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Software Patent Abstract
In a method and an apparatus of providing effective input/output
data connections between services, for reducing load on a designer
when designing service-based software application, which is described
by a process flow language, there are provided the following means
or steps: while storing connection histories of input/output data
of the service within the software designing made in the past, selection
is made arbitrarily on an output(s) of other service, which is/are
connectable with all the inputs of the service selected, from selection
information of the service becoming the service process flow describing
only the processing order and a process target, conducting a process
for driving production probability of connection combination of
the input and the output from the connection histories, on all of
the connection combinations, and outputting the connection combination(s)
being high in the production probability extracted among of them.
Software Patent Claims
1. A service-based software designing assistance method, for assisting
designing of software by combining a plural number of services,
being parts of software for executing specific functions, comprising
the following steps of:inputting a service process flow defining
a processing order of one or more of said services in a combination
thereof;providing respective data to one or more of input variables,
which are owned by designated one of the services, targeting the
service process flow inputted; andmaking correspondence for output
variables of services, one by one, existing prior to said services
designated, thereby assisting software designing, and further,producing
all possible combinations of said correspondences for all of the
input variables, which are owned by said service designated;calculating
a production probability about said combinations produced, upon
basis of a history information of software designing made in a past;
andextracting a combination, said calculated production probability
of which fulfills a predetermined condition, thereby to be outputted.
2. The service-based software designing assistance method, as described
in the claim 1, wherein as said history information of the software
designing made in the past is included a direct connection history,
recording a number of times therein of making correspondence between
the input variables of an arbitrary one of the services and the
output variables of other arbitrary one thereof, within the software
designing made in the past, in combination with a title of the input
variable, a title of the output variable, a title of the service
having said input variable, and a title of the service having said
output variable.
3. The service-based software designing assistance method, as described
in the claim 2, wherein as said history information of the software
designing made in the past is further included an indirect connection
history, recording a number of times therein of making correspondences
between each of plural numbers of the input variables of an arbitrary
service, having said plural numbers of the input variables, and
plural numbers of the output variables of the other arbitrary service,
within the software designing made in the past, in combination with
a title of one output of plural numbers of said input variables,
a title of the service having said one output, a title of other
output differing from said one output of said output variables,
and a title of the service having said other output.
4. A service-based software designing assistance apparatus, for
assisting designing of software by combining a plural number of
services, being parts of software for executing specific functions,
comprising:a memory device, which is configured to store connection
history information of input/output data of a service within software
designing made in a past;an input portion, which is configured to
input a service process flow defining a processing order with combining
one or more of said services, and to select an arbitrary service
within said service process flow inputted;a processing device, which
is configured to produce all possible combinations of correspondences,
for all input variables owned by the arbitrary service, which is
selected by said input portion, and to calculate a production probability
about said combinations produced, upon basis of the connection history
information of the input/output data of the service within the software
designing made in the past, which is stored in said memory device;
andan output portion, which is configured to output fulfilling a
predetermined condition, upon basis of said production probability,
which is calculated by said processing device.
5. The service-based software designing assistance apparatus, as
described in the claim 5, wherein said memory device comprises:a
direct connection history table, which is configure to record a
number of times therein of making correspondence between the input
variables of an arbitrary one of the services and the output variables
of other arbitrary one thereof, within the software designing made
in the past, in combination with a title of the input variable,
a title of the output variable, a title of the service having said
input variable, and a title of the service having said output variable;
andan indirect connection history table, which is configured to
record a number of times therein of making correspondences between
each of plural numbers of the input variables of an arbitrary service,
having said plural numbers of the input variables, and plural numbers
of the output variables of the other arbitrary service, within the
software designing made in the past, in combination with a title
of one output of plural numbers of said input variables, a title
of the service having said one output, a title of other output differing
from said one output of said output variables, and a title of the
service having said other output.
Software Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001]The present invention relates to a method for designing software
by combining Web service and/or component, etc., as being software
parts (hereinafter, being called "service", collectively),
each being manufactured to be a part or component by taking the
reuse thereof into the consideration (hereinafter, being called
"service-based software designing"), and it relates in
particular, to a service-based software designing assistance method
for assisting buildup of connection and/or combination of the input/output
variables between the services, within a software part, as well
as, an apparatus for that.
[0002]Conventionally, upon the designing the software, which is
built up by combining services, a large number of trials are made
to enables to describe the operation specification of the software
in such the form that can be easily understood by a designer, describing
the processing order of each of the services within the software
by using a process flow language, such as, BPMN (Business Process
Modeling Notation) or BPEL4WS (Business Process Execution Language
for Web Services), etc., and thereby increasing the efficiency of
the software designing. However, when exchanging of data, each being
produced by each service, in other words, when producing the data
flow thereof, in general, it is necessary for the designer to study
on the input/output variables of the services, respectively, and
to make correspondences. i.e., substituting or assigning data obtained
from an output variable of a certain service into an input variable
of other service, therefore, there is still a drawback of taking
man-hour.
[0003]Then, with the software designing upon basis of such the
service as mentioned above, as is already known by the Patent Document
1 (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. Hei 10-222357 (1998) and the
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-317007 (2005),
for example, there are proposed a several number of methods for
conducting the correspondence on the input and the output between
the services.
[0004]Thus, in the Patent Document 1 are proposed a software constructing
method and a system for building up a software with reusing data,
wherein a data name, which a designer necessitates, is inputted,
after storing metadata for making correspondence or relationship
between the data name within services and an input/output interface,
then the service for providing that is searched out from the metadata
to be illustrated with an icon, and thereby graphically connecting
communications of data between the services by a link.
[0005]Also, in the Patent Document 2 are proposed a work flow automatic
producing system, and a workflow analyzing and controlling system,
wherein search is made on services filling up with a restriction
condition, upon basis of the specification requested by the designer,
while storing therein restriction conditions, such as, input/output
data and/or performances to be filled up with for each service,
for example, in advance, as a knowledge database, so as to produce
a workflow by combining them, and further thereafter, simulation
is made upon the flow of data with producing the petri net thereof,
corresponding to that workflow produced, and thereby selecting a
most suitable candidate in throughput thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006]As was mentioned above, also with the conventional arts,
there are already proposed the methods for lightening or reducing
the load on the designer when she/he makes correspondence or relationship
of the input/output between the services, within the service-based
software designing, and then, with applying it therein, it is possible
to expect reduction of a man-hour for that designing.
[0007]However, in case when applying the method known by the Patent
Document 1 mentioned above therein, although with displaying of
the services with the icons and illustrating of the connection between
the input/output data with the link, it is possible to provide a
graphical operating environment, and thereby enabling to make the
correspondence or relationship between the input/output easy for
the designer, however the correspondence or relationship itself
must be conducted manually, by a hand of the designer, in the similar
manner to the conventional arts.
[0008]On the other hand, in case when applying the method known
by the Patent Document 2 mentioned above therein, automatic production
is made on the workflow, connecting the input/output data between
the services, to satisfy the restriction conditions of each of the
services, which are stored in the knowledge database, as well as,
the specification required by the designer, so that only that having
a good result is provided, thereby lightening or reducing the load
on the designer. However, contents of the restriction of the input/output
data on the knowledge database, which are described in that Patent
Document, they are assumed to be only a formal restriction, such
as, a type of service, etc. For that reason, it is impossible to
exclude connection, which can be made formally, but should not be
made, actually. Similarly, it is impossible to exclude even such
connection of the input/output data that will not be connected within
the actual software designing, and therefore it still forces a load
on the designer.
[0009]Then, according to the present invention, being accomplished
by taking the problems of the conventional arts mentioned above
into the consideration thereof, i.e., an object thereof is to provide
a service-based software designing assistance method and an apparatus
for the same, enabling to build up a combination of connections
of input/output variables, between the services within the software
parts, for lightening or reducing the load on the designer within
the designing of the service-based application, in which description
is made by a language of process flow.
[0010]According to the present invention, for accomplishing the
objection mentioned above, first of all, there is provided a service-based
software designing assistance method, for assisting designing of
software by combining a plural number of services, being parts of
software for executing specific functions, comprising the following
steps of: inputting a service process flow defining a processing
order of one or more of said services in a combination thereof;
providing respective data to one or more of input variables, which
are owned by designated one of the services, targeting the service
process flow inputted; and making correspondence for output variables
of services, one by one, existing prior to said services designated,
thereby assisting software designing, and further, producing all
possible combinations of said correspondences for all of the input
variables, which are owned by said service designated; calculating
a production probability about said combinations produced, upon
basis of a history information of software designing made in a past;
and extracting a combination, said calculated production probability
of which fulfills a predetermined condition, thereby to be outputted.
[0011]Also, according to the present invention, within the service-based
software designing assistance method, as described in the above,
preferably, as said history information of the software designing
made in the past is included a direct connection history, recording
a number of times therein of making correspondence between the input
variables of an arbitrary one of the services and the output variables
of other arbitrary one thereof, within the software designing made
in the past, in combination with a title of the input variable,
a title of the output variable, a title of the service having said
input variable, and a title of the service having said output variable,
or preferably, as said history information of the software designing
made in the past is further included an indirect connection history,
recording a number of times therein of making correspondences between
each of plural numbers of the input variables of an arbitrary service,
having said plural numbers of the input variables, and plural numbers
of the output variables of the other arbitrary service, within the
software designing made in the past, in combination with a title
of one output of plural numbers of said input variables, a title
of the service having said one output, a title of other output differing
from said one output of said output variables, and a title of the
service having said other output.
[0012]In addition thereto, according to the present invention,
also for accomplishing the object mentioned above, there is further
provided a service-based software designing assistance apparatus,
for assisting designing of software by combining a plural number
of services, being parts of software for executing specific functions,
comprising: a memory device, which is configured to store connection
history information of input/output data of a service within software
designing made in a past; an input portion, which is configured
to input a service process flow defining a processing order with
combining one or more of said services, and to select an arbitrary
service within said service process flow inputted; a processing
device, which is configured to produce all possible combinations
of correspondences, for all input variables owned by the arbitrary
service, which is selected by said input portion, and to calculate
a production probability about said combinations produced, upon
basis of the connection history information of the input/output
data of the service within the software designing made in the past,
which is stored in said memory device; and an output portion, which
is configured to output fulfilling a predetermined condition, upon
basis of said production probability, which is calculated by said
processing device.
[0013]Further, according to the present invention, within the service-based
software designing assistance apparatus, as described in the above,
preferably said memory device comprises: a direct connection history
table, which is configure to record a number of times therein of
making correspondence between the input variables of an arbitrary
one of the services and the output variables of other arbitrary
one thereof, within the software designing made in the past, in
combination with a title of the input variable, a title of the output
variable, a title of the service having said input variable, and
a title of the service having said output variable; and further
an indirect connection history table, which is configured to record
a number of times therein of making correspondences between each
of plural numbers of the input variables of an arbitrary service,
having said plural numbers of the input variables, and plural numbers
of the output variables of the other arbitrary service, within the
software designing made in the past, in combination with a title
of one output of plural numbers of said input variables, a title
of the service having said one output, a title of other output differing
from said one output of said output variables, and a title of the
service having said other output.
[0014]With the service-based software designing assistance method,
according to the present invention, or applying the apparatus for
the same into the service-based software designing, it is possible
to obtain the connection combinations between the input of each
of the services and the output of other service within the service
process flow, semi-automatically, and thereby to lighten or reduce
the load on the software designer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015]Those and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0016]FIG. 1 is a software configuration diagram for showing the
structures of software in a system, for executing a service-based
software designing assistance method, according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017]FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram for showing an
example of the hardware structures for executing input/output combination
producing program, within the service-based software designing assistance
method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018]FIG. 3 is a flow chart for showing processing steps of the
service-based software designing assistance method, according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019]FIG. 4 is a view for showing an example of a data format
within a service process flow of the software designing assistance
method mentioned above;
[0020]FIG. 5 is a view for showing an example of a data format
of an input/output combination, within a service process flow of
the software designing assistance method mentioned above;
[0021]FIG. 6 is a view for showing an example of a data format
of an input/output direct connection history table, within the software
designing assistance method mentioned above;
[0022]FIG. 7 is a view for showing an example of a data format
of an input/output indirect connection history table, within the
software designing assistance method mentioned above;
[0023]FIG. 8 is a view for showing an example of a data format
of an input variable table, within the software designing assistance
method mentioned above; and
[0024]FIG. 9 is a view foreshowing an example of a data format
of an output variable table, within the software designing assistance
method mentioned above
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025]Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention
will be fully explained by referring to the attached drawings.
[0026]First of all, FIG. 1 attached herewith shows the entire structures,
including software for executing an assistance method for service-based
software designing, according to the present invention.
[0027]In this FIG. 1, a service process flow 4000 building up an
input is described by a flow language, such as, BPMN or BPEL4WS,
etc., as was mentioned above, and as is shown in this figure, a
service to be executed, such as, "1: customer information search",
"2: commodity information search", "3: credit check",
etc., is presented by an activity (i.e., a node), and also a time
sequence of the services to be executed is presented by a link having
a direction thereof; i.e., a flow describing the steps of operations
of software. However, an example of a data format of the service
process flow 4000, according to the present embodiment, as is shown
in FIG. 4, an activity record 4010 is built up with or comprises:
an activity ID 4001 for discriminating an activity uniquely among
activities within the said service process flow 4000; a service
name 4002 for describing the name of the service to be executed
by the said activity; an input variable list 4003, aligning a list
of input data names of the services with using a punctuation mark,
such as, a comma, for example; an output variable list 4004, aligning
a list of output data names of the services also with using the
punctuation mark, such as, the comma, for example; and a transition
destination activity ID 4005 for designating a transition destination
after executing the service mentioned above, wherein the said activity
record 4010 is described, repetitively, by a number of pieces of
that activities. Further, in those activity records, a record describing
"START" in the activity ID thereof represents a staring
activity, and a record "END" therein represents an ending
activity.
[0028]Also in FIG. 1, a process target activity ID 4100, building
up the input, is an activity ID in relation to an activity, which
should be a target for making the correspondence or relationship
on the input variable by an input/output combination produce program
3000, among a plural number of activities within the service process
flow 4000 mentioned above, and in the example shown in the figure,
it is "ID: 3". Thus, this shows an example, when "3:
credit check" is designated and selected, among the service
activities mentioned above. However, in more accurate, a target
of the input variables, on which the correspondence should be made,
is the service, upon which the correspondence was made with the
activity mentioned above; however, for simple explanation thereof,
consideration is made on the combination of input/output between
the activities, hereinafter.
[0029]Further, an input/output combination list 5100, which builds
up an output shown below in the figure, is made up with repetitive
description of an input/output combination 5000, by a number that
is outputted by an input/output combination producing program 300,
which will be explained hereinafter, i.e., describing the combination
between each of the input variables and the activity of providing
data to be substituted or assigned for that input variable by a
number of the input variables, repetitively, by a number of the
input variables of the activities designated by the said process
target activity ID 4100, in particular, regarding the activities,
which are designated by the process target activity ID 4100 mentioned
above (i.e., "3: credit check" of "ID: 3" in
the figure), and for example, it is displayed on a display device
2004, which will be described below. In this example, there are
shown combinations of the output variable, "1: customer information
search. Output (Cardnumber)", and the input variable corresponding
thereto, "3: CREDIT CHECK.INPUT(CARD NUMBER)", and the
output variable, "2: COMMODITY INFORMATION SEARCH.OUTPUT(PRICE)",
and the input variable corresponding thereto, "3: CREDIT CHECK.INPUT(PAID
AMOUNT)", as an example.
