Method for transforming state-based IVR applications into executable sequences of code

• US 6,301,703 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Villarica, R. Alberto, Shank, Charles Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/223,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 717/5
• US Class Current: 717/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/447 Target code generation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus transform a state-based application into an executable program. A script representing a state-table application is exported from a development environment for a state-based system. The script is translated into a specifically structured, compilable code sequence. e.g., in the Java or C++ programming language. The code is compiled with a library, allowing the executable program to interface with a hardware platform. In order for the executable program to interface with a different hardware platform, only the library needs to be modified.

Claims

1. A process for transforming an application for a state-driven telephony system into an executable code sequence comprising:

receiving a script at a media server, the script representing a state-table of the application for the state-driven telephony system, the script including at least one state and at least one corresponding action, wherein each state corresponds to a mode of the telephony system and each action corresponds to a process of the state-driven telephony system;

translating the script into a compilable code sequence, including

creating a class representing the state-table, and

creating a method for the class including a switch statement having a case corresponding to the state for executing the corresponding action; and

compiling the compilable code sequence into an executable code sequence that may be executed on the media server to control the telephony system.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the system includes an iconic editor for developing state-based applications and receiving includes receiving a script representing a state-table from the iconic editor.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the system includes a text-based state-table editor for developing state-based applications and receiving includes receiving the script representing a state-table from the state-table editor.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein compiling includes compiling the compilable code sequence with a library that interfaces to a hardware platform.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the action corresponding to the state has a corresponding result, and wherein translating further includes

adding to the method a switch statement associated with the action for determining a next state and having a case corresponding to the result that corresponds to the action.

6. A media server comprising:

means for receiving a script at a media server, the script representing a state-table of an application for a state-driven telephony system, the script including at least one state and at least one corresponding action, wherein each state corresponds to a mode of the telephony system and each action corresponds to a process of the telephony system;

means for translating the script into a compilable code sequence, including

means for creating a class representing the state-table, and

means for creating a method for the class including a switch statement having a case corresponding to the state for executing the corresponding action; and

means for compiling the compilable code sequence into an executable code sequence that may be executed on the media server to control the state-driven telephony system.

7. The media server of claim 6 wherein the system includes an iconic editor for developing state-based applications and the receiving means includes means for receiving a script representing a state-table from the iconic editor.

8. The media server of claim 6 wherein the system includes a text-based editor for developing state-based applications and the receiving means includes means for receiving a script representing a state-table from the text-based editor.

9. The media server of claim 6 wherein the compiling means includes means for compiling the compilable code sequence with a library that interfaces to a hardware platform.

10. The media server of claim 6 wherein the action corresponding to the state has a corresponding result, and wherein the translating means further comprises

means for adding to the method a switch statement associated with the action for determining a next state and having a case corresponding to the result that corresponds to the action.