Application generator for data transformation applications

• US 9,207,917 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Rivas, Luis, Kreider, Mark, Sharp, Alec
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, HANH THI MINH
• Application Number:
  US14/149,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20150193210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/40 Transformation of program code
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

A utility is provided for generating applications for a variety of data conversion or handling application environments. A user can use a graphical user interface to purpose application adaptable modules to define a desired application. In one implementation, the user interface includes a node tree panel and a process assembly panel. The node tree panel lists tool sets including transformations, maps and input-output tools. These tools can then be assembled together with identified data sources and then elements using the assembly panel to define an application. In this manner, an application is generated from a number of generic modules simply by linking the modules to perform a purpose of the desired application. In this manner, an application is generated from a number of generic modules simply by linking the modules to perform a purpose of the desired application.

Claims

1. A method for use in developing an application involving transformation of data between a first form and a second form, comprising the steps of:

providing a set of application adaptable conversion modules, wherein each said module includes rules for use in converting data objects relating to a defined subject matter area between said first form and said second form;

selecting a first module of said set of modules for a first application under consideration to perform a first identified purpose in relation to said data objects;

first operating a machine-based tool for purposing said selected first module in combination with at least a second module for use in said first application under consideration such that said first module is adapted to perform a given functionality associated with said first module to achieve in part said first identified purpose of said first application under consideration; and

second operating said machine based tool for repurposing said first module for use in a second application, different than said first application and having a second identified purpose in relation to said data objects different than said first application, such that said first module is adapted to perform said given functionality to achieve in part said second identified purpose of said second application;

wherein each said module is application adaptable in that said rules function independent of any purpose specific to a particular application beyond said conversion and each said module is incapable of independently performing the entirety of said first identified purpose of said first application.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said application adaptable module includes rules for one of normalizing terminology, resolving transformation ambiguities and classifying terms relating to said defined subject matter.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said subject matter area pertains to a defined business product area.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting comprises identifying a subject matter area relevant to said first application.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of purposing comprises associating said first application adaptable module with a source of input information such that said first module operates to convert at least a portion of said input information between said first and second forms.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of purposing comprises associating said first module with said second module of said set of modules such that said first and second modules cooperate to perform said functionality related to said first identified purpose that either module cannot perform individually.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first identified purpose involves one of matching an input to one or more items of information, publishing data or aggregating data.

8. A method for use in developing applications for manipulating data, comprising the steps of:

identifying an identified subject matter area of interest in relation to a desired conversion involving converting data between a first form and a second form;

providing a set of application adaptable conversion modules, wherein each said module includes rules for use in converting data objects between said first form and said second form, wherein each said module is application adaptable in that said rules function independent of any purpose specific to a particular application beyond said conversion, and wherein said rules are independent of a given subject matter area;

accessing a knowledge base for said identified subject matter area, wherein said knowledge base defines specific associations between data items of said first form and data items of said second form;

providing a user interface that allows a user to identify at least one identified purpose of a first application to be executed with respect to one of source data or target data;

first operating a machine-based tool to use the knowledge base to generate logic specific to said identified subject matter area of interest based on said rules of at least one of said adaptable conversion module in conjunction with at least one other of said set of application adaptable conversion modules for performing said identified purpose with respect to said subject matter area; and

second operating said machine based tool for repurposing said module for use in performing a second identified purpose in a second application, different than said identified purpose of said first application, wherein said second application is applied to a second subject matter area of interest different than said identified subject matter area of interest, wherein said machine-based tool generates logic specific to said second subject matter area of interest;

wherein each said module is incapable of independently performing the entirety of said identified purpose of said first application.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said step of accessing comprises selecting a set of rules for use in converting said data between said first form and said second form.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said knowledge base includes rules for one of normalizing terminology, resolving transformation ambiguities and classifying terms relating to said identified subject matter area of interest.

11. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said step of using comprises associating said application adaptable module with a source of input information such that said first module operates to convert at least a portion of said input information between said first and second forms.

12. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said step of using comprises associating said module with a second module such that said first and second modules cooperate to perform steps related to said identified purpose.

13. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said identified purpose involves one of matching an input to one or more items of information, publishing data or aggregating data.

14. An apparatus for use in developing an application involving transformation of data between a first form and second form, comprising:

storage for storing a set of application adaptable conversion modules, wherein each said module includes rules for converting data objects relating to a defined subject matter area between said first form and said second form, and each said module is application adaptable in that said rules function independent of any purpose specific to a particular application beyond said conversion;

user interface structure operative for receiving a selection identifying;

a first module of said set of modules for a first application under consideration to perform a first identified purpose in relation to said data objects, and

said first module of said set of modules for a second application under consideration to perform a second identified purpose in relation to said data objects; and

a processor, associated with said user interface structure, operative for purposing said selected first module for use in said first application under consideration such that said first module is adapted to perform a given functionality to achieve in part said first purpose of said first application under consideration and for purposing said selected first module for use in said second application under consideration such that said first module is adapted to perform said given functionality to achieve in part said second purpose of said second application under consideration;

wherein each of said set of modules is incapable of independently performing the entirety of said first identified purpose of said first application.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said processor is operative for associating said first application adaptable module with a source of input information such that said first module operates to convert at least a portion of said input information between said first and second forms.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said processor is operative for associating said first module with a second module of said set of modules such that said first and second modules cooperate to perform functionality related to said first purpose.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said processor is operative for repurposing said first module for use in a second application having a second identified purpose in relation to said data objects that is different than said first application, such that said first module is adapted to perform said given functionality to achieve in part said second purpose of said second application.