Method and system for utilizing development components

• US 20070234291A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Rostoker, Nir, Ronen, Benzi
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and software for utilizing development components or other enterprise content—whether developed internally or by third parties—are described herein. One method for utilizing reusable development components includes presenting an interface to a remote user operable to display information for at least a first and a second development component. In some cases, the first development component is a first type of enterprise application content and the second development component of a second type of enterprise application content. The user is then allowed to update some portion of metadata associated with the first development component.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing reusable development components comprising:

presenting an interface to a remote user operable to display information for at least a first and a second development component, the first development component of a first type and the second development component of a second type; and

allowing the user to update some portion of metadata associated with the first development component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises:

receiving a new version of the first development component; and

updating the metadata associated with the prior version to reflect publication of the new version.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically versioning the two versions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein automatically versioning the two versions comprises:

automatically determining a delta between the prior version and the new version; and

appending a summary of this delta to the metadata associated with the new version.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising automatically notifying a plurality of authorized users of the new version.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises:

receiving a request from the user for customization of the first development component; and

updating a licensing agreement associated with the first development component based on this customization request.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising automatically notifying a plurality of consultants of the customization request to facilitate a bidding process, at least one of the consultants being an internal resource.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

automatically selecting a plurality of consultants for performing at least part of this customization request;

presenting at least a portion of the selected consultants to the user; and

notifying at least one of the presented consultants of the customization based on a selection by the user.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein updating the licensing agreement comprises associating an approved appendix to the licensing agreement.

10. The method of claim 1, the interface comprising a multi-layered interface, the method further comprising presenting a preview of the first development component through a first layer of the interface, and wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises receiving a request from the user for customization of the first development component via a second layer of the interface.

11. The method of claim 10, the user able to interactively add a graphical tag to the interface indicating the requested customization.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises receiving feedback from the user on the first component via the interface, the feedback graphically linked with a particular portion of the component and the method further comprises presenting the feedback to a plurality of unrelated users.

13. Software for utilizing reusable development components comprising computer readable instructions operable to:

display information for at least a first and a second development component to a user via a user interface, the first development component of a first type and the second development component of a second type; and

allow the user to update some portion of metadata associated with the first development component.

14. The software of claim 13, wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises:

receiving a new version of the first development component; and

updating the metadata associated with the prior version to reflect publication of the new version.

15. The software of claim 14, further operable to automatically version the two versions.

16. The software of claim 15, wherein automatically versioning the two versions comprises the software operable to:

automatically determine a delta between the prior version and the new version; and

append a summary of this delta to the metadata associated with the new version.

17. The software of claim 14 further operable to automatically notify a plurality of authorized users of the new version.

18. The software of claim 13, wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises software operable to:

receive a request from the user for customization of the first development component; and

update a licensing agreement associated with the first development component based on this customization request.

19. The software of claim 18 further operable to automatically notify a plurality of consultants of the customization request to facilitate a bidding process, at least one of the consultants being an internal resource.

20. The software of claim 18 further operable to:

automatically select a plurality of consultants for performing at least part of this customization request;

present at least a portion of the selected consultants to the user; and

notify at least one of the presented consultants of the customization based on a selection by the user.

21. The software of claim 18, wherein updating the licensing agreement comprises the software operable to associate an approved appendix to the licensing agreement.

22. The software of claim 13, the interface comprising a multi-layered interface, the software further operable to present a preview of the first development component through a first layer of the interface, and wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises receiving a request from the user for customization of the first development component via a second layer of the interface.

23. The software of claim 22, the user able to interactively add a graphical tag to the interface indicating the requested customization.

24. The software of claim 13, wherein allowing the user to update some portion of metadata comprises the software operable to receive feedback from the user on the first component via the interface, the feedback graphically linked with a particular portion of the component and the method further comprises presenting the feedback to a plurality of unrelated users.