Entity/relationship to object oriented logical model conversion method
First Claim
1. A computer process for automatically converting computer program modeling data expressed in Entity Relationship (ER) terminology and format into computer program modeling data expressed in Object Oriented (OO) terminology and format, comprising steps for:
- loading ER computer program modeling data into accessible computer memory;
extracting from said ER computer program modeling data in said computer memory each unique entity name; and
, responsive to said extracting, reassigning said unique entity names as OO object class names bystoring said unique entity names separately as OO object class names in said memory;
determining for each said OO object class name whether the said entity having the same said unique entity name as said OO object class has a relationship between a target entity and a source entity of the "is a" type; and
, responsive to said determining,arranging said OO object class names in a hierarchical inheritance grouping in which each OO object class name whose matching entity name is the source entity of an "is a" relationship is subordinate to said OO object class name which matches the target entity name of said "is a" relationship; and
further, in which hierarchical inheritance grouping, each said OO object class name that has no matching entity name with a "is a" relationship is placed in an object class subject to a unique superior object class name;
extracting the names of any attributes and the parameters of any relationships accorded to said entity names in said ER modeling data;
collecting and storing in said computer memory as object class names each said attribute name; and
collecting and storing as object class instance variables the names of any data elements associated to each said entity name through a "has a" relationship or by being an attribute of said entity.
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Abstract
A method for automatically translating computer application program modeling data expressed in entity/relationship terminology into computer application program model data expressed in object oriented terminology. A conversion process extracts unique entity names from the E/R model database and converts the entity names so found into object oriented class names. Next, based on the type of entity/relationships found in the E/R data model, target and source entities are identified for each "is a" type of relationship and the converted object oriented class names are arranged in a hierarchical inheritance grouping in which each unique class name whose matching entity name is the source of a "is a" relationship is subordinate to the unique object class name in the hierarchy which matches the target entity name is said "is a" relationship and in which grouping any unique object class name that has no matching entity with an "is a" relationship is placed subordinate to an arbitrarily selected unique object class name.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A computer process for automatically converting computer program modeling data expressed in Entity Relationship (ER) terminology and format into computer program modeling data expressed in Object Oriented (OO) terminology and format, comprising steps for:
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loading ER computer program modeling data into accessible computer memory; extracting from said ER computer program modeling data in said computer memory each unique entity name; and
, responsive to said extracting, reassigning said unique entity names as OO object class names bystoring said unique entity names separately as OO object class names in said memory; determining for each said OO object class name whether the said entity having the same said unique entity name as said OO object class has a relationship between a target entity and a source entity of the "is a" type; and
, responsive to said determining,arranging said OO object class names in a hierarchical inheritance grouping in which each OO object class name whose matching entity name is the source entity of an "is a" relationship is subordinate to said OO object class name which matches the target entity name of said "is a" relationship; and further, in which hierarchical inheritance grouping, each said OO object class name that has no matching entity name with a "is a" relationship is placed in an object class subject to a unique superior object class name; extracting the names of any attributes and the parameters of any relationships accorded to said entity names in said ER modeling data; collecting and storing in said computer memory as object class names each said attribute name; and collecting and storing as object class instance variables the names of any data elements associated to each said entity name through a "has a" relationship or by being an attribute of said entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification