Managing operational requirements on the objects of a service oriented architecture (SOA)

• US 20080229195A1
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Software AG
• Original Assignee: Software AG
• Inventors: Schoning, Harald, Brauel, Bjorn
• Granted Patent: US 8,479,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques

Abstract

A registry for a service oriented architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects. The registry may include a plurality of non-formalized operation requirements for the plurality of SOA objects, a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects, and a plurality of links, linking each non-formalized operation requirement to at least one technical assertion of the registry.

Claims

1. A memory medium storing a registry for a service oriented architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects, the registry including:

a plurality of non-formalized operation requirements for the plurality of SOA objects;

a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects; and

a plurality of links, linking each non-formalized operation requirement to at least one technical assertion of the registry.

2. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the registry further comprises, for each link, an intermediate representation of the respective non-formalized operation requirement.

3. The memory medium of claim 2, wherein the registry further comprises an intermediate representation of at least one non-formalized operation requirement which is not linked to a technical assertion.

4. The memory medium of claim 2, further storing a graphical user interface presenting at least one non-formalized operation requirement and an intermediate representation of at least one linked technical assertion.

5. The memory medium of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to link at least two technical assertions to the same non-formalized operation requirement, wherein the graphical user interface is useable to combine at least two technical assertions using Boolean expressions.

6. The memory medium of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to present a template for the selection of an appropriate technical assertion to be linked to a non-formalized operation requirement.

7. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the registry further comprises a taxonomy grouping the technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects into domains.

8. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the registry further comprises at least one link linking a single non-formalized operation requirement to technical assertions valid for a plurality of SOA objects.

9. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and the plurality of links are useable for managing operational requirements of a service oriented (software) architecture (SOA).

10. The memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and the plurality of links enable a high-level user to control the operation of the processing objects of the SOA by referring only to the non-formalized operation requirements without having to use the technical assertions.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one link links a single non-formalized operation requirement to technical assertions valid for a plurality of SOA objects.

11. A method for managing operational requirements of a service oriented (software) architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of non-formalized operation requirements for the plurality of SOA objects;

storing a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects; and

storing a plurality of links, linking each non-formalized operation requirement to at least one technical assertion;

wherein the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and the plurality of links are useable for managing operational requirements of the service oriented (software) architecture (SOA).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a display, wherein the graphical user interface is useable to display information regarding the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and/or the plurality of links;

wherein the graphical user interface is useable to perform modification of the technical assertions and/or the non-formalized operation requirements of the SOA objects.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a display, wherein the graphical user interface is useable to define operational requirements for the SOA objects using Boolean expressions.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

for at least one link, storing an intermediate representation of the respective non-formalized operation requirement.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

for at least one link, storing an intermediate representation of at least one non-formalized operation requirement which is not linked to a technical assertion.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface presenting at least one non-formalized operation requirement and an intermediate representation of at least one linked technical assertion.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a display, wherein the graphical user interface is useable to display information regarding the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and/or the plurality of links;

receiving user input to the graphical user interface to link at least two technical assertions to the same non-formalized operation requirement, wherein the user input comprises using one or more Boolean expressions.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a display, wherein the graphical user interface is useable to display information regarding the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and/or the plurality of links;

displaying a template in the graphical user interface, wherein the template is useable for selection of an appropriate technical assertion to be linked to a non-formalized operation requirement.

20. A method for managing operational requirements of a service oriented (software) architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects, the method comprising:

storing a first non-formalized operation requirement for a first SOA object;

storing a first technical assertion for the first SOA object, wherein the first technical assertion is created based on the first non-formalized operation requirement; and

creating a link that links the first non-formalized operation requirement to the first technical assertion;

wherein the link enables a user to manage the first technical assertion based on the first non-formalized operation requirement.