Evaluation of enterprise architecture model including relational database

• US 6,442,557 B1
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PRC, Inc. (Arthur D. Little, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buteau, Brandon L., Moulton, Christine S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Application Number:
  US09/031,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/100-102, 707/1-4, 707/104.1, 705/7-11
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A memory is provided for storing data for access by a database program being executed on a computer system for evaluating an enterprise architecture. A data structure is stored in the memory with the data structure including information resident in a database used by the database program. The data structure includes a work flow model, an information model; and a technology model. Each model includes a plurality of entities linking the models together. The computer system executes the database program for evaluating linkages between entities and how architectural changes to the enterprise affect the enterprise architecture by accessing the memory storing the data structure, and generates a result indicative of the linkages between entities.

Claims

1. A memory for storing data for access by a database program being executed on a computer system for evaluating an enterprise architecture, comprising:

a data structure stored in the memory, the data structure including information resident in a database used by the database program and including;

a work flow architecture model including a plurality of entities and relationships;

an information architecture model including a plurality of entities and relationships; and

a technology architecture model including a plurality of entities and relationships;

wherein selected entities link the work flow architecture model, the information architecture model and the technology architecture model;

wherein the computer system executes the database program for accessing the memory store and evaluating linkages within and among the work flow architecture model, information architecture model, and technology architecture models;

wherein, in order to make decisions about business restructuring, internal technology investment, or enterprise-level system architectures, a user analyzes dependencies between the structure and function of an enterprise and the information technology relied upon by the enterprise to determine the impact of information technology changes upon enterprise structure and function.

2. The memory for storing data of claim 1, further comprising a process relationship type entity linked to the process relationship entity and a process entity linked to the process relationship entity, the process relationship entity inheriting attributes from the process relationship type entity and the process entity.

3. The memory for storing data of claim 2, wherein the process entity includes a to process attribute and a from process attribute.

4. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an information access type entity, an information format entity, process a relationship type entity, a security classifications entity, a service model entity, a service layer entity, a services entity, and a technology types entity.

5. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an implementation entity, an information repositories entity, a locations entity, an organizations entity, a processes entity, a systems entity, and a technology items entity.

6. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an implementation use entity which inherits attributes from a process role entity and an implementation entity.

7. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an information access entity which inherits attributes from a process role entity, an information access type entity and a repository entity.

8. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an information distribution entity which inherits attributes from an information type entity and an information repository entity.

9. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an information relationships entity which inherits attributes from an information type entity and a process entity.

10. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an information repository format entity which inherits attributes from an information format entity and an information repository entity.

11. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a location people entity which inherits attributes from a location entity and a type of person entity.

12. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an organization locations entity which inherits attributes from a location entity and an organization entity.

13. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an organization people entity which inherits attributes from an organization entity and a type of person entity.

14. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an organization roles entity which inherits attributes from an organization role type entity, an organization entity and a process entity.

15. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an organization role people entity which inherits attributes from an organization role people entity and a type of people entity.

16. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a process locations entity which inherits attributes from a location entity, a process entity and a security classifications entity.

17. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a process roles entity which includes attributes inherited by an access entity and an implementation use entity and which inherits attributes from a process entity and a type of people entity.

18. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a repository distribution entity which inherits attributes from an information repository entity, an implementation entity and a location entity.

19. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a service implementation entity which inherits attributes from a service entity and an implementation entity.

20. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a system components entity which inherits attributes from a system entity and an implementation entity.

21. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a technology acquisitions entity which inherits attributes from an organization entity and which has attributes inherited by a technology acquisition item entity.

22. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a technology acquisition items entity which inherits attributes from a technology item entity and a technology acquisition entity.

23. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a technology distribution entity which inherits attributes from a technology item entity and a location entity.

24. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a technology item types entity which inherits attributes from a technology type entity and a technology item entity.

25. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a technology security entity which inherits attributes from a location entity, a technology item entity and a security classification entity.

26. The memory for storing data of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a technology sets entity which inherits attributes from an implementation entity and a technology item entity.

27. A computer-readable medium having a data structure representing an enterprise architecture stored thereon for access by a data processing system to evaluate the enterprise architecture, the data structure comprising:

a work flow architecture model including a plurality of entities;

a technology architecture model including a plurality of entities; and

an information architecture model including a plurality of entities;

wherein the work flow architecture model, information architecture model and technology architecture model form an enterprise architecture;

wherein the computer system executes the database program for accessing the memory store and evaluating linkages within and among the work flow architecture model, information architecture model, and technology architecture models;

wherein, in order to make decisions about business restructuring, internal technology investment, or enterprise-level system architectures, a user analyzes dependencies between the structure and function of an enterprise and the information technology relied upon by the enterprise to determine the impact of information technology changes upon enterprise structure and function.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein selected entities link the work flow architecture model, the information architecture model and the technology architecture model.

29. A computer implemented method for storing data for access by a database program being executed on the computer for evaluating an enterprise architecture, comprising:

defining entities within at least one of a work flow architecture model, an information architecture model and a technology architecture model;

classifying and inputting data into a work flow architecture model, an information architecture model and a technology architecture model, each of the models having entities with each of the entities having at least one attribute;

linking each of the entities of the work flow architecture model, the information architecture model and the technology architecture model and defining relationships between the linked entities;

storing the linked entities and input data on a storage device associated with a computer having a database program, the database program capable of allowing users to input and search for how architectural changes to the enterprise affects the enterprise architecture; and

generating a screen on which a user inputs a search to show the relationships between linked entities in the enterprise architecture and displays results retrieved by the search;

wherein the computer system executes the database program for accessing the memory store and evaluating linkages within and among the work flow architecture model, information architecture model, and technology architecture models;

wherein, in order to make decisions about business restructuring, internal technology investment, or enterprise-level system architectures, a user analyzes dependencies between the structure and function of an enterprise and the information technology relied upon by the enterprise to determine the impact of information technology changes upon enterprise structure and function.

30. An enterprise architecture system, comprising:

a data structure comprising;

a work flow architecture model including a plurality of entities;

an information architecture model including a plurality of entities;

a technology architecture model including a plurality of entities and a technology item; and

a database program for managing the data structure to allow users to input and search for how architectural changes to the enterprise affects the enterprise architecture.