Abstract: A development system with methodology for run-time restoration of UML model from program code is described. In one embodiment, for example, in a computer system, an improved method is described for developing and executing an application, the method comprises steps of: creating a model describing business objects and rules of the application; creating source code for the application, including representing the model within the source code itself; compiling the source code into an executable application; running the executable application on a target computer in conjunction with a run-time framework that provides services to the executable application; and while the executable application is running, reconstructing the model from the executable application and making it available to the run-time framework.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow a user to animate different versions of a plan or workflow. Each version reflects an instance in an edit history, i.e., reflects the changes made to the plan or workflow. Additionally, methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow a user to view the various plans created from a given workflow over time. Finally, methods and systems consistent with the present invention may be used to review the steps performed during the activation of a plan.

Abstract: A system and method providing status information about a task being processed on a computer system is described. The task comprises an operation that blocks user activity, such as a modal task. Status information about the task is obtained during processing of the task on an event thread of a computer system. A status display is generated based upon this status information. The task yields time on the event thread, enabling the status information to be displayed in the user interface of the computer system.

Abstract: A system and methodology for asynchronous code refactoring with symbol injection is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for refactoring a plurality of interdependent software modules that reside in separate projects, the method comprises steps of: in response to a change that affects a particular symbol of a software module that resides in a first project, refactoring the software module of the first project to propagate the change to all instances of the particular symbol in the software module; during the refactoring of the software module of the first project, recording meta data about the refactoring that is required to effect the change; and automatically propagating the change to a dependent software module residing in a second project, by refactoring the dependent software module based on the recorded meta data about the refactoring that occurred to the software module of the first project.

Abstract: A distributed computing environment is described that provides an improved method for invocation of methods between remote objects. In one embodiment, the improved method comprises steps of: creating a first object having methods that may be invoked by other objects; defining a forward invocation interface for the first object, which allows the methods of the first object to be called in a forward direction; defining a callback method on the first object, for invocation of a method of the first object in a reverse direction; creating a callback handler for handling invocations of the callback method; receiving a callback invocation of the callback method by a callback caller; creating a local reflective target for each received callback; delegating the callback invocation on the callback handler with reference to the local reflective target as an input parameter; and at the first object, making a forward call on the local reflective target.

Abstract: A system and methodology providing typed event and notification services is described. In one embodiment a method for transmitting an event message from a first application to at least one second application over an event channel comprises: generating a message request based on an event at a first application, the message request having a header and a body, the body containing typed event data marshaled for transmission over an event channel; sending the message request to the event channel; in response, reading the header to obtain information about the event without un-marshaling the body; creating a wrapper based, at least in part, on the information obtained from the header; appending the body to the wrapper to create an event message; determining at least one second application to receive the event message; and delivering the event message to the at least one second application.

Abstract: The bidding method for selecting a protocol involves generating a bid for each protocol and ranking the bids in a prescribed order such that the order of the bids reflects the order of preference among the protocols. Thereafter, the most preferred protocol is executed or processes to establish the intended communication. If for some reason the more preferred protocol is unsuccessful, the next best protocol according to the order of the bids is processed. The bids are generated according to system/user set configuration and target object constraints. Bids fall into ranges of bid values where each range indicates a certain priority and associated rules.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool which allows a developer to visually depict an existing data definition file containing data elements and relationships between the data elements by generating an XML structure diagram from the existing data definition file. Using methods and systems consistent with the present invention, the improved software development tool also allows the developer to generate a data definition file from an existing XML structure diagram.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that allows a programmer to develop source code by receiving an indication to form a link, receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of elements, receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of elements, and adding new code to the first element to reflect the link to the second element.

