System and method for selection of translation routine for versioned data

• US 20050132340A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rowe, Billy Ray Jr., Satler, Edward Charles, Houghton, Jon Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/736,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20050132340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/84 Mapping; Conversion

Abstract

A system and method for selection of versioned translation routine is presented. A component sends a translation request to a translator service whereby the translation request includes provided input version, a requested output version, and a provided input data value. The translator service compares the provided input version and the requested output version with registered input versions and registered output versions of a plurality of translators. The translation service selects one or more translators based upon a hierarchical comparison approach, and translates the provided input data value into a translated data value. After translation, the translator service sends the translated data value to the component.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a translation request, the translation request including a provided input version and a requested output version;

comparing the provided input version to one or more translator input versions and comparing the requested output version to one or more translator output versions, the comparing resulting in a comparison result;

selecting a first translator from a plurality of translators based upon the comparison result; and

translating data using the first translator.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing a translator selection criteria table, the translator selection criteria table including a plurality of selection criteria;

identifying a first selection criteria from the plurality of selection criteria;

matching the comparison result with the first selection criteria; and

including a first translator identifier in a translator list corresponding to the first translator based upon the matching.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

identifying a second selection criteria from the plurality of selection criteria;

matching the comparison result with the second selection criteria; and

including a second translator identifier in the translator list after the first translator, the second translator identifier corresponding to a second translator.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining whether to use near compliant selection criteria included in the translation table;

identifying one or more near compliant translators using the near compliant selection criteria based upon the determination; and

including one or more translator identifiers in the translator list that correspond to the near compliant translators.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the translating was successful; and

selecting a second translator to translate the data in response to the determination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the translation is performed using a translator system, and wherein the translator system is selected from the group consisting of a component, a mediator, and a translator service.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the translation request includes an input type and an output type, and wherein the plurality of translators correspond to the input type and the output type.

8. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory accessible by the processors;

one or more nonvolatile storage devices accessible by the processors; and

a translation tool for translating data, the translation tool comprising software code effective to;

receive a translation request, the translation request including a provided input version and a requested output version;

compare the provided input version to one or more translator input versions located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices and comparing the requested output version to one or more translator output versions located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices, the comparing resulting in a comparison result;

select a first translator from a plurality of translators located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices based upon the comparison result; and

translate the data using the first translator.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the software code is further effective to:

access a translator selection criteria table located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices, the translator selection criteria table including a plurality of selection criteria;

identify a first selection criteria from the plurality of selection criteria;

match the comparison result with the first selection criteria; and

include a first translator identifier in a translator list located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices corresponding to the first translator based upon the matching.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the software code is further effective to:

identify a second selection criteria from the plurality of selection criteria;

match the comparison result with the second selection criteria; and

include a second translator identifier in the translator list located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices after the first translator, the second translator identifier corresponding to a second translator.

11. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the software code is further effective to:

determine whether to use near compliant selection criteria included in the translation table;

identify one or more near compliant translators located in one of the nonvolatile storage devices using the near compliant selection criteria based upon the determination; and

include one or more translator identifiers in the translator list that correspond to the near compliant translators.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the translation is performed using a translator system, and wherein the translator system is selected from the group consisting of a component, a mediator, and a translator service.

13. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the translation request includes an input type and an output type, and wherein the plurality of translators correspond to the input type and the output type.

14. A computer program product stored on a computer operable media for translating data, said computer program product comprising software code effective to:

receive a translation request, the translation request including a provided input version and a requested output version;

compare the provided input version to one or more translator input versions and comparing the requested output version to one or more translator output versions, the comparing resulting in a comparison result;

select a first translator from a plurality of translators based upon the comparison result; and

translate data using the first translator.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the software code is further effective to:

access a translator selection criteria table, the translator selection criteria table including a plurality of selection criteria;

identify a first selection criteria from the plurality of selection criteria;

match the comparison result with the first selection criteria; and

include a first translator identifier in a translator list corresponding to the first translator based upon the matching.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the software code is further effective to:

identify a second selection criteria from the plurality of selection criteria;

match the comparison result with the second selection criteria; and

include a second translator identifier in the translator list after the first translator, the second translator identifier corresponding to a second translator.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the software code is further effective to:

determine whether to use near compliant selection criteria included in the translation table;

identify one or more near compliant translators using the near compliant selection criteria based upon the determination; and

include one or more translator identifiers in the translator list that correspond to the near compliant translators.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the software code is further effective to:

determine whether the translating was successful; and

select a second translator to translate the data in response to the determination.

19. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the translation is performed using a translator system, and wherein the translator system is selected from the group consisting of a component, a mediator, and a translator service.

20. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the translation request includes an input type and an output type, and wherein the plurality of translators correspond to the input type and the output type.