Software re-engineering system

• US 6,269,474 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Vernoex Resources Limited
• Original Assignee: Veronex Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Price, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Ted T.
• Application Number:
  US09/165,440
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/702, 395/703, 717/1, 717/11
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management

Abstract

An optimization system including an option to convert existing code to a code-less environment or to create a codeless environment by the establishment of all essential application elements in files. The code-less environment is created through a design and analysis step, an environmental step and an installation step. An application map is prepared during the design and analysis step which defines where information enters into the system, where information is used, and where used information is changed. The application map is also used to verify that all information is accounted for. The design and analysis step also includes the generation of default database structures, screen formats, print layouts, file transfer protocols, validation tables and communication specifications. The environmental step includes modifying specifications in accordance with user preferences, simulating performance of the specifications with test data, preparing existing data files for conversion to the code-less system, and implementing parallel processing. The installation step includes final testing of selected hardware platforms and maintenance on a development system.

Claims

1. A software system for creating an application elements cross reference file which includes lists of information elements which do not contain source code instructions, stored on a computer readable medium, said lists of information elements used for running an application on a computer comprising:

a. an editing module for creating and editing a plurality of said lists of said information elements, and for including input and output specifications utilizing said information elements in said lists;

b. means for storing said lists of information elements on computer readable medium in said application elements cross reference file;

c. a plurality of functional modules for accessing said information elements in said application elements cross reference file and generating input and output information based on said stored information elements in said lists; and

d. at least one system manager routine for interfacing said lists of information elements to said functional modules.

2. A software system as described in claim 1 wherein said system manager routine may be modified to run on selected computers and provides links between the functional modules, and the computer to permit said functional modules to operate on said lists of information elements without modification when the management routine is modified to run on said selected computer.

3. A software system as described in claim 1 wherein said lists of information elements which do not contain source code instructions further comprise lists of information elements for database structures, screen formats and report layouts.

4. A software system as described in claim 1 wherein said lists of information elements further comprise lists of information elements related to general file transfer requirements and communication requirements.

5. A software system as described in claim 1 which further comprises a scanning routine for locating and designating information elements in program source code files for automatic inclusion in said lists of information elements.

6. A software system as described in claim 5 wherein said scanning routine classifies said information elements into functional categories and stores said information elements into said lists of information elements related to such functional categories.

7. A software system as described in claim 1 wherein said file lists of information elements further comprise the name of information elements, and at least the information element location and size.

8. A software system for creating and running an application on a computer comprising:

a. an application elements cross reference file, containing lists of information elements, which do not include source code instructions, stored on a computer readable medium, said lists of information elements used for running said application on said computer;

b. an editing module for creating and editing a plurality of said lists said information elements in said application elements cross reference file, and for including input and output specifications utilizing said information elements in said lists;

c. means for storing said lists of information elements on computer readable medium in said application elements cross reference file;

d. a plurality of functional modules for accessing said information elements in said application elements cross reference file and generating input and output information based on said stored information elements in said lists;

e. at least one system manager routine for interfacing said lists of information elements to said functional modules.

f. a scanning routine for locating and designating information elements in program source code files for automatic inclusion in into said lists of information elements, wherein said scanning routine classifies said information elements into functional categories and stores said information elements into said lists of elements related to such functional categories wherein said functional categories are selected from the group consisting of the following;

i. database functions;

ii. screen functions;

iii. report functions;

iv. file transfer functions;

v. communication functions; and

vi. any combination of i through v.

9. A software system for creating and running an application on a computer comprising:

a. an application elements cross reference file, containing lists of information elements, which do not include source code instructions, stored on a computer readable medium, said lists of information elements used for running said application on said computer;

b. an editing module for creating and editing a plurality of said lists of said information elements in said application elements cross reference file, and for including input and output specifications utilizing said information elements in said lists;

c. means for storing said lists of information elements on computer readable medium in said application elements cross reference file;

d. a plurality of functional modules for accessing said information elements in said application elements cross reference file and generating input and output information based on said stored information elements in said lists; and

e. at least one system manager routine for interfacing said lists of information elements to said functional modules.

f. a scanning routine for locating and designating information elements in program source code files for automatic inclusion in into said lists of program elements, wherein said scanning routine classifies said information elements into functional categories and stores said information elements into said lists of elements related to such functional categories wherein said functional categories are selected from the group consisting of the following;

i a validation module;

ii a system environment module;

iii an editing module;

iv a system duplication module;

v a system communications module;

vi a file transfer module;

vii a report module;

viii a system screen module;

ix a documentation module;

x a system database module;

xi system selection module; and

xi any combination of i through xi.

