Software system development apparatus

• US 20070022403A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Vernon, Brandt, Wayne, Wulfert, Wayne, Herget, Dale, Roth, Michael, Bray, Steven, Morris, Jeffrey, Earleson, Walt
• Application Number:
  US11/185,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse

Abstract

A software system development apparatus is provided. The software system development apparatus may include a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor. The apparatus may also include a system design tool program stored on the computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, is operable to generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting from a collection of reusable software components stored in a catalog. The system design tool may also be configured to establish compatibility information about the compatibility of the software system with other real-time embedded control system components and package the compatibility information together with the software system onto a computer-readable medium as an installation package.

Claims

1. A software system development apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor; and

a system design tool program stored on the computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, is operable to;

generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting from a collection of reusable software components stored in a catalog;

establish compatibility information about the compatibility of the software system with other real-time embedded control system components; and

package the compatibility information together with the software system onto a computer-readable medium as an installation package.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system design tool is further operable to package installation information as part of the installation package.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system design tool is further operable to transmit the installation package to a destination outside the software system development apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the destination includes a maintenance module configured to update real-time embedded control software systems associated with a work machine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system design tool is further operable to generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting multiple components from a collection of reusable software components stored in a catalog and assembling the components together.

6. A method of developing a software system, comprising:

generating a real-time embedded control software system by selecting from a collection of reusable software components;

establishing compatibility information about the compatibility of the software system with other real-time embedded control system components; and

packaging the compatibility information together with the software system onto a computer-readable medium as an installation package.

7. The method of claim 6, further including packaging installation information as part of the installation package.

8. The method of claim 6, further including transmitting the installation package to a destination outside the software system development apparatus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the destination is a maintenance module, and further including transferring the software system from the maintenance module to an electronic control unit (ECU) associated with a work machine, and installing the software system based on the compatibility information and the installation information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein installing the software system is performed automatically by the maintenance module.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein installing the software system includes updating software of at least one real-time embedded control system associated with the work machine.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the real-time embedded control software system further includes assembling more than one of the components together.

13. A software system development apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor; and

a system design tool program stored on the computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, is operable to;

generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting from a collection of reusable software components stored in a catalog;

establish compatibility information about the compatibility of the software system with other real-time embedded control system components;

package the compatibility information together with the software system onto a computer-readable medium as an installation package;

package installation information as part of the installation package; and

transmit the installation package to a destination outside the software system development apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the destination includes a maintenance module configured to update real-time embedded control software systems associated with a work machine.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the system design tool is further operable to generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting multiple components from a collection of reusable software components stored in a catalog and assembling the components together.