Metadata driven system for effecting extensible data interchange based on universal modeling language (UML), meta object facility (MOF) and extensible markup language (XML) standards

• US 6,874,146 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Iyengar, Sridhar Srinivasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Courtenay, III, St. John
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANYA, CHARLES E
• Application Number:
  US09/345,289
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/104.1, 715/513, 717101-123, 717136-161, 719/313, 719/315, 719/316
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/88 Mark-up to mark-up conversion conversion for visualization in web browsing G06F16/9577
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/149 Adaptation of the text data for streaming purposes, e.g. Efficient XML Interchange [EXI] format
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method is disclosed for effecting data interchange among software tools and repositories in a distributed heterogeneous environment in a computer system having at least one repository of a first type and at least one software modeling tool of a second type. The method includes the steps of registering and storing metadata describing a meta model in the repository. Next, a set of rules and streams of data are generated based on the rules, and then documents conforming to each of the metamodels are generated by reading the set of rules. An importer is written for use in importing into the repository the streams of data; and, an exporter is written for use in exporting from the repository the streams of data.

Claims

1. A method for effecting data interchange between a Universal Modeling Language (UML) compliant software tool and a Meta Object Facility (MOF) compliant repository, the UML compliant software tool and the MOF compliant repository being included in a computer system and coupled together in a distributed heterogeneous environment, the method comprising the steps of:

a. registering and storing metadata describing a meta-model in the MOF compliant repository;

b. generating a set of rules corresponding to the metadata, wherein the set of rules is XML Document Type Definitions (DTD);

c. generating a stream of data representing a document corresponding to the meta-model based on the set of rules wherein the stream of data conforms to XML Metadata Interchange standard;

d. transmitting from the repository the stream of data, using an exporter module; and

,

e. receiving at the software tool the transmitted stream of data, using an importer module.

2. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for effecting data interchange among software tools and repositories in a distributed heterogeneous environment, wherein, when the computer program code is executed by a computer system having at least one Universal Modeling Language (UML) compliant software tool and at least one Meta Object Facility (MOF) compliant repository, the computer system performs the steps of:

a. registering and storing metadata describing a meta-model in the at least one MOF compliant repository;

b. generating a set of rules corresponding to the metadata, wherein the set of rules is XML Document Type Definitions (DTD);

c. generating a stream of data corresponding to the meta-model based on the set of rules, wherein the stream of data conforms to XML Metadata Interchange standard;

d. transmitting from the at least one MOF compliant repository the stream of data, using an exporter module; and

,

e. receiving at the at least one UML compliant software tool the transmitted stream of data, using an importer module.

3. A method for facilitating data interchange in a computer system including a Universal Modeling Language (UML)-based software tool and a Meta Object Facility (MOF)-based repository, the method comprising the steps of:

a. registering and storing metadata describing a UML-based meta-model in the MOF-based repository;

b. generating XML Document Type Definitions corresponding to the metadata of the UML-based meta-model; and

c. generating an XMI stream corresponding to the UML-based meta-model using the XML Document Type Definitions;

d. transmitting the XMI stream from the MOF-based repository to the UML-based software tool, via an exporter module; and

e. receiving the XMI stream, at the UML-based software tool, via an importer module.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the computer system includes a second repository, the method further comprising:

d. transmitting the XMI stream from the MOF-based repository to the second repository, via an exporter module; and

e. receiving the XMI stream, at the second repository, via an importer module.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second repository is compliant to UML standard.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

f. transforming the received XMI stream into corresponding metadata, via the importer module; and

g. storing the corresponding metadata in the second repository.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

h. transmitting a second XMI stream from the second repository to the MOF-based repository, via a second exporter module; and

i. receiving the second XMI stream, at the MOF-based repository, via a second importer module.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

j. transforming the received second XMI stream into corresponding meatadata, via the second importer module; and

k. storing the corresponding metadata in the MOF-based repository.