10. A software system as described in claim 9 wherein said lists of information elements include the input and output specifications for each of the information elements in the list.

11. A method for operating a software system for creating and running an application on a computer from lists of non-source code information elements to process data comprising the following steps:

a. preparing a plurality of lists of said information elements which includes the following steps;

i. preparing a detailed definition of each item of said information elements on each of said lists, including at least the name of the information elements, the length of the information elements, the location of the information elements and the format of the information elements; and

ii. identifying on each of said lists where each individual item of said information elements is received by said computer system, how each individual item of said information elements is manipulated by said computer system; and

where each individual item of said information elements is output by said computer system; and

d. storing said lists of information elements on computer readable medium in an application elements cross reference file.

12. The method of operating a software system as described in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of:

a. reading said information elements from the where received location identified in said lists;

b. manipulating said information elements in accordance with how each individual item of said information elements is to be manipulated by said computer system in accordance with said lists; and

c. outputting said information elements to the output location identified in said lists.

13. The method of operating a software system as described in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of:

a. scanning source code for information elements in the form of database structure information related to database data;

b. storing said database structure information in a list of information elements for database structures;

c. generating default database structures based on said list of information elements for data base structures for storage of said database data;

d. scanning said source code for information elements in the form of screen formatting information related to screen data;

e. storing said screen formatting information in a list of information elements for screens;

f. generating screen formats for display of said screen data on said screen, based on said list of information elements for screens;

g. scanning said source code for information elements in the form of report layout information related to report data;

h. storing said report layout information in a list of information elements for reports;

i. generating report layouts from said list of information elements for reports for use when printing said report data, in said reports;

j. scanning said source code for information elements in the form of file transfer protocol information associated with transfer data to be transferred;

k. storing said transfer protocols in a list of information elements for transfer data transfer protocols;

l. generating file transfer protocols for transfer of said transfer data to be transferred, from said list of information elements for data transfer protocols;

m. scanning said source code for information elements in the form of communication specification information for said communication data to be transferred;

n. storing said communication specification information in a list of information elements for communications specifications;

o. accessing said list of information elements for communications specifications when initiating communications operations to transfer said communication data;

p. scanning said source code for information elements in the form of data formatting information for input data;

q. storing said data formatting information for input data in a list of information elements for said input data;

r. accessing said list of information elements for formatting information for said input data;

s. scanning said source code for information elements in the form of validation information associated with data to be manipulated; and

t. storing said validation information associated with data to be manipulated in a list of information elements for data to be manipulated; and

u. generating validation information for validating said data for manipulation.

14. The method of operating a software system for creating and running an application as described in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of:

a. scanning said source code for information elements related to database structure information related to said data;

b. storing said lists of information elements related to said database structure information on computer readable medium in an application elements cross reference file; and

c. generating default database structures based on said lists of information elements stored in said database structure information application elements cross reference file.

15. The method of operating a software system for creating and running an application as described in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of:

a. scanning said source code for information elements related to screen formatting information associated with said data;

b. storing said lists of information elements related to said screen formatting information on computer readable medium in an application elements cross reference file; and

c. generating screen formats for display of said data based on said lists of information elements related to screen formatting information stored in said application elements cross reference file.

16. The method of operating a software system for creating and running an application as described in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of:

a. scanning said source code for information elements related to report layout information;

b. storing said lists of information elements related to said report layout information on computer readable medium in an application elements cross reference file; and

c. generating report layouts for said reports based on said lists of information elements related to said report layout information stored in said application elements cross reference file.

17. The method of operating a software system for creating and running an application as described in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of:

a. scanning said source code for information elements related to file transfer protocol information associated with data to be transferred;

b. storing said lists of information elements related to file transfer protocol information on computer readable medium in an application elements cross reference file;

c. generating file transfer protocols for transfer of said data to be transferred based on said lists of information elements related to screen formatting information stored in said application elements cross reference file;

d. scanning said source code for communication specifications for information elements related to communication specification information for data to be transferred;

e. storing said lists of information elements related to said communication specification information on computer readable medium in an application elements cross reference file, and

f. generating communication specifications for said data to be transferred based on said lists of information elements related to communication specification stored in said application elements cross reference file.