Business components framework

Abstract

A method of generating software based on business components. A plurality of logical business components in a business are first defined with each business component having a plurality of capabilities. Next, functional interrelationships are identified between the logical business components. Code modules are then generated to carry out the capabilities of the logical business components and the functional interrelationships between the logical business components, wherein the code modules represent a transformation of the logical business components to their physical implementation, while ensuring the capabilities that are carried out by each code module are essentially unique to the logical business component associated with the code module. Next, the functional aspects of the code modules and the functional relationships of the code modules are tested. The code modules are then subsequently deployed in an e-commerce environment.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for generating software based on business components comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a plurality of logical business components in a business each having a plurality of capabilities;

(b) identifying functional interrelationships between the logical business components;

(c) generating code modules to carry out the capabilities of the logical business components and the functional interrelationships between the logical business components, wherein the code modules represent a transformation of the logical business components to their physical implementation, while ensuring the capabilities that are carried out by each code module are essentially unique to the logical business component associated with the code module;

(d) testing the functional aspects of the code modules;

(e) testing the functional relationships of the code modules; and

(f) deploying the code modules in an e-commerce environment.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the logical business components include business components selected from the group of business components including customers, products, orders, inventory, pricing, credit check, billing, and fraud analysis.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are entity-centric.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are process-centric.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are entity-centric which are governed by the logical business components that are process-centric.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the logical business components that are process-centric are user-controlled.

7. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for generating software based on business components comprising:

(a) a code segment that defines a plurality of logical business components in a business each having a plurality of capabilities;

(b) a code segment that identifies functional interrelationships between the logical business components;

(c) a code segment that generates code modules to carry out the capabilities of the logical business components and the functional interrelationships between the logical business components, wherein the code modules represent a transformation of the logical business components to their physical implementation, while ensuring the capabilities that are carried out by each code module are essentially unique to the logical business component associated with the code module;

(d) a code segment that tests the functional aspects of the code modules;

(e) a code segment that tests the functional relationships of the code modules; and

(f) a code segment that deploys the code modules in an e-commerce environment.

8. A Computer program as recited in claim 7, wherein the logical business components include business components selected from the group of business components including customers, products, orders, inventory, pricing, Credit check, billing, and fraud analysis.

9. A computer program as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are entity-centric.

10. A computer program as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are process-centric.

11. A computer program as recited in claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are entity-centric which are governed by the logical business components that are process-centric.

12. A computer program as recited in claim 10, wherein the logical business components that are process-centric are user-controlled.

13. A system for generating software based on business components comprising:

(a) logic that defines a plurality of logical business components in a business each having a plurality of capabilities;

(b) logic that identifies functional interrelationships between the logical business components;

(c) logic that generates code modules to carry out the capabilities of the logical business components and the functional interrelationships between the logical business components, wherein the code modules represent a transformation of the logical business components to their physical implementation, while ensuring the capabilities that are carried out by each code module are essentially unique to the logical business component associated with the code module;

(d) logic that tests the functional aspects of the code modules;

(e) logic that tests the functional relationships of the code modules; and

(f) logic that deploys the code modules in an e-commerce environment.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the logical business components include business components selected from the group of business components including customers, products, orders, inventory, pricing, credit check, billing, and fraud analysis.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are entity-centric.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are process-centric.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the logical business components are entity-centric which are governed by the logical business components that are process-centric.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the logical business components that are process-centric are user-controlled.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to software framework designs and more particularly to generating software frameworks based on components of business aspects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An important use of computers is the transfer of information over a network. Currently, the largest computer network in existence is the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide interconnection of computer networks that communicate using a common protocol. Millions of computers, from low end personal computers to high-end super computers are coupled to the Internet.

The Internet grew out of work funded in the 1960s by the U.S. Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency. For a long time, Internet was used by researchers in universities and national laboratories to share information. As the existence of the Internet became more widely known, many users outside of the academic/research community (e.g., employees of large corporations) started to use Internet to carry electronic mail.

In 1989, a new type of information system known as the World-Wide-Web ("the Web") was introduced to the Internet. Early development of the Web took place at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory. The Web is a wide-area hypermedia information retrieval system aimed to give wide access to a large universe of documents. At that time, the Web was known to and used by the academic/research community only. There was no easily available tool which allows a technically untrained person to access the Web.

In 1993, researchers at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) released a Web browser called "Mosaic" that implemented a graphical user interface (GUI). Mosaic's graphical user interface was simple to learn yet powerful. The Mosaic browser allows a user to retrieve documents from the World-Wide-Web using simple point-and-click commands. Because the user does not have to be technically trained and the browser is pleasant to use, it has the potential of opening up the Internet to the masses.

The architecture of the Web follows a conventional client-server model. The terms "client" and "server" are used to refer to a computer's general role as a requester of data (the client) or provider of data (the server). Under the Web environment, Web browsers reside in clients and Web documents reside in servers. Web clients and Web servers communicate using a protocol called "HyperText Transfer Protocol" (HTTP). A browser opens a connection to a server and initiates a request for a document. The server delivers the requested document, typically in the form of a text document coded in a standard Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format, and when the connection is closed in the above interaction, the server serves a passive role, i.e., it accepts commands from the client and cannot request the client to perform any action.

The communication model under the conventional Web environment provides a very limited level of interaction between clients and servers. In many systems, increasing the level of interaction between components in the systems often makes the systems more robust, but increasing the interaction increases the complexity of the interaction and typically slows the rate of the interaction. Thus, the conventional Web environment provides less complex, faster interactions because of the Web's level of interaction between clients and servers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of generating software based on business components. A plurality of business components in a business are first defined with each logical business component having a plurality of capabilities. Next, functional interrelationships are identified between the logical business components. Code modules are then generated to carry out the capabilities of the logical business components and the functional interrelationships between the logical business components, wherein the code modules represent a transformation of the logical business components to their physical implementation, while ensuring the capabilities that are carried out by each code module are essentially unique to the logical business component associated with the code module. Next, the functional aspects of the code modules and the functional relationships of the code modules are tested. The code modules are then subsequently deployed in an e-commerce environment.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the business components may include customers, products, orders, inventory, pricing, credit check, billing, and fraud analysis. Further, a portion of the business components may be entity-centric.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the business components may be process-centric. In such an embodiment, a portion of the business components that are entity-centric may be governed by the business components that are process-centric. As an option in this embodiment, the business components that are process-centric may also be user-controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary hardware implementation of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a flowchart for a codes table framework that maintains application consistency by referencing text phrases through a short codes framework according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a flowchart depicting a method for providing an interface between a first server and a second server with a proxy component situated therebetween;

