Framework for a composite application and a method of implementing a frame work for a composite application

• US 8,069,437 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Juergen, Beringer, Joerg, Aigner, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Qing
• Application Number:
  US10/550,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,808 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 717106-109, 717/120, 717/121
• US Class Current: 717/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a framework for composite applications. A computer-implemented framework for a composite application includes an object access layer to exchange data with enterprise base systems and to present the data to a composite application through a uniform interface, a business object modeling layer including a business object modeler to provide a user interface (UI) for constructing a business object, and a service layer to enable services to the composite application, the service layer including a collaboration services module to enable collaboration services to the composite application, the business object modeling layer linking at least one of the collaboration services associated with the business object to the business object.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a computer to provide a computer-implemented framework for a composite application, the computer-implemented framework comprising;

an object access layer to exchange data with enterprise base systems and to present the data to a composite application through a uniform interface;

a user interface (UI) layer to enable UI patterns that facilitate information exchange between the composite application and a user;

a business object modeling layer comprising a business object modeler to provide a user interface (UI) for constructing a business object; and

a service layer to enable services to the composite application, the service layer comprising a collaboration services module to enable collaboration services to the composite application, wherein the business object modeling layer directly links at least one of the collaboration services associated with the business object to the business object;

wherein the collaboration services module enables at least one generic collaboration service;

wherein the business object modeling layer that comprises the business object modeler to provide the user interface (UI) for constructing the business object comprises a module to derive at least one object specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service directly linked with the business object by the business object modeling layer; and

wherein the business object modeling layer that comprises the business object modeler to provide the user interface (UI) for constructing the business object is separate from the service layer that comprises the collaboration services module to enable collaboration services to the composite application.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a process modeler including a context modeler for modeling a context, wherein the business object modeling layer comprises a module arranged to derive an object specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service on the basis of the modeled context.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each business object is a specific instance of an object class, and wherein the business object modeling layer comprises a module to extend the object class by adding a generic collaboration service and to derive an object class specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the business object modeling layer specializes the at least one generic collaboration service in accordance with the object class.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the business object modeling layer is included in a design time component.

6. A computer-implemented method of implementing a composite application in a framework, the computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing, by a computer, an object to exchange data with enterprise base systems and to present the data to a composite application through a uniform interface;

enabling, by a computer, a UI layer to provide UI patterns that facilitate information exchange between the composite application and a user;

modeling, by a computer, a business object to enable a user interface (UI) for constructing a business object;

enabling, by a computer, services to the composite application including providing collaboration services to the composite application, wherein the modeling comprises directly linking at least one of the collaboration services associated with the business object to the business object;

wherein the providing the collaboration services comprises enabling at least one generic collaboration service;

wherein the modeling comprises;

deriving at least one object specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service; and

providing a business object modeling layer that comprises a business object modeler to provide the UI for constructing a business object; and

wherein the enabling services comprises;

providing a service layer that is to enable the services and is separate from the business object modeling layer.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising modeling, by a computer, a context, wherein the modeling comprises deriving an object specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service on the basis of the modeled context.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein each business object is a specific instance of an object class, and wherein the modeling comprises extending the object class by adding a generic collaboration service and deriving an object class specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the modeling comprises specializing the at least one generic collaboration service in accordance with the object class.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein the modeling is carried out by a design time component.

11. A computer program product comprising a machine readable storage device having instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

accessing an object to exchange data with enterprise base systems and to present the data to a composite application through a uniform interface;

enabling a UI layer to provide UI patterns that facilitate information exchange between the composite application and a user;

modeling a business object to enable a user interface (UI) for constructing a business object;

enabling services to the composite application including providing collaboration services to the composite application, wherein the modeling comprises directly linking at least one of the collaboration services associated with the business object to the business object;

wherein the providing the collaboration services comprises enabling at least one generic collaboration service;

wherein the modeling comprises;

deriving at least one object specific service from the at least one generic collaboration service; and

providing a business object modeling layer that comprises a business object modeler to provide the UI for constructing a business object; and

wherein the enabling services comprises;

providing a service layer that is to enable the services and is separate from the business object modeling layer.