Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-17
2001-05-22
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237143
ABSTRACT:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of computer systems; and, in particular, it relates to software for monitoring and capturing all file usage of a tool and for migrating those usage patterns into the computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the current state of computer systems and software development, there are a wide array of tools used to perform an equally wide array of functions. To accomplish efficient execution of any application development aid deployment, it is widely recognized that there is a need to develop, within the framework of a computer system, the ability to adapt and use the right tool for solving the right problem; depending upon the tool's functionality within the context of the problem.
The ability of a computer system to adapt and use a tool inside its framework depends upon its ability to identify the resources that the tool needs to accomplish the process. Typically, such resources may include the protocol the tool uses to communicate with the system, the functions the tool needs to call from the system's library, the interfaces the tool must develop to identify a common communication platform with the system and other tools, and the files the tool must run itself and the relevant applications. The problem with integrating a tool thus opens up a multitude of complex capabilities that a computer system needs to incorporate in its framework.
Among the various factors needed to address the integration of a tool into a computer system framework as mentioned above, is the ability of a computer system to define and understand the patterns of usage of files during the process in which a tool operates to solve a particular problem (within a particular application). The files used by a tool can be broadly classified into three categories. Configuration files, registry files and data files. The configuration and registry files are usually installed in the system when the tool is used for the first time. The data files on the other hand are used for a wide variety of input/output (“I/O”) operations performed by the tool every time it is used. These I/O operations may not always be native to the system and neither would be the files themselves. Hence, to integrate the tools the computer system framework should be able to understand the files used in such operations and transform them into a format native to the system. However, this transformation can best be organized if the system is able to develop capabilities transparent to both the user and the tool. That is, the system should be able to capture a particular tool and use it without modifying the tool in any way. Such an ability, when developed in a generic and open manner, would facilitate integration of tools without the need to reconfigure and manually manipulate a tool to make it accessible to the system and the application's requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method is provided in a computer system, which employs a multiplicity of diverse tools, for monitoring and capturing a pattern of all file usage of each of the software tools. The usage pattern for each of the software tools is migrated into the computer system. The method includes invoking a first process for interfacing with a first one of the software tools and the computer system. Next, the first one of said software tools is invoked through said first process inside said computer system. The first process and the first one of the software tools are then registered with a control module in the computer system. A second process is informed through the control module that the first one of the software tools is being operated upon. After this, the second process captures information about all files opened and closed by the first one of the software tools during its operation. The information captured in the preceding step is recorded through a third process inside the computer system logging the recorded information into a monitor file. Finally, the recorded information is transformed and migrated to the computer system through a fourth process.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that allows transformation of the methodology of the file usage patterns of a tool into a form that is native to the computer system framework
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that allows a user to develop applications with the use of heterogeneous tools.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that allows use of a software development tool in heterogeneous applications and environments.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that overcomes the prior art limitations of integrating only those tools from the same vendor, or the lack of a functional scope for integrating newly developed tools, or the lack of tool interoperability.
An advantage of interfacing tools using the method and system of the present invention is that a standard interface for a tool can be invoked by other components of the framework without their knowledge of which tool is actually being invoked.
Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and what is intended to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. The present invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and attached drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts, and which drawings form a part of this application.
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Fontana James Albert
Pitchford Anthony Reginald
Tadman Mark Jeffrey
Adornato Rocco L.
Khatri Anil
Kozak Alfred W.
Powell Mark R.
Starr Mark T.
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