FIG. 1D shows the execution architecture for components that make up the SAP Framework Execution Architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1E is a flowchart illustrating a method for sharing context objects among a plurality of components executed on a transaction server;

FIG. 2 illustrates the create component instances method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates multiple components in the same transaction context according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the forcing of a component's database operations to use a separate transaction according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the compose work form multiple activities in the same transaction according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates JIT activation where MTS intercepts the Customer creation request, starts a process for the Customer package containing Customer component, creates the ContextObject and returns a reference to the client according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates JIT activation when the customer object has been deactivated (the customer object is grayed out) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a flowchart depicting a method for providing an activity framework;

FIG. 8B is an illustration of the MTS runtime environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating a method for accessing services within a server without a need for knowledge of an application program interface of the server;

FIG. 9B illustrates the different layers in a Site Server framework architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates schema attributes and classes, with class "Role" and attribute "RoleName" shown;

FIG. 11 illustrates the creating of Container "Roles" according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a graphic display at a point where a user has right-clicked on the Schema folder and selected New--Attribute according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates the adding of different Roles according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of the graphic display showing the attributes of member "Joe Bloggs" according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15A is a flowchart that illustrates a method for handling events in a system;

FIG. 15B illustrates a ReTA Event Handier framework that manages the informational, warning and error events that an application raises according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16A is a flowchart depicting a method for managing user information;

FIG. 16B illustrates a User framework which enables two approaches to maintaining user information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17A is a flowchart that illustrates a method for managing business objects in a system that includes a plurality of sub-activities which each include sub-activity logic adapted to generate an output based on an input received from a user upon execution, and a plurality of activities which each execute the sub-activities in a unique manner upon being selected for accomplishing a goal associated with the activity;

FIG. 17B shows a SubActivity component using the Persistence framework to retrieve a Customer Object from the Database according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18A is a flow chart depicting a method for persisting information during a user session;

FIG. 18B illustrates a Session Flow Diagram--On Session Start according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a Session Flow Diagram--On Start ASP Page according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20A is a flow chart illustrating a method for generating a graphical user interface;

FIG. 20B is an illustration showing the steps for generating a HTML page consisting of a form with a TextBox, a DropDown list and a PushButton according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21A is a flow chart depicting a method for software configuration management

FIG. 21B is an illustration of an IDEA framework on which the ReTA Development Architecture Design is based according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates the Configuration Management Life Cycle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates the change control `pipeline` and each phase within the pipeline according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 depicts the application of Roles within the Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) management console according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 illustrates an environment migration process that guides development within ReTA engagement environments according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is an illustration of a Development/Unit test for existing applications according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates an assembly test for existing applications according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 illustrates a system test for existing applications according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart for production of existing applications according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 illustrates a graphic display of Visual Source Safe according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 illustrates a frame of PVCS Version Manager I-Net Client according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is an illustration of a Build Source Control Model according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates an Assembly Test phase control mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 illustrates a Microsoft Visual SourceSafe `Labels` dialog box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 illustrates a Database Diagram within Visual Studio according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 illustrates Object Modeling within Rational Rose according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 illustrates directly calling a wrapped CICS component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 illustrates indirectly calling a wrapped CICS component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 39 illustrates RSW eTest Automated Testing Tool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 is an illustration which describes the physical configuration necessary for ReTA development according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41 illustrates the application & architecture configuration for a typical ReTA Build environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 42 illustrates the application & architecture configuration for a typical ReTA Build environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 43 illustrates an IDEA Framework with components in scope ReTA Phase 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 44 illustrates a NCAF Framework with the shaded components in scope for Phase 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 45 illustrates a MODEnc Framework according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 46 illustrates a NCAF Framework according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 47 illustrates the components that comprise the ReTA execution architecture and their physical location according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 48 illustrates a MODEnc Framework for Operations Architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 49 is an illustrative representation of a solicited event resulting from the direct (synchronous) polling of a network component by a network management station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 50 is an illustrative representation of when an unsolicited event occurs when a network component sends (asynchronously) data to the network management station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 51 illustrates event management in a net-centric environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 52 illustrates event management in an Intranet-based net-centric model according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 53 illustrates event management when using an Extranet-based net-centric model according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 54 illustrates the tables and relationships required for the ReTA Phase 1 Architecture Frameworks according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55 illustrates tables and relationships required for the ReTA Phase 1 validation application according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 56 illustrates the physical configuration of a possible ReTA-engagement development environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 57 illustrates the physical configuration of possible ReTA-based Assembly, Product and Performance testing environments according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 58 illustrates Separate Web and Application Servers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 59 illustrates a Single Web and Application Server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 60 illustrates a Commerce Membership Server [Membership Authentication] properties view according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 61 illustrates a Membership Directory Manager Properties Dialog according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 62 is an illustration of a Membership Server Mapping Property according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 63 is an illustration of a Create New Site Foundation Wizard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 64 illustrates the web application being placed under the "Member" directory of "cm" in Windows Explorer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 65 depicts a typical ReTA engagement development environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 66 illustrates the development environment configuration for a ReTA Phase 1 engagement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 67 illustrates an interface associated with the ability of inserting or removing statements within a block without worrying about adding or removing braces according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 68 shows a Visual J++ Build Environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 69 shows an interface for attaching to the MTS Process for debugging according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 70 shows an interface for debugging an Active Server Page (example global.asa file) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 71 illustrates an example of Rose generated java file and javadoc comments according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 72A is a flowchart illustrating a method for testing a technical architecture;

FIG. 72B illustrates the application & architecture configuration for a typical ReTA Build environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 73 illustrates that the code for technology architecture assembly test may be migrated from the technology architecture component test environment as defined in the migration procedures according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 74 illustrates the application & architecture configuration for a typical ReTA Build environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 75 illustrates the physical characteristics of the testing environment to be utilized during the Performance Testing Phases according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 76A is a flow chart depicting a method for managing change requests in an e-commerce environment;