[0030]However, this example of the data format of the input/output
combination 5000 is as shown in FIG. 5, i.e., each input/output
connection record 5010 is made up with an output service name 5001,
which provides the output data, and an output variable name 5002
thereof, an input service name 5003 as a name of the service corresponding
to the process target activity ID 4100 mentioned above, and an input
variable name 5004, into which the output data mentioned above will
be substituted or assigned. And the input/output connection record
5010 is described, repetitively, by the number of the input variables
of the service designated by the input service name 5001, and in
addition thereof, it is further added with an input/output combination
probability 5020, which is calculated by the input/output combination
produce program 3000 mentioned above.
[0031]Also, an input/output direct connection history table 6000
is that for storing, for example, a number of times that the data
obtained from the output variable X of a certain service A is substituted
or assigned into the input variable Y of other service B, i.e.,
the number of times of connecting X directly with Y, in the form
of a table, together with the sets of those service and variables
thereof, for example, A, X, B and Y, during software constructions
made covering over a plural number thereof in the past. Further,
an example of the data format of this input/output direct connection
history table 6000 is as shown in FIG. 6, i.e., each direct connection
history table 6010 is made up with an output service name 6001 as
a title of the service providing the output data (corresponding
to the service A mentioned above) and an output variable name 6002
thereof as a title of the output variable (corresponding to the
output variable X mentioned above), an input service name 6003 as
a title of the service (corresponding to the service B mentioned
above), into which the output data mentioned above will be substituted
or assigned, and an input variable name 6004 as a title of the input
variable thereof (corresponding to the variable Y mentioned above),
and also a connection number 6005, as a number of time that the
combination of the above-mentioned service and the variable was
used for software construction. And, the said direct connection
record 6010 is described, repetitively, by the number of times of
the combinations being in the software constructions made in the
past, and further, it is added with a lump sum of the connection
number 6005 of all the direct connection records 6010, i.e., a total
number of times 6020.
[0032]Further, an input/output indirect connection history table
7000 is that for storing, for example, a number of times that the
output variable X of the certain service A and the output variable
Y of the other service B are substituted or assigned into different
inputs P and Q of other service C than those A and B, i.e., the
number of times of connecting the variables X and Y, indirectly,
via other service(s), in the form of a table, together with the
sets of those services and variables thereof, for example, A, X,
B and Y, during software constructions made covering over a plural
number thereof in the past. Further, an example of the data format
of this input/output indirect connection history table 7000 is as
shown in FIG. 7, i.e., each indirect connection history table 7010
is made up with a service name A 7001 as a title of one of the services
providing the output data (corresponding to the service A mentioned
above) and an output variable name A 7002 thereof as a title of
the output variable (corresponding to the output variable X mentioned
above), a service name B 7003 as a title of the other service providing
the output data (corresponding to the service B mentioned above)
and an output variable name B 7004 as a title of that output variable
(corresponding to the output Y mentioned above), and also a connection
number 7005 as a number of times that the combination of the above-mentioned
service and the variable was used for software construction. And,
the said direct connection record 7010 is described, repetitively,
by the number of times of the combinations being in the software
constructions made in the past, and further, it is added with a
lump sum of the connection number 7005 of all the indirect connection
records 7010, i.e., a total number of times 7020.
[0033]Next, the input/output combination produce program 3000 is
a program for producing an input/output combination list 5100, as
an output from an input, including the above-mentioned service process
flow 4000 and the process target activity ID 4100, by referring
to the input/output direct connection history table 6000 and the
input/output indirect connection history table 7000 mentioned above.
This input/output combination produce program 3000 is constructed
with an initial setup portion 3100 for conducting an initialization
of a temporary use data, etc., an input/output combination candidate
produce portion 3200 for producing combinations of input/output
variables without conflict, comprehensively and sequentially, a
connection probability rough-estimate portion 3301 for calculating
an input/output combination probability for the combination of the
input/output variables, which are produced by the input/output combination
candidate produce portion 3200, upon assumption that connection
of each of input/output variable is independent, by referring to
the input/output direct connection history table 6000, an input/output
combination probability adjust process 3401 for conducting adjustment
upon the connection probability, which is calculated within the
connection probability rough-estimate portion 3301, by referring
to the input/output indirect connection history table 7000 and the
input/output direct connection history table 6000 mentioned above,
and an input/output combination list output process 3501 for outputting
a combination of the input/output variables being high in the input/output
combination probability.
[0034]Next, explanation will be made on an example of a software
designing assistance apparatus, hereinafter, as being hardware structures
for implementing the service-based software designing assistance
method according to the present invention, the software construction
of which was explained in the above, by referring to FIG. 2 attached
herewith.
[0035]In this FIG. 2, the software designing assistance apparatus
200 comprises a processing device 2001, a memory device 2002, an
input device 2003, a display device 2004, and a bus 2005 for connecting
the respective devices mentioned.