Abstract: An object-oriented context programming system is formed with data objects. Each data object defines a class of object which will typically have at least one attribute. This attribute is stored in the database with an indication of the effective context, e.g., time, of the attribute. Any change in attribute, e.g., over time, is also stored in the data object along with an indication the context in which it is effective. In a temporal context, it would be saved with the time of effect of the change in the attribute. Methods associated with the class, and which the class can carry out, have an argument which includes the context, which could be time. These methods are also stored in the database with an indication of the effective context (e.g., time) of the method. Any change in the method is stored in the data base along with an indication of the context in which it is effective, e.g., the time of effect of a change in the method in a temporal context.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that generates HTML documentation for source code in a software project. The HTML documentation includes graphical and textual documentation. The software development tool utilizes the linking capabilities of HTML to provide navigation links between the graphical and textual documentation, thus facilitating navigation through and viewing of the documentation.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow a user to create a storage hierarchy definition in association with a workflow that models a process, to generate a plan from the workflow that reflects an instance of the process, and to generate a container in accordance with the storage hierarchy definition when the plan is generated from the workflow. The container may then be used to store an artifact that is used or produced by the plan in accordance with methods and systems of the present invention.

Abstract: A development system providing a method for information hiding in executable programs is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method of the present invention is described for hiding information in computer programs, the method comprises steps of: receiving first input comprising program modules for a computer program being created, the program modules including data and code; receiving second input comprising information to be hidden in the computer program; linking together the program modules to form an executable computer program, including determining pads necessary for aligning data and code; and hiding the second input in the executable computer program by storing portions of the second input at locations in the executable computer program intended for pads.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that allows a developer to animate the execution of compiled source code as a diagram. The developer may choose to stepwise animate one line of source code at a time. The developer may alternatively indicate at which line of source code the animation should end. In a further embodiment, the software development tool may end the animation when it detects an error.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that represents multiple dependencies between a dependent node and a defining node in a project as a single dependency link. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention also identify and display details regarding each dependency in a project upon request by the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that generates code corresponding to a distributed computing component that contains methods of a plurality of types and that displays a graphical representation of the code with a separately delineated display area for each type. The improved software development tool also compiles, deploys, and debugs the distributed computing component with a client software component using methods and systems consistent with the present invention.

Abstract: A connection bridge mechanism for adding arbitrary protocols into a middleware-based application without accessing the source code for the middleware or producing a new version of the middleware source code. Using a connection bridge allows the plugged in protocol to be utilized by the middleware without requiring that the same O/S primitives which are utilized internally by the middleware be supported by the plugged in protocol. The plugged in protocol can be utilized in addition to the internally supported middleware protocols or it can replace the existing middleware protocols. The connection bridge provides the communication between the protocols and the middleware package. The connection bridge queues the requests from the protocols and notifies the middleware when there are requests pending for action by the middleware.

Abstract: An exception handling system and method for PC-mapped systems. A support library containing language-independent functions is used to raise exceptions. These functions then use language-dependent callback functions to make inquiries about the stack frames built by the language-dependent code, and to further make callbacks to language-dependent functions to clean up those stack frames. The support library works its way up the function call stack from where an exception was issued, searching for function frames that are interested in the exception. An unwind phase is begun when a function frame that is interested in the exception is found. In the unwind phase, the unwinder attempts to unwind the stack up to the interested frame, restoring callee-saved register values, and other pertinent processor-specific information, such as the stack pointer, and frame register. The unwinder then transfers control to the handler code specified by the interested function.

Abstract: A system providing improved methods for remote method invocation of a service is described. The system includes methodology for a client to cast, at design time, a generic interface class to a remote service having a defined interface. The generic interface class dynamically generates a proxy for making a remote method call on the remote service at runtime, while also providing for runtime type checking. The generic interface class is subclassed to provide support for particular wire formats and methods of transport. The dynamically generated proxy converts a remote method call by the client into a wire format specified in the remote service's interface definition and calls the remote service using the method of transport specified in the interface definition. The system also supports making a service available to remote clients and includes modules for converting remote method calls on a service into native format.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that includes a version control system that permits multiple programmers to work simultaneously on a single software project by maintaining a central repository containing a master copy of a software project and by managing versions of the software project that the programmers make through the development process. The improved software development tool enables a programmer to interact with the version control system by interacting with a diagram or diagram element that corresponds to a project, package, diagram, or class, thus facilitating the use of the version control system.