FIG. 76B illustrates a framework associated with the change tracker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 77 illustrates the Change Tracker Main Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 78 illustrates the Change Request Detail Screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 79 illustrates a History of Changes Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 80 illustrates the Ad-Hoc Reporting Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 81 illustrates the Manager Reporting Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 82 illustrates the Migration Checklist Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 83A is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing issues in an e-commerce environment;

FIG. 83B illustrates the Issue Tracker Main Screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 84 illustrates the New Issue Screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 85 illustrates the Modify Issue Screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 86 illustrates the Report Selection Screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 87A is a flow chart depicting a method for network performance modeling;

FIG. 87B illustrates the end to end process associated with Performance Modeling according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 88 illustrates the Effective Network Performance Management according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 89 illustrates an example of overhead introduced at lower layers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 90 illustrates a graph depicting a Network Usage Profile according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 91 illustrates a Network Layout according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 92 illustrates how the four tool categories relate to each other according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 93A is a flow chart depicting a method for managing software modules during development;

FIG. 93B illustrates the PVCS Migration Flow according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 94 illustrates SCM Planning according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 95 illustrates an Identify CM Units & Baselines Process Flow according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 96 illustrates a manner in which CM Repositories and Practices Process Flow are established according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 97 illustrates the Establish Change Control Process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 98 illustrates Collect Metrics and Identify CI Activities according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 99 illustrates the Review/Establish Project Security according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 100 illustrates the Determine Training Requirements according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 101 illustrates the Create Project CM Plan according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 102 shows the Manage CM Repository Process Flow according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 103A is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing a system investigation report workbench;

FIG. 103B illustrates a SIR Workbench Main Window screen which provides navigation buttons for adding new SIRs, viewing existing SIRs, viewing/printing existing reports and help according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 104 illustrates New SIR window displayed upon select the New button on the Main Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 105 illustrates a window for reviewing and modifying existing SIRs according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 106 illustrates the Change Control Details Window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 107 illustrates a Report Selection Screen upon selection the Report button from the main menu according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 108 illustrates a graphic display of SourceSafe Administrator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 109A illustrates a configuration of a project tree within Visual SourceSafe Explorer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 109B illustrates a dialog box of the projection tree in FIG. 109 designed to allow developers to quickly located and retrieve desired projects and/or files according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 110 illustrates a graphic display when the user gets the latest of the server-side application code from VSS according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 111 illustrates a window that appears where selection the Recursive checkbox permits copying of any sub-projects according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 112 illustrates a History window displayed upon selection of View History menu item according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 113 illustrates the VSS Explorer reflecting the status of the checked out files for other developers to see at a point where one can open the local project or files and make any desired changes according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 114 illustrates Check In from within the VSS Explorer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 115 illustrates the prompting for Check In details according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 116 illustrates a label creation dialog box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 117 illustrates a History of Project dialog box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 118 illustrates a History Details dialog according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 119 illustrates the end to end evaluation process of an Internet firewall for ReTA according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 120 is a chart of Firewall Products according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 121 depicts the two firewall vendors selected for the product evaluation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 122 is a diagram of the Activity Framework classes with the VBActivityWrapper according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 123 illustrates the relationships IVB Activity interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 124A is a flow chart depicting a method for providing a global internetworking gateway architecture in an e-commerce environment;

FIG. 124B illustrates a simple high level internetworking gateway architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 125 illustrates an Internetworking Gateway with a Specialized Proxy/Cache Server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 126 illustrates a high level global internetworking gateway architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 127 shows an illustrative West Coast internetworking gateway architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 128 shows a Remote Access Internetworking Gateway architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 129 illustrates an Internetworking Gateway with Partner collaboration on internet Development according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 130 illustrates a persistable business object extending Persistence. RetaPersistableObj. According to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 131 illustrates layers of a shared property group manager according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 132A is a flow chart depicting a method for initializing a database used with an issue tracker;

FIG. 132B illustrates configuring of an issue tracker tool for normal operation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 133 illustrates a dialog box prompting to confirm the removal of linked tables within a database;

FIG. 134 illustrates a New Table' dialog window being displayed upon selection of a `New` button in order to insert a new table according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 135 illustrates a prompting by Access for selecting tables to link according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 136 illustrates a dialog box indicating linked tables according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 137 illustrates a `Welcome Form` window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 138 illustrates a `Issue Form` window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 139 illustrates a window which permits modification of the available reports within the Issue tool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 140 illustrates a window displayed permitting modification of desired report elements to the new project name according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 141 illustrates a Team Code Table window which allows adding and deleting of project locations according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 142 illustrates a Team Membership Table window which allows adding and deleting of team members according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 143 illustrates a Project Phases Table window which allows changing of project phases according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 144 illustrates a Startup window which allows changing of the title of a database according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 145A is a flowchart depicting a method for generating software based on business components;

FIG. 145B illustrates a relationship between business components and partitioned business components according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 146 illustrates how a Billing Business Component may create an invoice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 147 illustrates the relationship between the spectrum of Business Components and the types of Partitioned Business Components according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 148 illustrates the flow of workflow, dialog flow, and/or user interface designs to a User Interface Component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 149 is a diagram of the Eagle Application Model which illustrates how the different types of Partitioned Business Components may interact with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 150 illustrates what makes up a Partitioned Business Component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 151 illustrates the role of patterns and frameworks according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 152 illustrates a Business Component Identifying Methodology according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 153 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary embodiment of a resources e-commerce technical architecture;

FIG. 154 is a flow chart illustrating a second exemplary embodiment of a method for maintaining data in an e-commerce based technical architecture;

FIG. 155 is a flow chart illustraing an exemplary embodiment of a method for providing a resources e-commerce technical architecture;

FIG. 156 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a method for providing a resources e-commerce technical architecture; and

FIG. 157 illustrates an additional exemplary embodiment of a method for providing a resources e-commerce technical architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Resources eCommerce Technology Architecture (ReTA) is a solution that allows the use of packaged components to be integrated into a client based eCommerce solution. Before the present invention, the Resources architecture offerings provided services that supported the construction, execution and operation of very large custom built solutions. In the last few years, client needs have shifted towards requirements for solutions that continually integrate well with third party applications (i.e., data warehouse and portion of the present description management systems). Previous engagements have proven that it is difficult to integrate these applications into a new solution. As application vendors continue to produce new releases that incorporate technical advancements, it is even more difficult to ensure that these integrated applications continue to work with a given solution.