[0036]In the structures mentioned above, the processing device
2001 is made of a CPU, MPU, etc., for example, and it reads a group
of instructions or commands therein, successively, from the memory
device 2002 mentioned above, and thereby conducing calculations
or operations corresponding to the instructions or commands read
therein. However, in this embodiment, the processing device 2001
reads the above-mentioned input/output combination produce program
3000 therein, from the memory device 2002, thereby to execute it.
[0037]On the other hand, the memory device 2002 is made up with
a device holding data within an inside thereof, such as, a hard
disk device and/or a flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), etc.,
for example. And, this memory device 2002 stores therein, the input/output
combination produce program 3000, the service process flow 4000,
the process target activity ID 4100, the input/output direct connection
history table 6000, and the input/output indirect connection history
table 7000, within the present embodiment. Further, this memory
device 2002 stored therein, the input/output combination candidates
list 2101 mentioned above, an input variable table 2102, and an
output variable table 2103, during the processing of the input/output
combination produce program 3000, and it also stores the input/output
combination list 5100 mentioned above, within the inside thereof,
as a result of processing of that input/output combination produce
program 3000.
[0038]Also, the input device 2004, being made up with, for example,
a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a tablet, etc., is that for
transmitting an input made by a user to the processing device 2001
mentioned above. However, in the present embodiment, the service
process flow 4000 and the process target activity ID 4100, to be
the input of the input/output combination produce program 3000,
may be a target of the input thereof.
[0039]Further, the display device 2005 is made up with, for example,
a liquid crystal or a plasma display, a display of cathode ray tube,
or a projector, etc., and it conducts presentation upon basis of
the instruction or command from the processing apparatus 2001. However,
in the present embodiment, the input/output combination list 5100
mentioned above, to be an output of the input/output combination
produce program 3000, may be a target of the presentation.
[0040]However, within the hardware constructions mentioned above,
the explanation was made that, together with the input/output combination
produce program 3000 mentioned above, the followings are stored
within the same memory device 2002, i.e., the service process flow
4000 and the process target activity ID 4100 building up the input,
the input/output direct connection history table 6000 and the input/output
indirect connection history table 7000 building up reference information,
the input/output combination candidates list 2101, the input variable
table 2102 and the output variable table 2103 building up the temporary
data, and further the input/output combination list 5100 building
up the output. However, the present invention should not be restricted
only to this, but for example, the data mentioned above may be stored
within the memory devices, respectively, or they may be stored within
a memory device of other apparatus, being connected with through
a communication circuit.
[0041]Explanation will be made on the processes, being distinctive
in the service-based software designing assistance method according
to the present invention, the hardware structures of which ware
explained in the above, i.e., the details of processing steps of
the processes of the input/output combination produce program 3000
mentioned above, by referring to FIG. 3.
[0042]In brief of the processing of this input/output combination
produce program 3000, first of all, after conducting the initial
setting in steps 3101-3103 corresponding to the initial setup portion
3100 in FIG. 1, a combination of connection of the input/output
variables, which is not within the input/output combination candidates
list 2101, within the steps 3201-3202 corresponding to the input/output
combination candidate produce portion 3200. And, for this combination
of input/output produced, a process for calculating out a probability
of combination of input/output is conducted within the connection
probability rough-estimate portion 3301 and the input/output combination
probability adjust process 3401, repetitively, for all of the combinations
of input/output variables without conflict, and thereafter, upon
basis of a predetermined criteria, the combination of input/output
being high in the connection probability is outputted in the form
of the input/output combination 5000, to be executed.
[0043]Hereinafter, the detailed steps of processing thereof will
be mentioned.
[0044]First of all, in a step 3101, the input/output combination
candidates list 2101 within the temporary data (see FIG. 2) into
an empty. However, the data format of this input/output combination
candidates list 2101 is similar or same to that of the input/output
combination list 5100 (see FIG. 1); i.e., it describes the input/output
combination 5000, and example of the data format of which is show
in FIG. 5 mentioned above, repetitively, for an arbitrary number
of pieces thereof. And, at the time point of this step 3010, the
number of elements thereof (i.e., a number of pieces) is zero (0).
[0045]Next, in a step 3102, within the activity record 4010 of
the activity (see FIG. 4) that the process target activity ID 4100
designates (see FIG. 1),. the input variable list 4003 is obtained
from the service process flow 4000, and each element, being divided
by a punctuation mark, is stored into the input variable table 2102
of the memory device 2002 shown in FIG. 2 mentioned above. However,
an example of the data format of this input variable table 2102
is as shown in FIG. 8 attached herewith. Thus, each input variable
record 8010 is made up with a record number 8001 attached with a
series integer starting from one (1) or an arbitrary value, an input
variable name 8002 as an element of the input variable list 4003
shown in FIG. 4, and an output variable record number 8003 for recording
the correspondence or relationship, temporarily, between the elements
of the output variable list 4004, which is also shown in FIG. 4,
and it describes the said record number 8001, repetitively, by a
number of the elements of the input variable list 4003 within the
activity record 4010 of the activity (see FIG. 4) that the process
target activity ID 4100 designates. Also, all of output variable
record number 8003 are set to "1" (or, the minimum value
of the record number 9001 (see FIG. 9) of an output variable table
9000, which will be shown hereinafter), at the time point of this
step 3103.
