Managing operational requirements on the objects of a service oriented architecture (SOA)

• US 8,479,255 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Software AG
• Original Assignee: Software AG
• Inventors: Schning, Harald, Brauel, Bjrn
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xiao, Di
• Application Number:
  US12/031,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20080229195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 715/744, 715/762, 726/3, 717/116
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques

Abstract

A registry for a service oriented architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects. The registry may include a plurality of non-formalized operation requirements for the plurality of SOA objects, a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects, and a plurality of links, linking each non-formalized operation requirement to at least one technical assertion of the registry.

Claims

1. A non-transitory memory medium storing a registry for a service oriented architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects, wherein the plurality of processing objects comprise a plurality of SOA objects, the registry including:

Web Services Description Language (WSDL) descriptions of the plurality of SOA objects;

a plurality of non-formalized operation requirements for the plurality of SOA objects;

a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects; and

a plurality of links, linking each non-formalized operation requirement to at least one technical assertion of the registry;

for at least one link, an intermediate representation of the respective non-formalized operation requirement, wherein the intermediate representation is human readable and comprises a semi-formal representation intermediate to the respective non-formalized operation requirement and a corresponding technical assertion;

a graphical user interface presenting at least one non-formalized operation requirement and an intermediate representation of at least one linked technical assertion, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to;

link at least two technical assertions to the same non-formalized operation requirement; and

combine at least two technical assertions using Boolean expressions;

wherein the registry comprises at least one link linking a single non-formalized operation requirement to technical assertions valid for at least two of the SOA objects; and

wherein the registry is adapted to be used for transforming non-formalized operation requirements into technical assertions in a step-wise manner using at least one intermediate representation.

2. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1, wherein the registry further comprises an intermediate representation of at least one non-formalized operation requirement which is not linked to a technical assertion.

3. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to present a template for the selection of an appropriate technical assertion to be linked to a non-formalized operation requirement.

4. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1, wherein the registry further comprises a taxonomy grouping the technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects into domains.

5. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and the plurality of links are useable for managing operational requirements of a service oriented (software) architecture (SOA).

6. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and the plurality of links enable a high-level user to control the operation of the processing objects of the SOA by referring only to the non-formalized operation requirements without having to use the technical assertions.

7. A method for managing operational requirements of a service oriented (software) architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects, wherein the plurality of processing objects comprise a plurality of SOA objects, the method comprising:

utilizing a computer to perform;

storing Web Services Description Language (WSDL) descriptions of the plurality of SOA objects;

storing a plurality of non-formalized operation requirements for the plurality of SOA objects;

storing a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects; and

storing a plurality of links, linking each non-formalized operation requirement to at least one technical assertion, including at least one link linking a single non-formalized operation requirement to technical assertions valid for a plurality of SOA objects; and

storing, for at least one link, an intermediate representation of a respective non-formalized operation requirement, wherein the intermediate representation is human readable and comprises a semi-formal representation intermediate to the respective non-formalized operation requirement and a corresponding technical assertion;

displaying a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to;

display information regarding the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and/or the plurality of links;

receive user input linking at least two technical assertions to the same non-formalized operation requirement, wherein the user input comprises using one or more Boolean expressions; and

combine at least two technical assertions using the Boolean expressions in response to the user input;

wherein the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) descriptions, the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, the intermediate representation of the respective non-formalized operation requirement, and the plurality of links are useable for managing operational requirements of the service oriented (software) architecture (SOA); and

wherein the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) descriptions, the plurality of non-formalized operation requirements, the plurality of technical assertions, and the plurality of links are useable for transforming non-formalized operation requirements into technical assertions in a step-wise manner using at least one intermediate representation.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the graphical user interface is useable to perform modification of the technical assertions and/or the non-formalized operation requirements of the SOA objects.

9. The method of claim 7,

wherein the graphical user interface is useable to define operational requirements for the SOA objects using Boolean expressions.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform;

for at least one link, storing an intermediate representation of at least one non-formalized operation requirement which is not linked to a technical assertion.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying a template in the graphical user interface, wherein the template is useable for selection of an appropriate technical assertion to be linked to a non-formalized operation requirement.

12. A method for managing operational requirements of a service oriented (software) architecture (SOA) comprising a plurality of processing objects, wherein the plurality of processing objects comprise a plurality of SOA objects, the method comprising:

utilizing a computer to perform;

storing Web Services Description Language (WSDL) descriptions of the plurality of SOA objects;

storing a first non-formalized operation requirement for a first SOA object;

storing a plurality of technical assertions for the plurality of SOA objects, including a first technical assertion for the first SOA object, wherein the first technical assertion is created based on the first non-formalized operation requirement;

storing an intermediate representation of the non-formalized operation requirement, wherein the intermediate representation is human readable and comprises a semi-formal representation intermediate to the non-formalized operation requirement and the first technical assertion; and

creating a link that links the first non-formalized operation requirement to technical assertions valid for a plurality of SOA objects, including the first technical assertion for the first SOA object;

wherein the link enables a user to manage the first technical assertion based on the first non-formalized operation requirement; and

wherein the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) descriptions, the first non-formalized operation requirement, the plurality of technical assertions, and the link are useable for transforming non-formalized operation requirements into technical assertions in a step-wise manner using at least one intermediate representation;

displaying a graphical user interface, including presenting at least one non-formalized operation requirement and an intermediate representation of at least one linked technical assertion, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to;

link at least two technical assertions to the same non-formalized operation requirement; and

combine at least two technical assertions using Boolean expressions.