The ReTA approach to constructing, executing and operating a solution emphasizes the ability to change solution components with minimal impact on the solution as a whole. From this approach, ReTA views third party applications as another component in the overall solution. ReTA is component based, which means the engagement can choose to take only the pieces it needs to meet its specific business requirements. ReTA is especially suited to building small applications, implementing tools and packages, integrating applications and web enabling applications.

ReTA leverages the best capabilities from established market leaders such as Microsoft, SAP and Oracle. In addition, ReTA leverages some of the Resources prior efforts to integrate solutions. The present invention is an assembly of these best capabilities that helps to ensure a holistic delivered solution.

In short, the benefits ReTA provides to the Resources practice and clients are:

Save engagement teams the redundant effort of repeatedly evaluating the same technology.

Help engagement teams avoid the risk of combining solution components that may be difficult to get to work together.

Make it cost effective and low risk to apply upgrades to each of the solution products without negatively affecting the other solution components.

Show the clients a solution to a real challenge that cannot be offered by SAP, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle or many technology startups involved in eCommerce work.

Focus the Resources architecture offering on common technology choices that coexist nicely.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided for affording various features which support a resources eCommerce Technical Architecture. The present invention may be enabled using a hardware implementation such as that illustrated in FIG. 1A. Further, various functional and user interface features of one embodiment of the present invention may be enabled using software programming, i.e. object oriented programming (OOP).

Hardware Overview

A representative hardware environment of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1A, which illustrates a typical hardware configuration of a workstation having a central processing unit 110, such as a microprocessor, and a number of other units interconnected via a system bus 112. The workstation shown in FIG. 1A includes Random Access Memory (RAM) 114, Read Only

Memory (ROM) 116, an I/O adapter 118 for connecting peripheral devices such as disk storage units 120 to the bus 112, a user interface adapter 122 for connecting a keyboard 124, a mouse 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 132, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen (not shown) to the bus 112, communication adapter 134 for connecting the workstation to a communication network (e.g., a data processing network) and a display adapter 136 for connecting the bus 112 to a display device 138. The workstation typically has resident thereon an operating system such as the Microsoft Windows NT or Windows/95 Operating System (OS), the IBM OS/2 operating system, the MAC OS, or UNIX operating system.

Software Overview

Object oriented programming (OOP) has become increasingly used to develop complex applications. As OOP moves toward the mainstream of software design and development, various software solutions require adaptation to make use of the benefits of OOP. A need exists for the principles of OOP to be applied to a messaging interface of an electronic messaging system such that a set of OOP classes and objects for the messaging interface can be provided.

OOP is a process of developing computer software using objects, including the steps of analyzing the problem, designing the system, and constructing the program. An object is a software package that contains both data and a collection of related structures and procedures. Since it contains both data and a collection of structures and procedures, it can be visualized as a self-sufficient component that does not require other additional structures, procedures or data to perform its specific task. OOP, therefore, views a computer program as a collection of largely autonomous components, called objects, each of which is responsible for a specific task. This concept of packaging data, structures, and procedures together in one component or module is called encapsulation.

In general, OOP components are reusable software modules which present an interface that conforms to an object model and which are accessed at run-time through a component integration architecture. A component integration architecture is a set of architecture mechanisms which allow software modules in different process spaces to utilize each other's capabilities or functions. This is generally done by assuming a common component object model on which to build the architecture. It is worthwhile to differentiate between an object and a class of objects at this point. An object is a single instance of the class of objects, which is often just called a class. A class of objects can be viewed as a blueprint, from which many objects can be formed.

OOP allows the programmer to create an object that is a part of another object. For example, the object representing a piston engine is said to have a composition-relationship with the object representing a piston. In reality, a piston engine comprises a piston, valves and many other components; the fact that a piston is an element of a piston engine can be logically and semantically represented in OOP by two objects.

OOP also allows creation of an object that "depends from" another object. If there are two objects, one representing a piston engine and the other representing a piston engine wherein the piston is made of ceramic, then the relationship between the two objects is not that of composition. A ceramic piston engine does not make up a piston engine. Rather it is merely one kind of piston engine that has one more limitation than the piston engine; its piston is made of ceramic. In this case, the object representing the ceramic piston engine is called a derived object, and it inherits all of the aspects of the object representing the piston engine and adds further limitation or detail to it. The object representing the ceramic piston engine "depends from" the object representing the piston engine. The relationship between these objects is called inheritance.

When the object or class representing the ceramic piston engine inherits all of the aspects of the objects representing the piston engine, it inherits the thermal characteristics of a standard piston defined in the piston engine class. However, the ceramic piston engine object overrides these ceramic specific thermal characteristics, which are typically different from those associated with a metal piston. It skips over the original and uses new functions related to ceramic pistons. Different kinds of piston engines have different characteristics, but may have the same underlying functions associated with them (e.g., how many pistons in the engine, ignition sequences, lubrication, etc.). To access each of these functions in any piston engine object, a programmer would call the same functions with the same names, but each type of piston engine may have different/overriding implementations of functions behind the same name. This ability to hide different implementations of a function behind the same name is called polymorphism and it greatly simplifies communication among objects.

With the concepts of composition-relationship, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, an object can represent just about anything in the real world. In fact, the logical perception of the reality is the only limit on determining the kinds of things that can become objects in object-oriented software. Some typical categories are as follows:

Objects can represent physical objects, such as automobiles in a traffic-flow simulation, electrical components in a circuit-design program, countries in an economics model, or aircraft in an air-traffic-control system.

Objects can represent elements of the computer-user environment such as windows, menus or graphics objects.

An object can represent an inventory, such as a personnel file or a table of the latitudes and longitudes of cities.

An object can represent user-defined data types such as time, angles, and complex numbers, or points on the plane.

