Method and apparatus for dynamic application and maintenance of programs

• US 6,330,711 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Knutson, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US09/124,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 717/1, 717/3, 717/4, 717/5
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing a data processing system for managing rules in a program in a Java operating system. The program is morphed such that the program becomes a dippable program. A rule change is identified for the program. A dip is created for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change. The dip is added to the dippable program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the dippable program. In the instance in which the program is not in a form suitable for morphing, an interface may be added to encapsulate the program and allow the program to be compatible with Java objects.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for managing a set of business rules in a program, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

morphing the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

adding the dip to the dippable program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is incompatible with the morphing step and further comprising:

connecting the program to an interface, wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and a Java programming system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the program comprises a plurality of beans.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dippable program includes a plurality of rules implemented as a plurality of dips and further comprising:

identifying a rule that is an invalid rule;

identifying a dip within the plurality of dips that incorporates the invalid rule; and

removing the dip that incorporates the invalid rule.

4. A method in a data processing system for managing a set of business rules in a program, wherein the program is a flight selection program, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

morphing the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

adding the dip to the dippable program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program.

5. A method in a data processing system for managing a set of business rules in a program, wherein the program is incompatible with morphing, wherein the program is written in COBOL, the method comprising:

connecting the program to an interface, wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and a Java programming system to form a compatible program;

morphing the compatible program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

adding the dip to the dippable program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program.

7. A data processing system for managing rules in a program in a Java programming system, the data processing system comprising:

morphing means for morphing the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

identification means for identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

creation means for creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

adding means for adding the dip to the program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program.

8. The data processing system of claim 7 further comprising:

connecting means, responsive to the program being incompatible with the first instructions for morphing, for connecting the program to an interface prior to morphing the program using the morphing means, wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and the Java programming system, and wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and the Java programming system, wherein the interface is in a Java class that can be morphed by the morphing means.

9. The data processing system of claim 7, wherein the program comprises a plurality of beans.

10. A data processing system for managing rules in a program in a Java programming system, wherein the program is a flight reservation program, the data processing system comprising:

morphing means for morphing the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

identification means for identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

creation means for creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

adding means for adding the dip to the program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program.

11. A data processing system for managing rules in a program in a Java programming system, wherein the program is written in COBOL, the data processing system comprising:

connecting means, responsive to the program being incompatible with the first instructions for morphing, for connecting the program to an interface prior to morphing the program using the morphing means, wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and the Java programming system, and wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and the Java programming system, wherein the interface is in a Java class that can be morphed by a morphing means;

morphing means for morphing the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

identification means for identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

creation means for creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

adding means for adding the dip to the program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program.

12. A computer program product for managing a set of business rules in a program, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first instructions for morphing the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

second instructions for identifying a rule change within the set of business rules for the program;

third instructions for creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip incorporates the rule change; and

fourth instructions for adding the dip to the program, wherein the rule change is incorporated into the set of rules for the dippable program, wherein the instructions are embodied within the computer readable medium.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program is incompatible with the first instructions for morphing and further comprising:

fifth instructions, responsive to the program being incompatible with the first instructions for morphing, for connecting the program to an interface prior to executing the first instructions for morphing to the program, wherein the interface provides for translation of calls between the program and a Java programming system.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable medium is a CD-ROM.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable medium is a random access memory.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable medium is a communications link.