[0046]Next, in a step 3103, an activity that can provide an output
data to the activity that the process target activity ID 4100 designates,
i.e., the output variable list 4004 of the activities laying between
a starting activity and the activity that the process target activity
ID 4100 designates, is obtained from the said service process flow
4000, and this is stored within the memory device 2002 to be the
output variable table 2103 building up the temporary data in FIG.
2 mentioned above. However, this is executed, for each activity
record 4010 of the service process flow (see FIG. 4), by obtaining
the activity record 4010 that the transition destination activity
ID 4005 thereof designates (in this example, the record, the activity
ID there of is "2"), successively (however, in that instance,
obtaining all of those transition destinations, in case where there
are a plural number of the transition destination activity IDs 4005
due to branch and/or parallel, etc.), and repeating a process of
tracing a link obtained therewith, successively, and in case when
obtaining the activity record 4010 that the transition destination
activity ID 4005 designates, by adding each element of the output
variable list 4004 (see FIG. 4) within the activity record 4010
becoming a starting point of that link, each being divided by the
punctuation mark, being added with the service name 4002 thereof,
onto the output variable table 2103 (see the temporary data in FIG.
2 mentioned above). However, an example of the data format of this
output variable table 2103 is as shown in FIG. 9 attached herewith.
Thus, each output variable record 9010 is made up with a record
number 9001 attached with a series integer starting from one (1)
or an arbitrary value, a service name 9002, and an output variable
name 9003, and that output variable record 9010 is described, repetitively,
by the number of the output variables obtained within the step 3103
mentioned above.
[0047]Next, in a step 3201 for building up the input/output combination
candidate produce portion 3200 mentioned above, check is made on
if there is a input/output combination or not, which is not included
within the input/output combination candidates list 2101 mentioned
above (see the temporary data shown in FIG. 2). However, this is
executed, for each record 8010 (see FIG. 8) of the input variable
table 2102 within the temporary data mentioned above, by producing
the input/output combination 5000 converting the service name 9002
within the output variable record 9010 (see FIG. 9) that the output
record thereof designates into the input service name 5001, the
variable name 9003 into the output variable name 5002, and also
converting the service name 4002 of the activity record 4010 (see
FIG. 4) that the process target activity ID 4100 designates into
the input service name 5004, and thereby checking on whether the
same input/output combination is included or not within the input/output
combination candidates list 2101. However, in case when there is
no same input/output combination therein ("N" in the figure),
as a result thereof, then the process moves into a step 3501, on
the other hand, in case when there is ("Y" in the figure),
the process mentioned above will be repeated, while increasing the
value of the output variable record number 8003 by one "1"
each, within the input variable record 8010 (see FIG. 8) being at
the minimum in the record number thereof.
[0048]Also, in case when the output variable record number 8003
(see FIG. 8) exceeds the maximum value of the record number 9001
(see FIG. 9) of the output variable table 2103, then the said output
variable record number 8003 is set at the minimum value within that
record number 9001, and at the same time, a process is conducted
so as to increase the value only by one "1" of the output
variable record number 8003 of the input variable record 8010, which
is small in the record number next to that input variable record
8010 that is increasing the output variable record number 8003 at
present. Thereafter, the process mentioned above will be repeated
until when there is no output variable record number 8003 exceeding
the maximum value of the record number 9001. And, when the output
variable record number 8003 of the input variable record 8010, the
record number 8001 of which is at the maximum, exceeds the maximum
value of the record number 9001, determination is made that there
is no new combination, and the process moves into the step 3501.
[0049]Further, in the step 3202, the input/output combination 5000,
being produced in the above-mentioned step 3201, and further confirmed
that no same input/output combination is included within the input/output
combination candidates list 2101 (see FIG. 2) is added into that
input/output combination candidates list 2101.
[0050]Next, in the step 3301, upon the input/output combination,
which is added in the above-mentioned step 3202, the combination
probability is calculated with using the input/output direct connection
history table 6000 (see FIG. 1) as the reference information, and
a result thereof is stored into the input/output combination probability
5020 (see. FIG. 5) of the input/output combination 5000. This means
that, each input/output connection that can be presented by the
elements of the input/output connection record 5010 is independent,
statistically; thus, it is the probability under the assumption
that probability of producing a certain input/output connection
does not depend on the presence of other input/output connection.
The combination probability mentioned above can be calculated by
the following equation.
P = k = 1 n N ( SO k O k .fwdarw. SI k I k ) T ( Eq . 1 )
[0051]Where, in the equation mentioned above, "P" is
the probability of combination to be obtained, and "SO.sub.k",
"O.sub.k", "SI.sub.k" and "I.sub.k"
express the output service name 5001, the output variable name 5002,
the input service name 5003 and the input variable name 5004 (see
FIG. 5) of the input/output connection record 5010 at k.sup.th in
the input/output combination 5000, respectively. Also, N(SO.sub.k.O.sub.k.fwdarw.SI.sub.k.I.sub.k)
expresses the connection number 6005 of the direct connection records
6010 being coincident with the input/output direct connection history
table 6000, on all items thereof, i.e., the output service name
5001 is coincident with the output service name 6001 (see FIG. 6),
the output variable name 5002 with the output variable name 6002,
the input service name 5003 with the input service name 6003, and
the input variable name 5004 with the input variable name 6004.
