System and method for interactively transforming a system or process into a visual representation

• US 5,838,973 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Andersen Consulting (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Fisher, James B., Carpenter-Smith, Theodore R., Barfield, Thomas M., Gombar, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAM, TUAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/642,782
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/705, 395/710, 395/682, 395/685, 395/500, 395/200.35, 345/326, 345/329, 345/333, 345/334, 345/419, 345/418, 345/425, 345/433, 345/440, 345/473, 345/331, 345/335, 345/952, 345/961, 345/967, 345/976, 345/977
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

A computerized modeling system is provided. The present invention is a computer-implemented, interactive, real-time software tool, for physically transforming a system or process into a visual representation. The software tool includes a class developer for interactively developing the visual representation in real time. The visual representation is physically embodied in a computer-readable medium for visualization on a computer display device, and includes at least one of a class, a class behavior, a class attribute, a collaboration, and a collaboration message flow. The software tool also includes a three-dimensional visual representation module for displaying a three-dimensional depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

Claims

1. An interactive, real-time software tool, implemented by a computer, for physically transforming an applied object-oriented programming (OOP) based system or process into a visual representation, the software tool comprising:

(a) class-interactively developing means for developing, in real time, the visual representation which is physically embodied in a computer-readable medium for visualization on a computer display device, the visual representation having at least one of;

a class, a class behavior, a class attribute, a collaboration, and a message flow of the collaborations; and

(b) three-dimensional (3D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for displaying a 3D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

2. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the class-developing means comprises validating means for validating, interactively and in real time the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

3. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the software tool further comprises two-dimensional (2D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for displaying a 2D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

4. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 3, wherein the 2D visual representation means is integral to the class-developing means.

5. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 3, wherein the 2D visual representation means comprises 2D class-developing means, for developing interactively and in real time, the visual representation as a 2D representation of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

6. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 3, wherein the 2D visual representation means comprises means for editing, interactively and in real time, the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations through the use of a 2D visual representation.

7. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 3, wherein the 2D visual representation means comprises:

(a) means for displaying each class textually and in a spatial order associated with the message flow; and

(b) means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection between an originating class and a recipient class, wherein the collaborations are displayed in a spatial order associated with the message flow.

8. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 7, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection comprises means for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows, the first arrow relating the originating class to the recipient class, and the second arrow relating the recipient class back to the originating class.

9. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 8, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows comprises means for labeling the first arrow with a corresponding behavior of the originating class and the second arrow with a corresponding behavior of the recipient class.

10. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 8, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows comprises means for displaying the first arrow with a single-lined body and the second arrow with a double-lined body.

11. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 7, wherein the means for displaying each class textually comprises means for displaying the classes from left to right in an order determined by user preference.

12. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 11, wherein the means for displaying each class textually further comprises means for displaying a corresponding vertical line for each class in order to reinforce the spatial order associated with the message flow in which the classes are displayed.

13. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 7, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection comprises means for displaying the collaborations from top to bottom in the an order determined by user preference.

14. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the class-developing means comprises an analysis means for receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

15. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 14, wherein the analysis means comprises:

(a) importing means for importing a text document;

(b) first characterizing means for distinctively characterizing noun statements related to classes;

(c) means, operatively coupled to the importing means and the first characterizing means, for searching the text document for the characterized noun statements and for importing the characterized noun statements as classes;

(d) second characterizing means for distinctively characterizing action statements related to class behaviors; and

(e) means, operatively coupled to the second characterizing means, for searching the text document for the characterized action statements and for importing the characterized action statements as class behaviors.

16. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises 3D class-developing means, for developing, interactively and in real time, the visual representation as a 3D representation of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

17. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means for editing, interactively and in real time, the visual representation as a 3D representation of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations through the use of a 3D visual representation.

18. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means for displaying each class as a corresponding 3D cell model on the display device.

19. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises:

(a) first means for displaying the at least one of;

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations in one or more different configurations;

(b) second means for displaying each class as a corresponding 3D cell positioned within a 3D space; and

(c) third means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection between an originating class and a recipient class.

20. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 19, wherein the first means comprises means for displaying a first configuration wherein an outer shell of each cell is displayed as one or more stacked opaque behavior layers relating to the behaviors of the class corresponding to the cell.

21. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 20, wherein the means for displaying a first configuration comprises means for labeling each stacked opaque behavior layer.

22. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 19, wherein the first means comprises means for displaying a second configuration wherein an outer shell of each cell is displayed as a wire frame, an inner core of each cell is displayed as one or more stacked attribute layers relating to the attributes of the class corresponding to the cell, and the outer shell surrounds the inner core.

23. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 22, wherein the means for displaying a second configuration comprises means for labeling each stacked attribute layer.

24. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 19, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means, operatively coupled to the first means, second means, and third means, for alternatively selecting one of the different configurations for display of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

25. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 19, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means, operatively coupled to the second means, for adjusting the position of each cell within the 3D space.

26. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 19, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises arrow displaying means, operatively coupled to the third means, for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows, each arrow representing a message in the message flow sent between the originating class and the recipient class, the first arrow going from the originating class to the recipient class, and the second arrow going from the recipient class back to the originating class.

27. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 26, wherein the arrow displaying means comprises means for displaying each arrow as an extruded polygonal shape.

28. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 26, wherein the arrow displaying means comprises means for displaying the first arrow in a different color than the second arrow.

29. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 19, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises perspective displaying means for dynamically presenting the message flow from one or more different perspectives.

30. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 29, wherein the 3D visual representation means further comprises means, operatively coupled to the perspective displaying means, for alternatively selecting one of the one or more different perspectives for dynamically presenting the message flow.

31. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 29, wherein the perspective displaying means further comprises means for displaying a perspective as viewing the message flow as a spectator from a stationary vantage point within the 3D space relative to the message flow.

32. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 29, wherein the perspective displaying means further comprises means for displaying a perspective as viewing the message flow from a leading edge of an active message arrow of the message flow.

33. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, further comprising networking means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for permitting multiple users to collaborate in development and visual representation via network technology.

34. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 1, further comprising distribution means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for distributing the representation across a network having a plurality of nodes, each node maintaining one or more of the classes.

35. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 34, wherein the distribution means comprises means for distributing the representation across a network having a server and a plurality of clients, each client maintaining the class-developing means and the 3D visual representation means, the server maintaining one or more classes.

36. An interactive, real-time software tool, implemented by a computer, for physically transforming an applied object-oriented programming (OOP) based system or process into a visual representation, the software tool comprising:

(a) class-interactively developing means for developing, in real time, the visual representation which is physically embodied in a computer-readable medium for visualization on a computer display device, the visual representation having at least one of;

a class, a class behavior, a class attribute, a collaboration, and a message flow of the collaborations;

(b) maintaining means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for automatically maintaining a common data model of the visual representation in order to simultaneously reflect of development of the common data model throughout the software tool; and

(c) three-dimensional (3D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means and the maintaining means, for displaying a 3D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

37. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the maintaining means is integral to the class-developing means.

38. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the class-developing means comprises validating means for validating, interactively and in real time the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

39. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the software tool further comprises two-dimensional (2D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for displaying a 2D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

40. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 39, wherein the 2D visual representation means is integral to the class-developing means.

41. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 39, wherein the 2D visual representation means comprises 2D class-developing means, for developing interactively and in real time, the visual representation as a 2D representation of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

42. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 39, wherein the 2D visual representation means comprises means for editing, interactively and in real time, the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations through the use of a 2D visual representation.

43. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 39, wherein the 2D visual representation means comprises:

(a) means for displaying each class textually and in a spatial order associated with the message flow; and

(b) means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection between an originating class and a recipient class, wherein the collaborations are displayed in a spatial order associated with the message flow.

44. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 43, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection comprises means for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows, the first arrow relating the originating class to the recipient class, and the second arrow relating the recipient class back to the originating class.

45. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 44, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows comprises means for labeling the first arrow with a corresponding behavior of the originating class and the second arrow with a corresponding behavior of the recipient class.

46. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 44, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows comprises means for displaying the first arrow with a single-lined body and the second arrow with a double-lined body.

47. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 43, wherein the means for displaying each class textually comprises means for displaying the classes from left to right in an order determined by user preference.

48. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 47, wherein the means for displaying each class textually further comprises means for displaying a corresponding vertical line for each class in order to reinforce the spatial order associated with the message flow in which the classes are displayed.

49. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 43, wherein the means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection comprises means for displaying the collaborations from top to bottom in the an order determined by user preference.

50. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the class-developing means comprises an analysis means for receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

51. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 50, wherein the analysis means comprises:

(a) importing means for importing a text document;

(b) first characterizing means for distinctively characterizing noun statements related to classes;

(c) means, operatively coupled to the importing means and the first characterizing means, for searching the text document for the characterized noun statements and for importing the characterized noun statements as classes;

(d) second characterizing means for distinctively characterizing action statements related to class behaviors; and

(e) means, operatively coupled to the second characterizing means, for searching the text document for the characterized action statements and for importing the characterized action statements as class behaviors.

52. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises 3D class-developing means, for developing, interactively and in real time, the visual representation as a 3D representation of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

53. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means for editing, interactively and in real time, the visual representation as a 3D representation of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations through the use of a 3D visual representation.

54. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means for displaying each class as a corresponding 3D cell model on the display device.

55. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises:

(a) first means for displaying the at least one of;

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations in one or more different configurations;

(b) second means for displaying each class as a corresponding 3D cell positioned within a 3D space; and

(c) third means for displaying each collaboration as a visual connection between an originating class and a recipient class.

56. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 55, wherein the first means comprises means for displaying a first configuration wherein an outer shell of each cell is displayed as one or more stacked opaque behavior layers relating to the behaviors of the class corresponding to the cell.

57. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 56, wherein the means for displaying a first configuration comprises means for labeling each stacked opaque behavior layer.

58. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 55, wherein the first means comprises means for displaying a second configuration wherein an outer shell of each cell is displayed as a wire frame, an inner core of each cell is displayed as one or more stacked attribute layers relating to the attributes of the class corresponding to the cell, and the outer shell surrounds the inner core.

59. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 58, wherein the means for displaying a second configuration comprises means for labeling each stacked attribute layer.

60. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 55, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means, operatively coupled to the first means, second means, and third means, for alternatively selecting one of the different configurations for display of the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

61. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 55, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises means, operatively coupled to the second means, for adjusting the position of each cell within the 3D space.

62. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 55, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises arrow displaying means, operatively coupled to the third means, for displaying each collaboration with a set of two arrows, each arrow representing a message in the message flow sent between the originating class and the recipient class, the first arrow going from the originating class to the recipient class, and the second arrow going from the recipient class back to the originating class.

63. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 62, wherein the arrow displaying means comprises means for displaying each arrow as an extruded polygonal shape.

64. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 62, wherein the arrow displaying means comprises means for displaying the first arrow in a different color than the second arrow.

65. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 55, wherein the 3D visual representation means comprises perspective displaying means for dynamically presenting the message flow from one or more different perspectives.

66. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 65, wherein the 3D visual representation means further comprises means, operatively coupled to the perspective displaying means, for alternatively selecting one of the one or more different perspectives for dynamically presenting the message flow.

67. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 65, wherein the perspective displaying means further comprises means for displaying a perspective as viewing the message flow as a spectator from a stationary vantage point within the 3D space relative to the message flow.

68. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 65, wherein the perspective displaying means further comprises means for displaying a perspective as viewing the message flow from a leading edge of an active message arrow of the message flow.

69. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, further comprising networking means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for permitting multiple users to collaborate in development and visual representation via network technology.

70. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 36, further comprising distribution means, operatively coupled to the class-developing means, for distributing the representation across a network having a plurality of nodes, each node maintaining one or more of the classes.

71. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 70, wherein the distribution means comprises means for distributing the representation across a network having a server and a plurality of clients, each client maintaining the object-developing means and the 3D visual representation means, the server maintaining one or more classes.

72. An interactive, real-time software tool, implemented by a computer, for physically transforming an abstract system or process into a visual representation, the software tool comprising:

(a) developing means for intractively developing, in real time, the visual representation which is physically embodied in a computer-readable medium for visualization on a computer display device, the visual representation having at least one of;

an element, a quality of an element, and an interrelation relating an element with one or more other elements; and

(b) three-dimensional (3D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the developing means, for displaying a 3D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

73. The interactive real-time software tool of claim 72, wherein the software tool further comprises two-dimensional (2D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the developing means, for displaying a 2D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

74. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 73, wherein the 2D visual representation means is integral to the developing means.

75. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 72, wherein the developing means further comprising an analysis means , for receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the element, the quality, and the interrelation.

76. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 72, wherein the abstract system or process is chosen from the following set of abstract system or processes:

a business process, a database, a network architecture, and a client-server architecture.