With this enormous capability of an object to represent just about any logically separable matters, OOP allows the software developer to design and implement a computer program that is a model of some aspects of reality, whether that reality is a physical entity, a process, a system, or a composition of matter. Since the object can represent anything, the software developer can create an object which can be used as a component in a larger software project in the future.

If 90% of a new OOP software program consists of proven, existing components made from preexisting reusable objects, then only the remaining 10% of the new software project has to be written and tested from scratch. Since 90% already came from an inventory of extensively tested reusable objects, the potential domain from which an error could originate is 10% of the program. As a result, OOP enables software developers to build objects out of other, previously built objects.

This process closely resembles complex machinery being built out of assemblies and sub-assemblies. OOP technology, therefore, makes software engineering more like hardware engineering in that software is built from existing components, which are available to the developer as objects. All this adds up to an improved quality of the software as well as an increase in the speed of its development.

Programming languages are beginning to fully support the OOP principles, such as encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and composition-relationship. With the advent of the C++ language, many commercial software developers have embraced OOP. C++ is an OOP language that offers a fast, machine-executable code. Furthermore, C++ is suitable for both commercial-application and systems-programming projects. For now, C++ appears to be the most popular choice among many OOP programmers, but there is a host of other OOP languages, such as Smalltalk, Common Lisp Object System (CLOS), and Eiffel. Additionally, OOP capabilities are being added to more traditional popular computer programming languages such as Pascal.

The benefits of object classes can be summarized, as follows:

Objects and their corresponding classes break down complex programming problems into many smaller, simpler problems.

Encapsulation enforces data abstraction through the organization of data into small, independent objects that can communicate with each other. Encapsulation protects the data in an object from accidental damage, but allows other objects to interact with that data by calling the object's member functions and structures.

Subclassing and inheritance make it possible to extend and modify objects through deriving new kinds of objects from the standard classes available in the system. Thus, new capabilities are created without having to start from scratch.

Polymorphism and multiple inheritance make it possible for different programmers to mix and match characteristics of many different classes and create specialized objects that can still work with related objects in predictable ways.

Class hierarchies and containment hierarchies provide a flexible mechanism for modeling real-world objects and the relationships among them.

Libraries of reusable classes are useful in many situations, but they also have some limitations. For example: Complexity. In a complex system, the class hierarchies for related classes can become extremely confusing, with many dozens or even hundreds of classes.

Flow of control. A program written with the aid of class libraries is still responsible for the flow of control (i.e., it must control the interactions among all the objects created from a particular library). The programmer has to decide which functions to call at what times for which kinds of objects.

Duplication of effort. Although class libraries allow programmers to use and reuse many small pieces of code, each programmer puts those pieces together in a different way. Two different programmers can use the same set of class libraries to write two programs that do exactly the same thing but whose internal structure (i.e., design) may be quite different, depending on hundreds of small decisions each programmer makes along the way. Inevitably, similar pieces of code end up doing similar things in slightly different ways and do not work as well together as they should.

Class libraries are very flexible. As programs grow more complex, more programmers are forced to reinvent basic solutions to basic problems over and over again. A relatively new extension of the class library concept is to have a framework of class libraries. This framework is more complex and consists of significant collections of collaborating classes that capture both the small scale patterns and major mechanisms that implement the common requirements and design in a specific application domain. They were first developed to free application programmers from the chores involved in displaying menus, windows, dialog boxes, and other standard user interface elements for personal computers.

Frameworks also represent a change in the way programmers think about the interaction between the code they write and code written by others. In the early days of procedural programming, the programmer called libraries provided by the operating system to perform certain tasks, but basically the program executed down the page from start to finish, and the programmer was solely responsible for the flow of control. This was appropriate for printing out paychecks, calculating a mathematical table, or solving other problems with a program that executed in just one way.

The development of graphical user interfaces began to turn this procedural programming arrangement inside out. These interfaces allow the user, rather than program logic, to drive the program and decide when certain actions should be performed. Today, most personal computer software accomplishes this by means of an event loop which monitors the mouse, keyboard, and other sources of external events and calls the appropriate parts of the programmer's code according to actions that the user performs. The programmer no longer determines the order in which events occur. Instead, a program is divided into separate pieces that are called at unpredictable times and in an unpredictable order. By relinquishing control in this way to users, the developer creates a program that is much easier to use. Nevertheless, individual pieces of the program written by the developer still call libraries provided by the operating system to accomplish certain tasks, and the programmer must still determine the flow of control within each piece after it's called by the event loop. Application code still "sits on top of" the system.

Even event loop programs require programmers to write a lot of code that should not need to be written separately for every application. The concept of an application framework carries the event loop concept further. Instead of dealing with all the nuts and bolts of constructing basic menus, windows, and dialog boxes and then making all these things work together, programmers using application frameworks start with working application code and basic user interface elements in place. Subsequently, they build from there by replacing some of the generic capabilities of the framework with the specific capabilities of the intended application.

Application frameworks reduce the total amount of code that a programmer has to write from scratch. However, because the framework is really a generic application that displays windows, supports copy and paste, and so on, the programmer can also relinquish control to a greater degree than event loop programs permit. The framework code takes care of almost all event handling and flow of control, and the programmer's code is called only when the framework needs it (e.g., to create or manipulate a proprietary data structure).

A programmer writing a framework program not only relinquishes control to the user (as is also true for event loop programs), but also relinquishes the detailed flow of control within the program to the framework. This approach allows the creation of more complex systems that work together in interesting ways, as opposed to isolated programs, having custom code, being created over and over again for similar problems.

Thus, as is explained above, a framework basically is a collection of cooperating classes that make up a reusable design solution for a given problem domain. It typically includes objects that provide default behavior (e.g., for menus and windows), and programmers use it by inheriting some of that default behavior and overriding other behavior so that the framework calls application code at the appropriate times.

There are three main differences between frameworks and class libraries:

Behavior versus protocol. Class libraries are essentially collections of behaviors that you can call when you want those individual behaviors in your program. A framework, on the other hand, provides not only behavior but also the protocol or set of rules that govern the ways in which behaviors can be combined, including rules for what a programmer is supposed to provide versus what the framework provides.