However, in case there is no direct connection record 6010 fulfilling
such the condition, then N(SO.sub.k.O.sub.k.fwdarw.SI.sub.k.I.sub.k)=0.
Also, "T" expresses the total number of times 6020, and
"n" the record number of the input/output combination
5000.
[0052]Next, in the step 3401, adjustment or compensation is made
on the input/output combination probability 5020 (see FIG. 5), which
is calculated out in the step 3301 mentioned above, by using the
input/output indirect connection history table 7000 and the input/output
direct connection history table 6000 as the reference information,
and it is stored into the input/output combination probability 5020,
again. This is achieved, with adjusting the value, which is calculated
on the assumption that each input/output connection is independent
statistically, upon basis of a reliance or dependency between the
output service and the output variable thereof, providing an output
for a certain service. For example, in case there is a positive
reliance or dependency between the output service and the output
variable thereof, providing the output for the certain service (i.e.,
in case where one of them appears, then also the other easily appear),
the combination probability mentioned above is increased, on the
other hand there is a negative reliance or dependency (i.e., in
case where one of them appears, then the other hardly appear), the
combination probability mentioned above is decreased. However, there
is no reliance or dependency between them, it is executed without
conduction of the increase or decreases upon the combination probability.
However, the adjustment or compensation on the combination probability
mentioned above can be calculated by the following equation.
P modified = P + .alpha. i = 1 n j = 1 n ( N I ( SO i O i , SO
j O j ) T I - N ( SO i O i ) T N ( SO j O j ) T ) ( Eq . 2 )
[0053]Where, in the equation mentioned above, "P.sub.modified"
is the probability of combination to be obtained, and "SO.sub.i.O.sub.i"
expresses the output service name 5001 and the output variable name
5002 of the input/output connection record 5010 at i.sup.th (see
FIG. 5) in the input/output combination 5000. Also, "N.sub.I(SO.sub.i.O.sub.i,SO.sub.j.I.sub.j)"
expresses the connection number 7005 of the indirect connection
records 7010 being coincident with the input/output indirect connection
history table 7000, on all items thereof, i.e., "SO.sub.i"
is coincident with the output service name A 7001 (see FIG. 7),
"O.sub.i" with the output variable name A 7002, "SO.sub.j"
with the output service name B 7003, and "O.sub.j" with
the output variable name B 7004. However, in case there is no indirect
connection record fulfilling such the condition, then N.sub.I(SO.sub.i.O.sub.i,SO.sub.j.I.sub.j)=0.
Also, "T.sub.I" expresses the total number of times 7020,
and ".alpha." a weighting constant predetermined.
[0054]However, "N (SO.sub.i.O.sub.i)" is a number of
times that the output "O.sub.i" of the service "SO.sub.i"
was used as the input of the other service within the software constructions
made in the past, and it can be calculated as is shown by the following
equation, with using the input/output direct connection history
table 6000 as the reference information.
N ( SO i O i ) = k = 1 m { N ( SOx k Ox k .fwdarw. SIx i Ix i )
( in case where SOx k = SO i and Ox k = O i ) , or 0 ( in case other
than the above ) ( Eq . 3 )
[0055]Where, in the equation mentioned above, SOx.sub.k, Ox.sub.k,
SIx.sub.k, and Ix.sub.k express the output service name 6001 (see
FIG. 6), the output variable name 6002, the input service name 6003
and the input variable name 6004 of the direct connection record
6000 at k.sup.th, respectively. Although the equation of "N
(SO.sub.i.O.sub.i)" is shown herein, however also "N(SO.sub.j.O.sub.j)"
can be calculated with using a similar equation thereto.
[0056]Further, in the step 3501, among the input/output combination
5000, being the elements of the input/output combination candidates
list 2101 (see FIG. 2), which is obtained in the steps 3201, 3202,
3301 and 3401 mentioned above, those fulfilling the condition predetermined
by the input/output combination probability 5020 thereof are picked
up to be the elements of the input/output combination list 5100
of the memory device 2002 mentioned above (see FIG. 2), and the
said input/output combination list 5100 is outputted. However, as
the predetermined condition mentioned above, there can be considered,
such as, extracting a constant number of elements in the order of
height of the input/output combination probability 5020, or extracting
only the elements showing the value higher than a constant value
predetermined by the input/output combination probability 5020,
etc.
[0057]However, with the software designing assistance method, according
to the present embodiment, the details of which was mentioned in
the above, there is made no definition of a type, such as, a value
of character string or a value of an integer, etc., for example,
and also, with this embodiment, no consideration is paid on the
time when producing the input/output combination. However, in the
place thereof, it is also possible to allow only the combination
of the input variable and the output variable, both having the same
type, when producing the input/output combination. Also, with the
present embodiment, no particular mentioning is made about origins
of the service process flow 4000 and the process target activity
ID 4100, nor destination of output of the input/output combination
list 5100. However, with the service process flow 4000 and the process
target activity ID 4100 mentioned above, they may be inputted with
using the input device 2003 mentioned above (see FIG. 2), or may
be stored within the memory device 2002 in advance, and also with
the input/output combination list 5100, it may be only stored within
the memory device 2002 mentioned above, but not displayed on the
display device 2004.
