Interactive modeling agent for an object-oriented system

• US 5,907,706 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brodsky, Stephen Andrew, Lau, Rebecca Mei-Har
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAM, TUAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/747,057
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 345/335, 345/340, 345/337, 345/967, 345/347, 345/326, 345/333, 345/336, 345/339, 345/348, 345/352, 345/433, 395/683, 395/701, 395/704, 395/682, 434/350, 434/366
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

Modeling a system using object-oriented programming tools is enhanced using a monitor built into the programming tool. The monitor can monitor in the background or in real time. Programming times are reduced and efficiency of code generation is increased by the interactive modeling agent monitoring the ongoing efforts of a user and interactive with the user through the use of windows and suggestive text on how to better use the programming language, tools, and constructs to create a better resulting model and program.

Claims

1. A method of operating an object-oriented system, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing an object model in a computer;

(b) monitoring creation of the object model by an operator for an occurrence of a specified event, wherein the occurrence of the event itself indicates that the operator requires assistance in creation of the object model;

(c) automatically triggering an interactive modeling agent in the computer to interact with the operator when the monitoring step indicates the specified event in the object model occurred; and

(d) displaying context information concerning modeling advice for creation of the object model on a monitor attached to the computer when the interactive modeling agent is triggered, wherein the modeling advice is selected based on the monitored event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive modeling agent has a novice mode and an advanced mode, the step of triggering comprises the step of selecting either the novice mode or the advanced mode for the interactive modeling agent, and the step of displaying comprises the step of displaying context information concerning modeling advice for creation of the object model according to the selected novice mode or advanced mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the triggering step further comprises the step of triggering the interactive modeling agent in the novice mode when the specified event is selected from a group comprising:

opening a window;

transitioning to another window in the program;

failing to use a feature in the object model;

defining more than a predetermined number of classes in the object model,

defining less than a predetermined number of classes in the object model,

defining more than a predetermined number of objects in the object model,

defining less than a predetermined number of objects in the object model,

defining too many methods in the object model,

defining too few methods in the object model,

defining too many states within objects of the object model,

defining too few states within objects of the object model,

defining too many states within classes of the object model, and

defining too few states within classes of the object model.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the triggering step further comprises the step of triggering the interactive modeling agent in the advanced mode when the specified event is selected from a group comprising:

imbalancing a construct in the object model;

validating the object model using a model execution facility;

failing to adhere to overall design methodologies in the object model;

not taking advantage of an applicable solution, wherein the applicable solution is selected from a group comprising a class library, a design pattern, a framework, and a subroutine.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the novice mode includes the advanced mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying an object within the object model according to the interactive modeling agent.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of reverting back the modified object within the object model.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring is performed in real-time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of triggering can be disabled.

10. A computer-implemented object-oriented system, comprising:

a computer;

means for storing an object model in the computer;

means for monitoring creation of the object model by an operator for an occurrence of a specified event, wherein the occurrence of the event itself indicates that the operator requires assistance in creating the object model;

means for automatically triggering an interactive modeling agent in the computer to interact with the operator when the monitoring step indicates the specified event in the object model occurred; and

means for displaying context information concerning modeling advice for creation of the object model on a monitor attached to the computer when the interactive modeling agent is triggered, wherein the modeling advice is selected based on the monitored event.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the interactive modeling agent has a novice mode and an advanced mode, a means for triggering comprises means for selecting either the novice mode or the advanced mode for the interactive modeling agent, and a means for displaying comprises means for displaying context information concerning alternative solutions for the operator in creating the object model according to the selected novice mode or advanced mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for triggering further comprises means for triggering the interactive modeling agent in the novice mode when the specified event is selected from a group comprising:

opening a window;

transitioning to another window in the program;

failing to use a feature in the object model;

defining more than a predetermined number of classes in the object model,

defining less than a predetermined number of classes in the object model,

defining more than a predetermined number of objects in the object model,

defining less than a predetermined number of objects in the object model,

defining too many methods in the object model,

defining too few methods in the object model,

defining too many states within objects of the object model,

defining too few states within objects of the object model,

defining too many states within classes of the object model, and

defining too few states within classes of the object model.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for triggering further comprises means for triggering the interactive modeling agent in the advanced mode when the specified event is selected from a group comprising:

imbalancing a construct in the object model;

validating the object model using a model execution facility;

failing to adhere to overall design methodologies in the object model;

not taking advantage of an applicable solution, wherein the applicable solution is selected from a group comprising a class library, a design pattern, a framework, and a subroutine.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the novice mode includes the advanced mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for modifying an object within the object model according to the interactive modeling agent.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for reverting back the modified object within the object model.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein means for monitoring is performed in real-time.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein means for triggering can be disabled.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for operating an object-oriented system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing an object model in the computer;

(b) monitoring creation of the object model by an operator for an occurrence of a specified event, wherein the occurrence of the event itself indicates that the operator requires assistance in creating the object model;

(c) automatically triggering an interactive modeling agent in the computer to interact with the operator when the monitoring step indicates the specified event in the object model occurred; and

(d) displaying context information concerning modeling advice for creation of the object model on a monitor attached to the computer when the interactive modeling agent is triggered, wherein the modeling advice is selected based on the monitored event.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the interactive modeling agent has a novice mode and an advanced mode, the step of triggering comprises the step of selecting either the novice mode or the advanced mode for the interactive modeling agent, and the step of displaying comprises the step of displaying context information concerning alternative solutions for the operator in creating the object model according to the selected novice mode or advanced mode.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein the triggering step further comprises the step of triggering the interactive modeling agent in the novice mode when the specified event is selected from a group comprising:

opening a window;

transitioning to another window in the program;

failing to use a feature in the object model;

defining more than a predetermined number of classes in the object model,

defining less than a predetermined number of classes in the object model,

defining more than a predetermined number of objects in the object model,

defining less than a predetermined number of objects in the object model,

defining too many methods in the object model,

defining too few methods in the object model,

defining too many states within objects of the object model,

defining too few states within objects of the object model,

defining too many states within classes of the object model, and

defining too few states within classes of the object model.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein the triggering step further comprises the step of triggering the interactive modeling agent in the advanced mode when the specified event is selected from a group comprising:

imbalancing a construct in the object model;

validating the object model using a model execution facility;

failing to adhere to overall design methodologies in the object model;

not taking advantage of an applicable solution, wherein the applicable solution is selected from a group comprising a class library, a design pattern, a framework, and a subroutine.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein the novice mode includes the advanced mode.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising the step of modifying an object within the object model according to the interactive modeling agent.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 24, further comprising the step of reverting back the modified object within the object mode.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the step of monitoring is performed in real-time.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the step of triggering can be disabled.