Call versus override. With a class library, the code the programmer instantiates objects and calls their member functions. It's possible to instantiate and call objects in the same way with a framework (i.e., to treat the framework as a class library), but to take full advantage of a framework's reusable design, a programmer typically writes code that overrides and is called by the framework. The framework manages the flow of control among its objects. Writing a program involves dividing responsibilities among the various pieces of software that are called by the framework rather than specifying how the different pieces should work together.

Implementation versus design. With class libraries, programmers reuse only implementations, whereas with frameworks, they reuse design. A framework embodies the way a family of related programs or pieces of software work. It represents a generic design solution that can be adapted to a variety of specific problems in a given domain. For example, a single framework can embody the way a user interface works, even though two different user interfaces created with the same framework might solve quite different interface problems.

Thus, through the development of frameworks for solutions to various problems and programming tasks, significant reductions in the design and development effort for software can be achieved. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes HyperText Markup Language (HTML) to implement documents on the Internet together with a general-purpose secure communication protocol for a transport medium between the client and a company. HTTP or other protocols could be readily substituted for HTML without undue experimentation. Information on these products is available in T. Bemers-Lee, D. Connoly, "RFC 1866: Hypertext Markup Language--2.0" (November 1995); and R. Fielding, H, Frystyk, T. Bemers-Lee, J. Gettys and J. C. Mogul, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol--HTTP/1.1: HTTP Working Group Internet Draft" (May 2, 1996). HTML is a simple data format used to create hypertext documents that are portable from one platform to another. HTML documents are SGML documents with generic semantics that are appropriate for representing information from a wide range of domains. HTML has been in use by the World-Wide Web global information initiative since 1990. HTML is an application of ISO Standard 8879; 1986 Information Processing Text and Office Systems; Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).

To date, Web development tools have been limited in their ability to create dynamic Web applications which span from client to server and interoperate with existing computing resources. Until recently, HTML has been the dominant technology used in development of Web-based solutions. However, HTML has proven to be inadequate in the following areas:

Poor performance;

Restricted user interface capabilities;

Can only produce static Web pages;

Lack of interoperability with existing applications and data; and

Inability to scale.

Sun Microsystem's Java language solves many of the client-side problems by:

Improving performance on the client side;

Enabling the creation of dynamic, real-time Web applications; and

Providing the ability to create a wide variety of user interface components.

With Java, developers can create robust User Interface (UI) components. Custom "widgets" (e.g., real-time stock tickers, animated icons, etc.) can be created, and client-side performance is improved. Unlike HTML, Java supports the notion of client-side validation, offloading appropriate processing onto the client for improved performance. Dynamic, real-time Web pages can be created. Using the above-mentioned custom UI components, dynamic Web pages can also be created.

Sun's Java language has emerged as an industry-recognized language for "programming the Internet." Sun defines Java as "a simple, object-oriented, distributed, interpreted, robust, secure, architecture-neutral, portable, high-performance, multithreaded, dynamic, buzzword-compliant, general-purpose programming language. Java supports programming for the Internet in the form of platform-independent Java applets." Java applets are small, specialized applications that comply with Sun's Java Application Programming Interface (API) allowing developers to add "interactive content" to Web documents (e.g., simple animations, page adornments, basic games, etc.). Applets execute within a Java-compatible browser (e.g., Netscape Navigator) by copying code from the server to client. From a language standpoint, Java's core feature set is based on C++. Sun's Java literature states that Java is basically, "C++ with extensions from Objective C for more dynamic method resolution."

Another technology that provides similar function to JAVA is provided by Microsoft and ActiveX Technologies, to give developers and Web designers wherewithal to build dynamic content for the Internet and personal computers. ActiveX includes tools for developing animation, 3-D virtual reality, video and other multimedia content. The tools use Internet standards, work on multiple platforms, and are being supported by over 100 companies. The group's building blocks are called ActiveX Controls, which are fast components that enable developers to embed parts of software in hypertext markup language (HTML) pages. ActiveX Controls work with a variety of programming languages including Microsoft Visual C++, Borland Delphi, Microsoft Visual Basic programming system and, in the future, Microsoft's development tool for Java, code named "Jakarta." ActiveX Technologies also includes ActiveX Server Framework, allowing developers to create server applications. One of ordinary skill in the art readily recognizes that ActiveX could be substituted for JAVA without undue experimentation to practice the invention.

Various aspects of ReTA will now be set forth under separate headings:

Codes Table Framework

With reference to FIG. 1B, a codes table framework 140 is provided for maintaining application consistency by referencing text phrases through a short codes framework. First, in operation 142, a table of codes each having a text phrase associated therewith is provided. Such table of codes is stored on a local storage medium. Next, in operation 144, the table of codes is accessed on the local storage medium. One of the text phrases is subsequently retrieved by selecting a corresponding one of the codes of the table, as indicated in operation 146. During operation, modification of the text phrases associated with each of the codes of the table is permitted. See operation 148.

The modification may be carried out during a business logic execution. Further, various services may be provided such as retrieving a single one of the text phrases, retrieving all of the text phrases in response to a single command, updating a single code and text phrase combination, updating all of the code and text phrase combinations, naming the table, adding a new code and text phrase combination, removing one of the code and text phrase combinations, and/or adding another table.

Further, a name of the table may be stored upon retrieval of the text phrase. Further, a total number of code and text phrase combinations in the table may be determined and stored. In the case where a plurality of tables are provided, any number of the tables may be removed during operation. Additional information will be now be discussed relative to the various foregoing operations.

This portion of the present description details the ReTA Codes Table framework design from the perspective of the application developer. The purpose of a codes table is to maintain application consistency by referencing text phrases (to be displayed to the end user) through short codes. The code and text phrase (decode) are stored in a standard table format. The codes table component stores this table locally on the web server, thus reducing the overhead of accessing the database each time the application needs to translate a code.

Description

The role of this framework is to store frequently used code/decode sets on the web server and provide services that enable the application developer to retrieve the decode(s) associated with code(s). In addition, the framework provides services to enable the developer to modify the contents of the locally stored codes table during business logic execution.

