Automated software modification facilitator
First Claim
1. An automated method, performed by a digital computer, for interactively planning, changing and maintaining software programs composed of constructs, programs and files on interrelated modular architectural, language and text documentation levels, each of which is accessible and displayable as a separate view level through an object-oriented system, wherein a change made on one level automatically informs the operator of and generates all necessary corresponding changes on other levels, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a view level for display;
choosing a type of change from a class of changes associated with the selected view level;
specifying a desired change;
analyzing the impact of the specified change across all interrelated levels of the software to identify and display other additional changes necessitated by said specified change, if any, including;
recursively analyzing each identified additional change to further identify and display still other additional changes necessitated by the additional change and subsequent other additional changes, if any, at each view level, determining whether the specified change and any additional changes can be implemented without operator intervention, displaying for an operator a selection of choices for implementing first the specified change and then any additional changes if more than one way of implementing the specified change or any resulting additional changes is available, and requesting operator guidance when the computer is unable to perform the specified change or any additional changes; and
implementing the originally specified change and any other changes necessitated as a result of said analysis on all view levels automatically without operator intervention.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Analysis, planning and interrelated modifications of a software system across modular architectural, language and documentation levels are automated and facilitated by use of the Change Assistant (CA). CA automatically analyzes the impact of the intended change on all levels, identifying related changes that may be needed to achieve the programmer'"'"'s goal. When the plan is finalized and approved, CA automatically performs the change, modifying the code, as needed, to make it consistent with the changed architecture. Thereby, the need for human intervention in maintaining software is significantly reduced and the possibility of error minimized.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. An automated method, performed by a digital computer, for interactively planning, changing and maintaining software programs composed of constructs, programs and files on interrelated modular architectural, language and text documentation levels, each of which is accessible and displayable as a separate view level through an object-oriented system, wherein a change made on one level automatically informs the operator of and generates all necessary corresponding changes on other levels, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a view level for display; choosing a type of change from a class of changes associated with the selected view level; specifying a desired change; analyzing the impact of the specified change across all interrelated levels of the software to identify and display other additional changes necessitated by said specified change, if any, including; recursively analyzing each identified additional change to further identify and display still other additional changes necessitated by the additional change and subsequent other additional changes, if any, at each view level, determining whether the specified change and any additional changes can be implemented without operator intervention, displaying for an operator a selection of choices for implementing first the specified change and then any additional changes if more than one way of implementing the specified change or any resulting additional changes is available, and requesting operator guidance when the computer is unable to perform the specified change or any additional changes; and implementing the originally specified change and any other changes necessitated as a result of said analysis on all view levels automatically without operator intervention. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification