Steven C Patterson

US Patent:

6356285, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Dec 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/992408

Inventors:

Susan K. Burkwald - Naperville IL
Stephen G. Eick - Naperville IL
Steven H. Patterson - Wheaton IL
John D. Pyrce - Naperville IL
Kurt D. Rivard - Naperville IL

Assignee:

Lucent Technologies, INC - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

345853, 345854, 345764, 345835, 345440, 345966, 717 3, 717 4

Abstract:

A software visualization technique allows a software application or portfolio to be visually analyzed to determine the extent and depth of problems raised when converting an existing software application or portfolio to make application- or portfolio-wide revisions, such as those needed to respond to the year 2000 problem or the conversion to Euro currency. The software visualization technique first generates or inputs statistical data on a number of different software metrics and statistics about the conversion process, such as the data or currency dependent lines of program code, the types of affected code lines, and the sizes and complexities of the systems, subsystems and programs of a software application and of the applications forming a portfolio. These metrics and statistics are then used to alter the appearance of various views of the software application, systems, subsystems, programs individual lines of the programs generated by various visualization tools of the software visualization technique. By interacting with the various views, an analyst can quickly and cost-efficiently determine which portions of the application or portfolio need revision, and the optimal methods for implementing the revisions.