Services

The Codes Table Framework provides the following services:

        Service                    Detail
        Retrieve from Codes Table  Retrieve single decode value
                                   Retrieve all decode values
        Maintain Codes Table       Update single Code/Decode
                                   Update all Codes/Decodes
                                   Set Table Name
                                   Add new Code/Decode
                                   Remove Code/Decode
                                   Add Table
                                   Remove Table

        Component          Service
        AFRetrieval        Retrieve decode(s) from the codes table.
        AFMaintenance      Maintain the codes table.

        Method          Description
        setTableName    Retrieve the requested codes table into local
                        memory and store the table name for
                        subsequent retrieval requests (instead of
                        retrieving from MTS shared memory).
        getDecode       Search through the currently identified local
                        codes table and return the `decode` associated
                        with the `code`. Refer to setTableName
                        method.
        getNumRows      Return the number of code/decode pairs
                        contained in the currently identified local
                        codes table. Refer to setTableName method.
        getCodesTable   Return all the codes and decodes for the
                        specified codes table.

    Method               Description
    setTableName         Store the name of local codes table to be
                         accessed for subsequent maintenance requests.
    setCodeDecode        Dynamically add a code/decode pair to the
                         currently identified local codes table. Refer to
                         setTableName method.
    Add                  Replace all code/decode pairs of currently
                         identified local codes table with the passed in
                         code/decode pairs. Refer to setTableName
                         method.
    Append               Append the passed in code/decode pairs to the
                         currently identified local codes table. Refer to
                         setTableName method.
    setCodeDecodeByTable Return fully populated codes table directly
                         from the database.
    delCodeDecode        Remove specified code/decode pair from
                         currently identified local codes table. Refer to
                         setTableName method.
    DelCodesTable        Remove the currently identified local codes
                         table from local memory. Refer to
                         setTableName method.

    Service                Detail
    Logical unit or work   Microsoft Transaction Server transaction
                           principles
    Maintain context       Business Component context
                           User Interface context - List boxes
                           Sub-Activity context
    Security               Page access authorization - Activity scope
    Validation             Pre-conditions - Activity level check
                           Post-conditions - Activity level check
    Sub-Activity - Smallest Pre-conditions - Sub-Activity level check
    grained business logic Execute business logic
                           Post-conditions - Sub-Activity level check
    View - Mapping between a Unplug user interface from business
    user interface and business component
    components             Capture user entry and update business
                           component
                           Display value attached to business
                           component
    Visual Basic support   Wrapper to support Activities written in
                           Visual Basic

    Component                      Service
    AFActivity                     Implements "logical unit of work".
                                   Manages collection of Sub-
                                   Activities and Views.
    AFSubActivity                  Implements a sub-part of the
                                   overall activity business logic.
    AFCollection                   General purpose Collection
                                   component.
    AFVBActivity Wrapper           Enables Activity Components
                                   written in Visual Basic.
    Class
    AFView                         For a specific Active Server Page,
    AFVBView                       defines the mapping between a
                                   collection of user interface entry
                                   fields and the business component
                                   instances containing the values to
                                   display. Note: Multiple views can
                                   exist for a single ASP. For
                                   example, a separate view can be
                                   defined for each form on a page.
    AFViewBOMapping                Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewBOMapping              user interface entry field and the
                                   business component instances
                                   containing the value to display.
    AFViewRadioButtonBOMapping     Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewRadioButtonsBOMapping  user interface radio button
                                   field and the business component
                                   instances containing the value to
                                   display.
    AFViewDynamicBOMapping         Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewDynamicBOMapping       dynamically created user interface
                                   entry field and the business
                                   component instances containing the
                                   value to display.
    AFViewTextAreaBOMappping       Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewTextAreaBOMapping      user interface multi-line entry field
                                   and the business component
                                   instances containing the value to
                                   display.
    AFViewDropDownBOMapping        Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewDropDownBOMapping      user interface drop down combo
                                   box field and the business
                                   component instances containing the
                                   value to display.
    AFViewUIListBOMapping          Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewUIListBOMapping        user interface Selected List Box
                                   field and the business components
                                   containing the values to display.
    AFViewThumbNailBOMapping       Defines the mapping between a
    AFVBViewThumbNailBOMapping     user interface ThumbNail (iconic
                                   pushbutton) field and the business
                                   components containing the values
                                   to display.

    Method               Description
    Start                Start the activity. The application developer
                         calls this method from the ASP page.
    Stop                 Release the activity and all its associated
                         instances. Calls the commit method. The
                         application developer calls this method from
                         the last ASP page for the business activity.
    Abort                Gracefully abort the activity. Abort associated
                         sub-activities. Remove all references to sub-
                         activities, business components and stateful UI
                         components.
    Commit               Declare that the current activity and all its
                         sub-activities have completed their work and
                         should be deactivated when the currently
                         executing method returns to the client. This
                         method may call the setComplete method of
                         MTS. (See MTS portion of the present
                         description for more information)
    RetrieveUIInstance   Retrieve a User Interface component
                         instance from the UI context of the activity.
    AddToUIContext       Add a User Interface component to the UI
                         context of the activity.
    ExecuteSubActivity   Execute the sub-activity related to the current
                         page for the Activity. Call the sub-activity
                         precondition, execute and postcondition
                         methods.
    IsPartOfActivity     If the ASP name passed as a parameter is part
                         of the activity, return true. This method calls
                         the AFTrackingManager component of the
                         ReTA Session framework in order to get the
                         result.
    CheckPageAuthorization Ask the tracking object related to the activity to
                         check the page authorization (uses the
                         AFTrackingManager component of the ReTA
                         Session framework). If the user is allowed to
                         access this page, set the current page of the
                         activity with the page passed as parameter.
    UIFieldValue         Return the business component value that is
                         mapped to the specified UI field (uses the
                         Activity framework View service).
    GetName              Return the activity name.
    GetFrameName         Return the name of the frame where to display
                         the encountered events.
    GetPageParameter     Return a string containing all parameters to
                         send to the next page. This string contains the
                         names of all UI fields of the page and the
                         JavaScript code needed to retrieve their values.
                         Called by the ReTA UI framework component
                         AFScriptGenerator.
    GetStartPage         Return the starting page of the activity.
    getNextPage          Return the next page for the current activity,
                         based on the current activity page saved in the
                         AFTracking object of the activity and on the
                         action passed as parameter.
    getCurrentPage       Return the current page.
    retrieveBOInstance   Return requested business component from
                         the activity business context.
    AddOject             Add a business object (held by the activity's
                         "business object context" object).
    GetObject            Return the instance of the requested business
                         object (held by the activity's "business object
                         context" object).
    RemoveObject         Remove the instance of the requested business
                         object (held by the activity's "business object
                         context" object).
    ContainsKey          If the "label" of the requested business object
                         exists (held by the activity's "business object
                         context" object), return true.
    GetKeys              Return all business object "labels" (held by the
                         activity's "business object context" object).
    receiveEvent         Method called by the ReTA Session during an
                         ASP start page event to enable the architecture
                         to capture user entry from previous web page.
                         The ReTA Session component holds references
                         to all registered listeners (Activity
                         components).
    AFEventListener
    getID                Reference to the listener object. One listener
                         object is associated with each registered
                         Activity component.

