System for automatically converting source code from one programming language to another

• US 6,698,014 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convert Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Convert Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Rechter, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHEN, WEI Y
• Application Number:
  US09/659,699
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 717/136-137, 717/141, 717/143, 717/146-147
• US Class Current: 717/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/51 Source to source
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting

Abstract

A method and system for automatically converting source code from a first software language and platform to a second software language and platform. The method includes the steps of separating the source code of the first software language and platform into at least one element in at least one table, optimizing the element producing at least one optimized element, and rewriting the source code in the second software language and platform from the optimized element.

Claims

1. A method for automatically converting source code from a first software language and platform to a second software language and a second platform, the method comprising the steps of:

separating said source code of said first software language and platform into at least one element in at least one table;

optimizing said at least one element producing at least one optimized element;

composing said source code in said second software language and said second platform from said at least one optimized element; and

automatically creating environment files from information about said first and said second platforms.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of separating comprises the steps of:

recognizing a line keyword for each of the code lines of said source code;

finding keywords in each of said respective code lines relating to said line keywords;

determining the properties of said keywords;

creating said at least one element from said properties of said keywords; and

writing said at least one element in at least one table.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of optimizing comprises the step of analyzing and converting the data encapsulated in said at least one element to produce at least one gateway database entry.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of analyzing and converting comprises the step of defining different module types.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of updating said at least one element.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of separating database code from other application code.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of recommending the creation of stored procedures from a specified section of said second software language.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining the data flow within said source code.

9. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining events.

10. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of converting the graphical user interface (GUI) to a recognized standard GUI.

11. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining internal connections.

12. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining the inheritance of properties.

13. A method according to claim 3 and further comprising the step of externally driven optimization wherein said externally driven optimization step comprises the steps of:

performing global changes of names and

performing global changes to a GUI.

14. A method for the automatic generation of a gateway database, the method comprising the steps of:

separating the source code of a first software language and a first platform into at least one element in at least one table;

optimizing said at least one element producing at least one optimized element;

writing said at least one optimized element in said at least one table; and

automatically creating environment files from information about said platform.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said step of separating comprises the steps of:

recognizing a line keyword for each of the code lines of said source code;

finding keywords in each of said respective code lines relating to said line keywords;

determining the properties of said keywords;

creating at least one element from said properties of said keywords; and

writing said at least one element in at least one table.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said step of optimizing comprises the step of analyzing and converting the data encapsulated in said at least one element to produce at least one gateway database entry.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said step of analyzing and converting comprises the step of defining different module types.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of updating said at least one element.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of separating database code from other application code.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of recommending the creation of stored procedures from a specified section of said second software language.

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining the data flow within said source code.

22. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining events.

23. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of converting the GUI to a recognized standard GUI.

24. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining internal connections.

25. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of analyzing and converting further comprises the step of defining the inheritance of properties.

26. A method according to claim 16 and further comprising the step of externally driven optimization wherein said externally driven optimization step comprises the steps of:

performing global changes of names and

performing global changes to a GUI.

27. A system for automatically converting source code from a first software language and a first platform to a second software language and a second platform, the system comprising:

a source-code analyzer and deconstructor for separating said source code of said first software language and said first platform into at least one element in at least one table;

an optimizer for optimizing said at least one element producing at least one optimized element;

a code generator for composing said source code in said second software language and said second platform from said at least one optimized element; and

a unit for automatically creating environment files from information about said first and said second platforms.

28. A system according to claim 27 and further comprising an external optimizer wherein said external optimizer comprises a graphics conversion unit for converting the GUI to a recognized standard GUI.

29. A system according to claim 28 and further comprising an external optimizer wherein said graphics conversion unit comprises:

a unit for performing global changes of names; and

a unit for performing global changes to a GUI.

30. A system for the automatic generation of a gateway database, the system comprising:

a source-code analyzer and deconstructor for separating the source code of a first software language and a first platform into at least one element in at least one table;

an optimizer for optimizing said at least one element producing at least one optimized element; and

a unit for automatically creating environment files from information about said platform.

31. A system according to claim 30 and further comprising an external optimizer wherein said external optimizer comprises a graphics conversion unit for converting the GUI to a recognized standard GUI.

32. A system according to claim 31 wherein said graphics conversion unit comprises:

a unit for performing global changes of names; and

a unit for performing global changes to a GUI.