendering a view for an application; and

a server for executing a model that interfaces to a back-end system and a controller that mediates between the view and the model;

wherein the model comprises a pluggable model framework, the pluggable model framework comprising extension points that interface to a plug-in that corresponds to the back-end system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the pluggable model framework comprises elements that relate to one or more of an application development tool, a metamodel that defines development objects associated with the application, a generator for generating code based on the metamodel, and an application run-time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the elements comprises at least one extension point that interfaces to a counterpart element of the plug-in.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the application development tool comprises an element to interface with the back-end system to determine requirements of the back-end system and thereby determine how to construct the model.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the application development tool comprises an editor framework for editing the metamodel.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the application development tool comprises a wizard framework for identifying a type of the model based on the plug-in and for invoking a wizard designed for the type of the model.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the application development tool comprises an extension plug-in framework for monitoring the extension points and for providing information from the extension points to one or more of the elements.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the application development tool comprises a user interaction framework that handles activities relating to a user interface for the application.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the application development tool comprises functionality for transferring data to and from the back-end system.

18. A method of implementing a pluggable model framework in an application that has a model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, the method comprising:

defining the pluggable model framework, the pluggable model framework comprising elements that relate to one or more of a development tool for an application, a metamodel that defines development objects associated with the application, a generator for generating code based on the metamodel, and an application run-time, the pluggable model framework comprising an extension point that corresponds to at least one of the elements; and

interfacing a plug-in to the pluggable model framework through the extension point, the plug-in containing data for use with a model used by the application, the data for interfacing to an external system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pluggable model framework comprises plural extension points, each of the plural extension points corresponds to one of the elements, and an extension point for each element in the pluggable model framework is for a counterpart element in the plug-in.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the application development tool comprises an element to interface with the external system to determine requirements of the external system and thereby determine how to construct the model.