    Method            Description
    CreateSubActivity Create a Sub-Activity.
    Name              Return the Activity name.
    Precondition      Pre-conditions required before executing the
                      Activity.
    Postcondition     Post-conditions required after executing the
                      Activity.
    RequestedObjects  Return the list of the requested business
                      components.
    Views             Return all the views for the activity.
    StartPage         Return the Activity start page.

    Method               Description
    precondition         Pre-condition required before executing the
                         sub-Activity.
    execute              Execute the small grained business process
                         logic.
    postcondition        Post-conditions required after executing the
                         sub-Activity.
    commit               Declare that the current sub-activity has
                         completed its work and should be deactivated
                         when the currently executing method returns
                         to the client. This method may call the
                         setComplete method of MTS.
    checkRequestedObjects Check that the business components requested
                         for the sub-activity are present in the Activity
                         context. The requested components are defined
                         by the application developer through
                         implementing the sub-activity abstract
                         requestedObject method.
    initialize           Store the requested component names (as
                         defined by the application developer). Store
                         the passed in activity component reference.
                         Store the sub-activity name.
    getName              Return the sub-activity name.
    getActivity          Return the reference to the activity
                         component associated to the sub-activity.

    Method            Description
    precondition      Pre-conditions required before executing the
                      sub-Activity.
    execute           Execute the small grained business process logic.
    postcondition     Post-conditions required after executing the
                      sub-Activity.
    requestedObjects  Return the requested business components for the
                      sub-activity.

    Method      Description
    size        Number of elements in the collection component.
    addElement  Add an element to the collection component.
    elementAt   Return the element at the requested index.
    addString   Add a string element to the collection component.
    stringAt    Return the string element at the requested index.
    addInt      Add an integer element to the collection component.
    intAt       Return the integer element at the requested index.
    isInt       If collection component is storing integers, return true.
    IsString    If collection component is storing strings, return true.
    Reset       Remove all the elements from the collection component.

    Method               Description
    AFVBActivity Wrapper
    AddVBActivity        Store the VB activity name, the starting page
                         for the activity and the reference to the
                         application developer's VBActivity component
                         to the AFVBActivityWrapper component.
    getPageParameter     Return a string containing all parameters to
                         send to the next page. This string contains the
                         names of all UI fields of the page and the
                         JavaScript code needed to retrieve their values.
                         Due to non-support of class inheritance by the
                         VB language, the VB application developer
                         must implement the getPageParameter logic
                         supplied by superclass AFActivity for Java
                         applications. The VB developer copies the
                         required logic from the VB Activity shell
                         code file.
    receiveEvent         Method called by the ReTA Session during an
                         ASP start page event to enable the architecture
                         to capture user entry from previous web page.
                         The ReTA Session component holds references
                         to all registered listeners (Activity
                         components). Due to non-support of class
                         inheritance by the VB language, the VB
                         application developer must implement the
                         receiveEvent logic supplied by superclass
                         AFActivity for Java applications. The VB
                         developer copies the required logic from
                         the VB Activity shell code file.
    Start                Start the activity. The application developer
                         calls this method from the ASP page.
    uIFieldValue         Return the business component value that is
                         mapped to the specified UI field. Due to
                         non-support of class inheritance by the VB
                         language, the VB application developer must
                         implement the uIFieldValue logic supplied by
                         superclass AFActivity for Java applications.
                         The VB developer copies the required logic
                         from the VB Activity shell code file.
    AFActivity
    Stop                 Release the activity and all it associated
                         instances. Calls the commit method. The
                         application developer calls this method from
                         the last ASP page for the business activity.
    abort                Gracefully abort the activity. Abort
                         associated sub-activities. Remove all references
                         to sub-activities, business components and
                         stateful UI components.
    commit               Declare that the current activity and all
                         its sub-activities have completed their work
                         and should be deactivated when the currently
                         executing method returns to the client. This
                         method may call the setComplete method of
                         MTS. (See MTS portion of the present
                         description for more information)
    retrieveUIInstance   Retrieve a User Interface component instance
                         from the UI context of the activity.
    addToUIContext       Add a User Interface component to the UI
                         context of the activity.
    executeSubActivity   Execute the sub-activity related to the
                         current page for the Activity. Call the sub-
                         activity precondition, execute and postcondition
                         methods.
    isPartOfActivity     If the ASP name passed as a parameter is
                         part of the activity, return true. This method
                         calls the AFTrackingManager component of the
                         ReTA Session framework in order to get the
                         result.
    checkPageAuthorization Ask the tracking object related to the
                         activity to check the page authorization (uses
                         the AFTrackingManager component of the
                         ReTA Session framework). If the user is
                         allowed to access this page, set the current
                         page of the activity with the page passed as
                         parameter.
    getName              Return the activity name.
    getFrameName         Return the name of the frame where to display
                         the encountered events.
    getStartPage         Return the starting page of the activity.
    getNextPage          Return the next page for the current activity,
                         based on the current activity page saved in the
                         AFTracking object of the activity and on the
                         action passed as parameter.
    getCurrentPage       Return the current page.
    retrieveBOInstance   Return requested business component from the
                         activity business context.
    AddObject            Add a business object (held by the activity's
                         "business object context" object).
    GetObject            Return the instance of the requested business
                         object (held by the activity's "business
                         object context" object).
    Remov