Automated analysis and identification of options in project management

• US 7,360,201 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Srivastava, Biplav
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nahar; Qamrun
• Application Number:
  US10/314,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,954 Days
• Field of Search: 717/101, 717/104, 717/105
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program product for automatically identifying options in a project that includes existing components. The method includes the steps of generating representations of existing components (910), storing the representations for retrieval (920), formulating one or more decision problem/s or decision support issue/s arising in the project as a planning problem using one or more of the representations (930) and solving the planning problem using automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to the project (940). Preferably, formulation of the project as a planning problem includes defining the input data specification of the project as the initial state of the planning problem, defining the functionality requirement of the project as the goal state of the planning problem and defining one or more of the existing components as actions of the planning problem.

Claims

1. A method for automatically identifying options in a project that includes existing components, said method comprising:

generating representations of existing reusable components, wherein said representations comprise predicates, including preconditions and effects;

storing said representations for retrieval;

formulating at least one decision-support issue arising in said project as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one of said representations, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state;

solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to said project, wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action in a sequence from said initial state and said resulting state contains said goal state; and

identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of solving said planning problem comprises at least one of:

identifying existing components for reuse;

identifying existing components to be upgraded; and

specifying new components to be developed.

3. A decision support method for management of a software project that uses existing software components, said method comprising:

generating models of existing reusable software components, wherein said models comprise predicates, including preconditions and effects;

storing said models for retrieval;

formulating at least one decision problem arising in said software project as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one of said models, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state;

solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to the management of said software project, wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action and said resulting state contains said goal state; and

identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable software components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of solving said planning problem comprises at least one of:

identifying existing software components for reuse;

identifying existing software components to be upgraded; and

specifying new software components to be developed.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a model of an existing software component includes at least one characteristic from any one of:

a functionality of said software component;

a dependency of said software component on other software components;

a performance of said software component;

an effort required to develop said software component; and

an effort required to integrate said software component.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said characteristic comprises structured information available at a time of release of said software component.

7. A system for automatically identifying options in a project that includes existing components, said system comprising:

a first processor operable for generating representations of existing reusable components, wherein said representations comprise predicates ,including preconditions and effects;

a memory unit accessible by said first processor, said memory unit operable for storing said representations for retrieval;

a second processor operable for formulating at least one decision-support issue arising in said project as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using one or more of said representations, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state; and

a third processor operable for solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to said project,

wherein said third processor is operable for identifying a set of solutions including a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action said action in a sequence from said initial state and said resulting state contains said goal state, to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said second processor comprises:

a first sub-processor operable for defining an input data specification of said project as said initial state of said planning problem;

a second sub-processor operable for defining a functionality requirement of said project as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

a third sub-processor operable for defining at least one of said existing components as said action of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said third processor comprises at least one of:

a first sub-processor operable for identifying existing components for reuse;

a second sub-processor operable for identifying existing components be upgraded; and

a third sub-processor operable for specifying new components to be developed.

10. A decision support system for management of a software project that uses existing software components, said system including:

a first processor operable for generating models of existing reusable software components, wherein said models comprise predicates, including preconditions and effects;

a memory unit accessible by said first processor, said memory unit operable for storing said models for retrieval;

a second processor operable for formulating at least one decision problem arising in said software project as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one of said models, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state; and

a third processor operable for solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to the management of said software project,

wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action and said resulting state contains said goal state, and

wherein said third processor is operable for identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable software components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

11. The decision support system according to claim 10, wherein said second processor comprises:

a first sub-processor operable for defining an input data specification of said software project as said initial state of said planning problem;

a second sub-processor operable for defining a functionality requirement of said software project as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

a third sub-processor operable for defining at least one of said existing components as said action of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

12. The decision support system according to claim 10, all the wherein said third processor comprises at least one of:

a first sub-processor operable for identifying existing components for reuse;

a second sub-processor operable for identifying existing components be upgraded; and

a third sub-processor operable for specifying new components to be developed.

13. The decision support system according to claim 12, wherein a model of an existing software component includes at least one characteristic comprising:

a functionality of said software component;

a dependency of said software component on other software components;

a performance of said software component;

an effort required to develop said software component; and

an effort required to integrate said software component.

14. The decision support system according to claim 13, wherein at least one said characteristic comprises structured information available at a time of release of said software component.

15. A computer program product having a computer readable storage medium executing a method for automatically identifying options in a project that includes existing components, said method comprising:

generating representations of existing reusable components, wherein said representations comprise predicates, including preconditions and effects;

storing said representations for retrieval;

formulating at least one decision-support issue arising in said project as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one of said representations, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state;

solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to said project, wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action in a sequence from said initial state and said resulting state, contains said goal state; and

identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein said step of formulating said planning problem includes:

defining an input data specification of said project as said initial state of said planning problem;

defining a functionality requirement of said project as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

defining at least one of said existing components as said action of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein said step of solving said planning problem comprises at least one of:

identifying existing components for reuse;

identifying existing components to be upgraded; and

specifying new components to be developed.

18. A computer program product having a computer readable storage medium executing a method for management of a software project that uses existing software components, said method comprising:

generating models of existing reusable software components, wherein said models comprise predicates, including preconditions and effects;

storing said models for retrieval;

formulating at least one decision problem arising in said software project as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one of said models, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state;

solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to identify options relating to the management of said software project, wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action and said resulting state contains said goal state; and

identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable software components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

19. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said step of formulating said planning problem includes:

defining an input data specification of said software project as said initial state of said planning problem;

defining a functionality requirement of said software project as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

defining at least one of said existing components as said action of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

20. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said step of solving said planning problem comprises at least one of:

identifying existing software components for reuse; and

specifying new software components to be developed.

21. The computer program product according to claim 20, wherein a model of an existing software component includes at least one characteristic comprising:

a functionality of said software component;

a dependency of said software component on other software components;

a performance of said software component;

an effort required to develop said software component; and

an effort required to integrate said software component.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein at least one said characteristic comprises structured information available at a time of release of said software component.

23. A decision support method for maintenance of a software program, said method including the steps of:

formulating at least one decision support issue relating to said software program as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one model of existing reusable software components, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state, wherein said at least one model comprises predicates, including preconditions and effects;

solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to automatically identify options relating to said decision support issue, wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action and said resulting state contains said goal state; and

identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable software components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of formulating said planning problem comprises:

defining an input data specification of said software program as said initial state of said planning problem;

defining a functionality requirement of said software program as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

defining at least one of said existing components as said action of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of solving said planning problem comprises at least one of:

identifying existing software components for reuse;

identifying existing software components to be upgraded; and

specifying new software components to be developed.

26. A decision support system for maintenance of a software program, including:

a first processor operable for formulating at least one decision support issue relating to said software program as a planning problem, such that said planning problems is formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one model of existing reusable software components, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state, wherein said at least one model comprises predicates, including preconditions and effects; and

a second processor operable for solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to automatically identify options relating to said decision support issue,

wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action and said resulting state contains said goal state, and

wherein said second processor is operable for identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable software components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

27. The decision support system according to claim 26, wherein said first processor includes:

a first sub-processor operable for defining an input data specification of said software program as said initial state of said planning problem;

a second sub-processor operable for defining a functionality requirement of said software program as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

a third sub-processor operable for defining at least one of said existing components as said action, of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

28. The decision support system according to claim 26, wherein said second processor comprises at least one of:

a first sub-processor operable for identifying existing software components for reuse;

a second sub-processor operable for identifying existing software components to be upgraded; and

a third sub-processor operable for specifying new software components to be developed.

29. A computer program product having a computer readable storage medium executing a method for maintenance of a software program, said method including:

formulating at least one decision support issue relating to said software program as a planning problem, formulated as one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner using at least one model of existing reusable software components, said planning problem including;

a complete description of an initial state;

a partial description of a goal state; and

a set of executable actions, wherein an action is applicable in said initial state, if a precondition of said action is satisfied in said initial state, wherein said at least one model comprises predicates, including preconditions and effects;

solving said planning problem using said one of a state-space planner and a plan-space planner and automated reasoning techniques to automatically identify options relating to said decision support issue, wherein a resulting state is obtained by incorporating the effects of said action and said resulting state contains said goal state; and

identifying a set of solutions to meet an optimization criteria for said planning problem by determining whether to automatically select said existing reusable software components and whether to select a partial solution for said planning problem.

30. The computer program product according to claim 29, wherein said step of formulating includes:

defining an input data specification of said software program as said initial state of said planning problem;

defining a functionality requirement of said software program as contains said goal state of said planning problem; and

defining at least one of said existing components as said action of said planning problem, wherein each action has at least one precondition corresponding to an input of said existing component and each action has at least one effect corresponding to an output of said existing component.

31. The computer program product according to claim 29, wherein said step of solving said planning problem comprises at least one of:

identifying existing software components for reuse;

identifying existing software components to be upgraded; and

specifying new software components to be developed.