Method and apparatus for revising data models and maps by example

• US 20060026522A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Christensen, Peter, Bendsen, Per
• Application Number:
  US10/899,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026522A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A method, computer readable medium and system are provided which implement a change in a specialized model. In the method, a change made by a user to an instance of the specialized model is detected. A potential revision, to at least one of a master model and a map used to generate the specialized model, is identified based upon the detected change. The potential revision is suggested to the user, and is automatically made if the user instructs.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a change in a specialized model, the method comprising:

detecting a change made by a user to an instance of the specialized model; and

identifying a potential revision, to at least one of a master model and a map used to generate the specialized model, based upon the detected change.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising suggesting to the user the revision to the at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model.

3. The method of claim 2, and further comprising receiving an input from the user which is indicative of whether the suggested revision is to be made to the at least one of the master model and the map.

4. The method of claim 3, and further comprising automatically revising the at least one of the master model and the map if the received input from the user is indicative of an instruction to make the suggested revision.

5. The method of claim 4, and further comprising:

regenerating the specialized model using the master model and the map, at least one of which having been revised; and

comparing the regenerated specialized model to the instance of the specialized model having the change.

6. The method of claim 1, and wherein if the map used to generate the specialized model is an imperative map, then the step of identifying the potential revision, to at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model, based upon the detected change further comprises identifying the potential revision to the master model.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the specialized model is a logical control model, and wherein the step of identifying the potential revision, to at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model, based upon the detected change further comprises identifying the potential revision in at least one of a business model and a datum type to logical control map.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the specialized model is a physical control model, and wherein the step of identifying the potential revision, to at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model, based upon the detected change further comprises identifying the potential revision in at least one of a logical control model and a logical control to physical control map.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the specialized model is a native control model, and wherein the step of identifying the potential revision, to at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model, based upon the detected change further comprises identifying the potential revision in at least one of a physical control model and a physical control to native control map.

10. The method of claim 1, and further comprising identifying whether the change made by the user should be stored in the specialized model.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the potential revision to at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model further comprises identifying the potential revision only to the map.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the potential revision to at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model further comprises identifying the potential revision only to the master model.

13. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for implementing the method of claim 1.

14. A system for implementing a change in a generated specialized model, the system comprising:

a model change detection component configured to compare an instance of the generated specialized model to a changed specialized model to detect a change made by a user to the instance of the generated specialized model; and

a revision suggestion component configured to identify a potential revision, to at least one of a master model and a map used to generate the generated specialized model, based upon the detected change.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the revision suggestion component is further configured to suggest to the user the revision to the at least one of the master model and the map used to generate the specialized model.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the revision suggestion component is further configured to receive an input from the user which is indicative of whether the suggested revision is to be made to the at least one of the master model and the map.

17. The system of claim 16, and further comprising a revision component configured to automatically revise the at least one of the master model and the map if the received input from the user is indicative of an instruction to make the suggested revision.

18. The system of claim 14, and wherein if the map used to generate the generated specialized model is an imperative map, then the revision suggestion component is configured to identify the potential revision to the master model.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the revision suggestion component is configured to identify the potential revision only to the map.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the revision suggestion component is configured to identify the potential revision only to the master model.