Pluggable notations and semantics for visual modeling elements
First Claim
1. In a computing environment for use in computer implemented modeling, a method of creating a model element, the method comprising:
- selecting a notation from a plurality of notations, wherein each of the notations among the plurality of notations comprise a visual representation which may be used as a visual representation of a model element, and wherein each notation comprises one or more interfaces that provide information about capabilities of the notation for use in associating a notation with a semantic, but wherein each notation is independent of any semantic;
selecting a semantic, the semantic providing a meaning of a model element in a modeling environment, and the semantic being independent from any notation, the semantic having one or more interfaces for accessing information about the semantic defining requirements of a notation that is to be associated with the selected semantic; and
associating the selected notation with the selected semantic by associating the capabilities of the notation with the requirements of the semantic, where associating the selected notation with the selected semantic comprises;
validating the notation for a paradigm;
validating the semantic for the paradigm; and
validating through the notation and semantic interfaces that the notation has capabilities to meet the requirements of the semantic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described is a method, system and data structures to logically separate the notations from the semantics of model element objects into separate code components, and to enable subsequent re-association of a selected notation with a selected semantic. Various notations and semantics from different providers may be combined. The invention may be implemented in a Visual Modeling Framework which defines the API set and/or interfaces to which the semantic and notation objects conform, and allows a notation and a semantic to be plugged into each other to create a model element, thereby allowing pluggable notations and pluggable semantics. A paradigm server may load a selected semantic and notation component, combine them, and present the combination to the framework as a model element. The paradigm server may be a pluggable component, having specialized knowledge for validating whether a semantic object can be used in a paradigm and combined with a notation.
69 Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a computing environment for use in computer implemented modeling, a method of creating a model element, the method comprising:
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selecting a notation from a plurality of notations, wherein each of the notations among the plurality of notations comprise a visual representation which may be used as a visual representation of a model element, and wherein each notation comprises one or more interfaces that provide information about capabilities of the notation for use in associating a notation with a semantic, but wherein each notation is independent of any semantic; selecting a semantic, the semantic providing a meaning of a model element in a modeling environment, and the semantic being independent from any notation, the semantic having one or more interfaces for accessing information about the semantic defining requirements of a notation that is to be associated with the selected semantic; and associating the selected notation with the selected semantic by associating the capabilities of the notation with the requirements of the semantic, where associating the selected notation with the selected semantic comprises; validating the notation for a paradigm; validating the semantic for the paradigm; and validating through the notation and semantic interfaces that the notation has capabilities to meet the requirements of the semantic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system, comprising:
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a notation server, wherein the notation server stores a plurality of notations, wherein each of the notations among the plurality of notations comprise a visual representation which may be used as a visual representation of a model element, and wherein each notation comprises one or more interfaces that provide information about capabilities of the notation for use in associating a notation with a semantic, but wherein each notation is independent of any semantic; a semantic server, wherein the semantic server stores one or more semantics, each semantic providing a meaning of a model element in a modeling environment, and the semantic being independent from any notation, the semantic having one or more interfaces for accessing information about the semantic defining requirements of a notation that is to be associated with the selected semantic; and a paradigm server, the server coupled to the notation server and the semantic server connected to a modeling environment and configured to access the interfaces of the notation and the interfaces of the semantic, and further configured to enable a determination as to whether the paradigm server, notation and semantic are each compatible, and if they are compatible, to associate the notation with the semantic by associating capabilities of the notation with requirements of the semantic to provide a model element in the modeling environment, where associating the selected notation with the selected semantic comprises; validating the notation for a paradigm; validating the semantic for the paradigm; and validating through the notation and semantic interfaces that the notation has capabilities to meet the requirements of the semantic. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the following:
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selecting a notation from a plurality of notations, wherein each of the notations among the plurality of notations comprise a visual representation which may be used as a visual representation of a model element, and wherein each notation comprises one or more interfaces that provide information about capabilities of the notation for use in associating a notation with a semantic, but wherein each notation is independent of any semantic; selecting a semantic, the semantic providing a meaning of a model element in a modeling environment, and the semantic being independent from any notation, the semantic having one or more interfaces for accessing information about the semantic defining requirements of a notation that is to be associated with the selected semantic; and associating the selected notation with the selected semantic by associating the capabilities of the notation with the requirements of the semantic, where associating the selected notation with the selected semantic comprises; validating the notation for a paradigm; validating the semantic for the paradigm; and validating through the notation and semantic interfaces that the notation has capabilities to meet the requirements of the semantic.
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Specification