[0058]As was mentioned above, with the software designing assistance
method, according to the present invention, the connection relationship
between two (2) services in the service process flows, which are
produced in the past, are reserved or stored to be the history.
However, in that instance, they are stored or reserved for each
kind of the connection relationships, i.e., targeting two (2) kinds
of relationships, including the direct connection relationship,
in which one of the output data becomes the input of the other,
and the indirect connection relationship of mode of inputting the
output data of two (2) services into the same service. And, when
a designer inputs the service process flow describing only the processing
order into the software designing assistance system, estimation
is made on the input data of the service that the designer designates
(or selects) among that service process flow inputted, upon basis
of one (1) history about the relationship of connection with the
output data of other service(s). However, this estimation is conducted
upon the basis of connection probability, in the case where each
connection of the input/output data obtained from the direct connection
relationship is made independently, and further, it is executed
by adding also a cooperative relationship between the output data
of the services providing the input data, which can be obtained
from the indirect connection relationship mentioned above (i.e.,
"+" if there is reliance or dependency, or "-"
if reversed). Thereafter, the connection obtained from input/output,
which is obtained through the processes mentioned above, is presented
to the designer. However, this is conducted by presenting the a
certain number of connection in the in the order of height of the
connection probability, or presenting only the connection(s), the
connection probability of which is higher than a threshold value.
Further, not only the relationship that the input/output data are
connected directly, but also by adding the relationship that it
is connected indirectly through a certain service, etc., it is possible
to further increase an accuracy of the estimation.
[0059]With applying the software designing assistance method, according
to the present invention, it is enough for the designer to prepare
the service process flow for describing only the execution order
of the services, and with this, for the designer, it is possible
to obtain the connection combination of the input/output for an
arbitrary service within the service process flow, semi-automatically,
with an aid of the input/output combination produce program building
up the system. Thus, this enables to lighten or reduce the load
on the software designer, and also reduce the number of steps in
the software designing.
[0060]Thus, according to the present invention, first of all, storing
the connection histories of the input/output data of the service
within the software designing made in the past, when selection is
made for the service process flow describing the processing order,
in particular, upon an arbitrary service included therein, then
the processes are conducted on all of the connection combinations,
for selecting the output(s) of other service(s), arbitrarily, which
can be connected with all inputs of the service(s) selected, without
conflict, and for deriving production probability of combinations
of connection between the input and the output mentioned above from
the connection histories, and among of those, the connection combination(s)
being high in the producing probability thereof is presented to
the designer, to be that which seems to be a certain one, thereby
lightening or reducing the load on the designer in relation with
the connection of the input/output data. And, according to the present
invention, with giving high production probability to the input/output
data connection, which appears frequently in the connection histories
mentioned above, almost of the input/output data connections are
those, which are actually used in the software designing made in
the past, and therefore it is expected to obtain an appropriate
connection combination from a viewpoint of the meaning thereof.
[0061]However, in this instance, in particular, in case where there
are inputs of the services to be selected in a plural number thereof,
since it is possible to consider a case where the input/output data
to the respective inputs thereof are not always independent, and
also since there can be considered the positive or the negative
reliance or dependency between the plural number of connections,
therefore it is necessary to store or reserve all the inputs for
each service and also the correspondence or relationship between
the output of the other service to be connected, for the purpose
of calculating out the production probability with accuracy. However,
since the number of conducting the software designing is not so
large, and it can be considered that it is less than an appropriate
number of the combinations of the input/output connections, therefore,
there is a possibility that correct estimation cannot be made on
the combination of the input/output connection, which is appropriate
but is different from the connection histories of the past a little
bit.
[0062]Then, basically, the connection histories deal the relationship
between the service and the output for providing data and the service
and the input to use the data, i.e., the relationship of connecting
the input/output data directly, and thereby dealing with the problem
mentioned above. However, since it is impossible to express the
reliance or dependency between the plural number of the connections
for the same service, with only that direct connection relationship,
therefore not only the direct connection relationship mentioned
above, but also the relationship between the outputs of two (2)
services is also real with as the connection histories, falling
into the relationship of providing the output together with as an
input of the same service, i.e., the indirect connection relationship
through an input service between the two (2) outputs, and thereby
correcting or adjusting the production probability upon basis of
the reliance or dependency, which can be obtained from the indirect
connection relationship mentioned above.
[0063]Thus, with applying the present invention mentioned above
into the service-based software designing, if there are software
designing histories made in the past and a service process flow
describing the execution order of services, it is possible to obtain
the connection combinations between the input of each of the services
and the output of other service within the service process flow,
semi-automatically, and thereby to lighten or reduce the load on
the software designer.
[0064]While we have shown and described several embodiments in
accordance with our invention, it should be understood that disclosed
embodiments are susceptible of changes and modifications without
departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, we don not
intend to be bound by the details shown and described herein but
intend to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within
the ambit of the appended claims. |