77. An interactive, real-time software tool, implemented by a computer, for physically transforming an abstract system or process into a visual representation, the software tool comprising:

(a) developing means for interactively developing, in real time, the visual representation which is physically embodied in a computer-readable medium for visualization on a computer display device, the visual representation having at least one of;

an element, a quality of an element, and an interrelation relating an element with one or more other elements;

(b) maintaining means, operatively coupled to the developing means, for automatically maintaining a common data model of the visual representation in order to simultaneously reflect of development of the common data model throughout the software tool; and

(c) three-dimensional (3D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the developing means and the maintaining means, for displaying a 3D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

78. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 77, wherein the maintaining means is integral to the developing means.

79. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 77, wherein the software tool further comprises two-dimensional (2D) visual representation means, operatively coupled to the developing means, for displaying a 2D depiction of the visual representation on the display device.

80. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 79, wherein the 2D visual representation means is integral to the developing means.

81. The interactive, real-time software tool of claim 77, wherein the developing means further comprising an analysis means, for receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the element, the quality, and the interrelation.

82. A computer-implemented method for physically transforming an applied object-oriented programming (OOP) system or process into a visual representation, the computer-implemented method comprising steps of:

(a) developing, interactively and in real time through computer control, the visual representation which has at least one of;

a class, a class behavior, a class attribute, a collaboration, and a message flow of the collaborations; and

(b) displaying a three-dimensional (3D) depiction of the visual representation to a user.

83. The method of claim 82 further comprising a step of automatically maintaining a common data model of the visual representation in order to simultaneously reflect development of the common data model throughout other related visual representations.

84. The method of claim 82 further comprising a step of displaying a two dimensional (2D) depiction of the visual representation to the user.

85. The method of claim 82 further comprising a step of editing, interactively and in real time, the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations through the use of the visual representation.

86. The method of claim 82 further comprising a step of receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

87. A computer-implemented method for physically transforming an abstract system or process into a visual representation, the computer-implemented method comprising steps of:

(a) developing, interactively and in real time through computer control, the visual representation which has at least one of;

an element, a quality of an element, and an interrelation relating an element with one or more other elements; and

(b) displaying a three-dimensional (3D) depiction of the visual representation to a user.

88. The method of claim 87 further comprising a step of automatically maintaining a common data model of the visual representation in order to simultaneously reflect development of the common data model throughout other related visual representations.

89. The method of claim 87 further comprising a step of displaying a two dimensional (2D) depiction of the visual representation to the user.

90. The method of claim 87 further comprising a step of editing, interactively and in real time, the at least one of:

t the element, the quality, and the interrelation through the use of the visual representation.

91. The method of claim 87 further comprising a step of receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the element, the quality, and the interrelation.

92. A program storage device readable by a computer system tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer system to physically transform an applied object-oriented programming (OOP) system or process into a visual representation, the method comprising steps of:

(a) developing, interactively and in real time through computer control, the visual representation which has at least one of;

a class, a class behavior, a class attribute, a collaboration, and a message flow of the collaborations; and

(b) displaying a three-dimensional (3D) depiction of the visual representation to a user.

93. The program storage device of claim 92 wherein the method further comprises a step of automatically maintaining a common data model of the visual representation in order to simultaneously reflect development of the common data model throughout other related visual representations.

94. The program storage device of claim 92 wherein the method further comprises a step of displaying a two dimensional (2D) depiction of the visual representation to the user.

95. The program storage device of claim 92 wherein the method further comprises a step of editing, interactively and in real time, the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations through the use of the visual representation.

96. The program storage device of claim 92 wherein the method further comprises a step of receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the class, the class behavior, the class attribute, the collaboration, and the message flow of the collaborations.

97. A program storage device readable by a computer system tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer system to physically transform an abstract system or process into a visual representation, the method comprising steps of:

(a) developing, interactively and in real time through computer control, the visual representation which has at least one of;

an element, a quality of an element, and an interrelation relating an element with one or more other elements; and

(b) displaying a three-dimensional (3D) depiction of the visual representation to a user.

98. The program storage device of claim 97 wherein the method further comprises a step of automatically maintaining a common data model of the visual representation in order to simultaneously reflect development of the common data model throughout other related visual representations.

99. The program storage device of claim 97 wherein the method further comprises a step of displaying a two dimensional (2D) depiction of the visual representation to the user.

100. The program storage device of claim 97 wherein the method further comprises a step of editing, interactively and in real time, the at least one of:

the element, the quality, and the interrelation through the use of the visual representation.

101. The program storage device of claim 97 wherein the method further comprises a step of receiving and parsing information from an external source into the at least one of:

the element, the quality, and the interrelation.