Distributed development environment for building internet applications by developers at remote locations

• US 7,870,535 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Rippert, Donald J. Jr., Porter, James P., Condon, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang; Insun
• Application Number:
  US10/468,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,246 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-109
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/36 Preventing errors by testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and a method for developing Internet-hosted business applications composed of web services and software for use in such environments where applications and application components interoperate to perform requested business functions. The system and method of the present invention utilize a software development application services provider module (DASP), an Instantiatior module, a Builder module, an Applications Service Provider (ASP) Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module, and a hosted production environment module. The system and method of the present invention seeks to maximize the use of prior work to eliminate repetition and reduce development cost and development time. With each new project the library and experience increases. The system and method of the present invention can use developers and testers situated in diverse locations so that a larger pool of skilled people can be employed, the work can be done around the clock by using people all over the globe, and the costs can be reduced by directing work to people in countries with lower labor rates. The system and method of the present invention increases efficiencies and reduces costs to all parties by partnering the developers with third parties who are brought in at the beginning of development.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to develop an Internet-hosted business application composed of web services in an Internet-hosted development environment, wherein the Internet-hosted development environment includes

a software development module comprising a portal, multiple development tools, pre-built and pre-configured environments, and applications for creating and abrogating said pre-built and pre-configured environments;

a first software module for customizing said Internet-hosted development environment by generating application services tailored for a specific technology and facilitating product construction, versioning, and deployment of said application services into a production environment;

a builder module comprising an index allowing discovery of said application services that exist on an Applications Service Provider Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module that provides the capability to deliver said application services and bill for use of said Internet-hosted development environment and, allowing utilization of said application services on the AIP module, allowing said application services to be invoked on-demand as pre-built components in said Internet-hosted development environment, wherein access to said pre-built components is obtained through said portal via a browser; and

an IDE test tool for creating test data for testing said application services,

wherein

said portal provides access to said pre-built components based on a corresponding user'"'"'s role in the development of the Internet-hosted business application,

said Internet-hosted development environment is configured to permit integration of a plurality of heterogeneous web services and application services into said Internet-hosted business application,

said Internet-hosted development environment is configured to permit collaborative development and testing by multiple developers and testers in multiple locations, and

said Internet-hosted business application is based on a customization of said pre-built components.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said application services and Internet-hosted development environment are maintained on a central system accessible by computers having browsers.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said first software module comprises methodologies, pre-populated testing databases, and testing environments, and wherein said IDE test tool is used for testing said Internet-hosted business application in conjunction with said methodologies, pre-populated testing databases, and testing environments.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said Applications Service Provider Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module is configured to provide usage-based subscriber billing services.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said software development module further comprises at least three of an estimating tool, a data modeling tool, a hosted environment, a project planning tool, a resource management tool, a release management tool, a status reporting tool, an environment management tool, a source code editor, a debugger, a Structured Query Language (SQL) database service, a version control tool, and a defect tracking service.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said Internet-hosted business application is accessible to a client independent of:

a programming language, a component model, and an operating system associated with said application; and

a programming language, a component model, and an operating system of said client.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said web services is provided by a third party.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first software module migrates application code and data to said specific technology.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said web services are software components accessible over the Internet using XML standards.

10. A method for developing an Internet-hosted business application composed of web services in an Internet-hosted development environment, comprising:

accessing said Internet-hosted development environment through a portal via a browser;

creating a development environment;

displaying, at said portal, web services and application services based on a role of a user in developing said Internet-hosted business application;

integrating at least one of said web services and said application services into said Internet-hosted business application as a pre-built component;

creating a testing environment;

migrating said Internet-hosted business application to said testing environment;

testing functionality and performance of said Internet-hosted business application;

creating a production environment;

migrating said Internet-hosted business application to said production environment;

wherein

said Internet-hosted development environment comprises a software development module, a first software module, a builder module, and an IDE test tool,

said software development module comprises multiple development tools, and pre-built and pre-configured environments,

said builder module comprises an index allowing discovery of said application services that exist on an Applications Service Provider Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module that provides the capability to deliver said application services and bill for use of said Internet-hosted development environment,

said Internet-hosted development environment is configured to permit integration of a plurality of heterogeneous web services and application services into said Internet-hosted business application, and

said Internet-hosted development environment is configured to permit collaborative development and testing by multiple developers and testers in multiple locations

customizing said pre-built component and customizing said Internet-hosted development environment by generating application services tailored for a specific technology using the first software module;

creating test data for testing said application services using the test tool;

upgrading at least one of said development environment, said testing environment, and said production environment; and

abrogating at least one of said development environment, said testing environment, and said production environment using the software development module.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

creating an account for said user via said portal;

wherein the production environment comprises a remote run-time environment and execution architecture Application Programming Interfaces.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said application services and Internet-hosted development environment are maintained on a central system accessible by computers having browsers.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising testing said Internet-hosted business application using said IDE test tool in conjunction with methodologies, pre-populated testing databases, and testing environments of said first software module.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising accessing said Internet-hosted business application at a client, independent of a programming language, a component model, and an operating system associated with said application, and independent of a programming language, a component model, and an operating system of said client.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of said web services is provided by a third party.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising migrating application code and data to said specific technology.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said web services are software components accessible over the Internet using XML standards.

18. A computer readable medium storing an Internet-hosted development environment that develops an Internet-hosted business application composed of web services, said Internet-hosted development environment comprising:

a software development module comprising a portal, multiple development tools, and pre-built and pre-configured environments;

a first software module facilitating construction, versioning, and deployment of application services into a production environment;

a builder module comprising an index allowing discovery of said application services that exist on an Applications Service Provider Infrastructure Platform (AIP) module that provides the capability to deliver said application services and bill for use of said Internet-hosted development environment; and

an IDE test tool,

wherein said Internet-hosted business application is created by a method comprising;

accessing said Internet-hosted development environment through said portal via a browser;

creating a development environment;

displaying, at said portal, web services and said application services based on a role of a user in developing said Internet-hosted business application;

integrating at least one of said web services and said application services into said Internet-hosted business application as a pre-built component;

creating a testing environment using the test tool;

migrating said Internet-hosted business application to said testing environment;

testing functionality and performance of said Internet-hosted business application;

creating said production environment;

migrating said Internet-hosted business application to said production environment;

customizing said pre-built component;

customizing said Internet-hosted development environment by generating application services tailored for a specific technology using the first software module;

creating test data for testing said application services;

testing said Internet-hosted business application using said IDE test tool;

upgrading at least one of said development environment, said testing environment, and said production environment; and

abrogating at least one of said development environment, said testing environment, and said production environment using the software development module,

wherein

said Internet-hosted development environment is configured to permit integration of a plurality of heterogeneous web services and application services into said Internet-hosted business application, and

said Internet-hosted development environment is configured to permit collaborative development and testing by multiple developers and testers in multiple locations.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said application services and Internet-hosted development environment are maintained on a central system accessible by computers having browsers.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, said method further comprising:

creating an account for a user via said portal;

testing said Internet-hosted business application using said IDE test tool in conjunction with methodologies, pre-populated testing databases, and testing environments of said first software module

wherein said production environment comprises a remote run-time environment and execution architecture Application Programming Interfaces.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises accessing said Internet-hosted business application at a client, independent of a programming language, a component model, and an operating system associated with said application, and independent of a programming language, a component model, and an operating system of said client.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein at least one of the web services is provided by a third party.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises migrating application code and data to said specific technology.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said web services are software components accessible over the Internet using XML standards.