Converter-tool for a non-programmer user, to generate a web based application

• US 20070186156A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Bagare, Jayanth, Sudhi, Suraj, Wankawala, Pranav K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code

Abstract

A method of developing a software prototype for and by a non-programmer user enters user-inputs into a UI in natural language including documentation requirements and user'"'"'s business logic. The UI has access to a database, and optionally to text files, spreadsheets, data in xml format and user'"'"'s business logic information. A parser tool is used for automatically parsing user-inputs into easily processed software components and for automatically converting said inputs into an XML (Extensible Mark up Language) document. The XML document is converted into a XSLT document to form data base tables, and, the user selectively initiates validation, data retrieval and information storage. The user-input may be partially a voice input, assisted by a voice-to-text converter. The inputs may use the help of an Al robot. A user without any programming knowledge can create a software application which may be in real time, without any intermediary professional software help.

Claims

1. A method of using a software converter tool, for use by a non-programmer user for generating user documentation, comprising the steps of:

the user entering inputs including documentation requirements in plain language into a user interface (UI) of a system which has data base access;

using a parser which is part of the tool, for automatically parsing and converting said inputs into easily processed software components and an XML (Extensible Mark up Language) document;

checking to see if an XSLT (Extensible Style sheet Language Transformation) for said XML document already exists in said system;

if negative, automatically converting said XML document into the XSLT document to form data base tables; and

,

the user selectively initiating validation, data retrieval and information storage of said documentation.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of the user entering inputs includes the user entering performance requirements with predefined keywords and styles.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of entering inputs comprises the user using inputs chosen from at least partly voice inputs and virtual reality inputs.

4. The method as in claim 3, including using a voice-to-text converter to assist in the system accepting voice inputs.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of entering inputs comprises using natural language inputs and user'"'"'s business logic inputs selectively in conjunction with an AI robot to assist converting said natural language into a basic desired software language.

6. The method as in claim 2, wherein if an XSLT document already exists in the system, then, converting the XML document into a web based application by converting the key words and styles to predefined tags.

7. The method as in claim 6, including the step of generating dynamic forms from said web based application, wherein the XSLT document covers UI descriptions including widgets, desktop screen and the like.

8. The method as in claim 1, including the step of prompting the user to exercise choice from selectable options available on the UI in generating user documentation, the UI having additional access to predetermined files including text files, spreadsheets, data represented in xml format, and generally any information which is related to user'"'"'s business logic and business interests.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein said parser picks up key words including screen, field, field name button and link.

10. The method as in claim 1, including the step of generating said user documentation in real time.

13. The method as in claim 1, including the step wherein the user uses inputs chosen from at least partly voice inputs and virtual reality inputs.

14. The method as in claim 13, including using a voice-to-text converter to assist in the system accepting voice inputs.

15. The method as in claim 1, including the step of entering user inputs in natural language selectively in conjunction with an AI robot to assist converting said natural language into a basic desired software language.

11. A method of developing a software prototype for and by a non-programmer user from user-inputs including documentation requirements and user'"'"'s business logic, said user-inputs being entered in natural language by the user interacting with a UI which has database access, comprising the steps of:

using a parser tool in conjunction with said UI for automatically parsing the user inputs into easily processed software components and for automatically converting said inputs into an XML (Extensible Mark up Language) document;

checking to see if an XSLT (Extensible Style sheet Language Transformation) for said XML document already exists in said system;

if negative, automatically convert said XML document into the XSLT document to form data base tables; and

,

the user selectively initiating validation, data retrieval and information storage of said documentation.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the user'"'"'s inputs include performance requirements with predefined keywords and styles.

16. The method as in claim 12, wherein if an XSLT document already exists in the system, then, converting the XML document into a web based application by converting the key words and styles to predefined tags.

17. The method as in claim 16, including the step of generating dynamic forms from said web based application.

18. The method as in claim 11, including the step of prompting the user to exercise choice from selectable options available on the UI in generating user documentation.

19. The method as in claim 11, wherein said parser tool picks up key words including screen, field, field name button and link.

20. The method as in claim 11, including the step of generating said user documentation in real time.

21. An article comprising a storage medium having instructions thereon which when executed by a computing platform result in execution of a method for developing a software prototype for use by a non-programmer user from user-inputs including documentation requirements and user'"'"'s business logic, said user-inputs being entered in natural language by the user interacting with a UI which has database access, comprising the steps of:

using a parser tool in conjunction with said UI for automatically parsing the user inputs into easily processed software components and for automatically converting said inputs into an XML (Extensible Mark up Language) document;

checking to see if an XSLT (Extensible Style sheet Language Transformation) for said XML document already exists in said system;

if negative, automatically convert said XML document into the XSLT document to form data base tables; and

,

the user selectively initiating validation, data retrieval and information storage of said documentation.