(12) United States Patent
`Oyagi et al.
`
`I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006199193Bl
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`*Mar.6,2001
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE
`DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE DESIGN
`EVALUATION SERVER
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Makoto Oyagi; Shoichi Ota, both of
`Kawasaki (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Kawasaki (JP)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros(cid:173)
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53( d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/931,357
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 18, 1997
`
`(JP) ................................................... 9-064633
`
`Int. Cl.7 ........................................................ G06F 9/45
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................................... 717/1
`(58) Field of Search ............................... 395/500, 468.01,
`395/12, 701; 717/1, 3; 706/59
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,809,170 * 2/1989 Leblang et al. ...................... 395/703
`5,008,853 * 4/1991 Bly et al. ............................. 345/331
`5,168,563 * 12/1992 Shenoy et al. ....................... 395/500
`5,220,657 * 6/1993 Bly et al. ............................. 711/152
`5,247,651 * 9/1993 Clarisse ................................ 395/500
`5,269,014 * 12/1993 Ogino ................................... 395/500
`5,369,778 * 11/1994 Soucie et al. ........................ 707/103
`
`5,412,758 * 5/1995 Srikanth et al.
`....................... 706/59
`5,421,012 * 5/1995 Khoyi et al. ......................... 709/107
`5,446,842 * 8/1995 Schaeffer et al. .................... 709/205
`5,572,430 * 11/1996 Akasaka et al. ................ 364/468.01
`5,664,158 * 9/1997 Larimer ................................ 395/500
`5,696,906 * 12/1997 Peters et al. ........................... 705/34
`5,715,314 * 2/1998 Payne et al. ........................... 380/24
`5,754,738 * 5/1998 Saucedo et al.
`....................... 706/11
`5,799,318 * 8/1998 Cardinal et al. ..................... 707/104
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Tariq R. Hatiz
`Assistant Examiner---Chameli C. Das
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm---Staas & Halsey LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A software design evaluation server that facilitates end-user
`participation in a software development process so as to
`prevent any defects in functional specifications from remain(cid:173)
`ing unsolved in the final version of the application that is
`developed. A comment-space inclusive prototype presenta(cid:173)
`tion unit, as part of the server, generates a prototype of the
`application under development. This prototype has a com(cid:173)
`ment space added that allows the user to write his/her
`comments and suggestions about features of display screens
`or data items included in the screens. The comment-space
`inclusive prototype presentation unit sends such a prototype
`with a comment space to the client computer for user review
`purposes. An identification data storage unit stores informa(cid:173)
`tion for identifying the screens and items, as well as holding
`information for identifying development engineers involved
`in the software development. A user feedback distribution
`unit receives the user's comments and suggestions about the
`screens and/or items of the prototype through the network,
`and distributes the received comments and suggestions to
`relevant development engineers, based on the identification
`data stored in the identification data storage unit.
`
`14 Claims, 27 Drawing Sheets
`
`10
`
`SOFTWARE DESIGN EVALUATION SERVER
`11 COMMENT-SPACE
`I NCLUS I VE PROTOTYPE
`PRESENT AT I ON UN IT
`
`[
`
`INCLUSIVE
`COMMENT-SPACE
`PROTOTYPE
`
`--+---+i PERSONNEL MANAGE-§
`
`DD
`
`30 NETWORK
`
`CL I ENT COMPUTER
`
`D
`
`PERSONNEL MANAGE-
`
`§
`
`DD
`PROTOTYPE
`
`11 a
`rl =:::-=: I
`
`11 b COMMENT SPACE
`
`12
`
`IDENTIFI(cid:173)
`CATION DATA
`STORAGE UN IT
`
`~---~13
`USER FEEDBACK
`DISTR 1-
`BUT ION UNIT
`
`AXR-1003-Page 1 of 37
`
`

`

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`
`FIG. 1
`
`..---------'-13
`
`BUT ION UN IT
`USER FEEDBACK
`
`DISTRl(cid:173)
`
`STORAGE UNIT
`CATION DATA
`IDENTIFI(cid:173)
`
`12
`
`............ , ...
`D
`
`-------
`-------------
`------------·
`1111111111111111111-
`
`-
`
`20 CL I ENT COMPUTER
`
`30 NETWORK
`
`••PERSONNEL MANAGE(cid:173)
`
`DD
`I
`I
`I
`I
`MENT SUMMARY
`
`1
`
`PROTOTYPE
`
`COMMENT-SPACE INCLUSIVE
`PRESENTATION UNIT
`INCLUSIVE PROTOTYPE
`
`[
`
`11 COMMENT-SPACE
`
`11 b COMMENT SPACE
`(I =:::-~--1
`11 a
`
`PROTOTYPE
`
`PERSONNEL MANAGE(cid:173)
`
`DD
`I
`I
`I
`I
`MENT SUMMARY
`
`SOFTWARE DESIGN EVALUATION SERVER
`
`10
`
`AXR-1003-Page 2 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`Sl
`
`PROTOTYPE IS SENT TO USER,
`ALONG WITH A SPACE
`FOR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
`
`COMMENT-SPACE INCLUSIVE
`PROTOTYPE IS
`INSTALLED
`AT USER'S SITE
`
`S2
`
`S3
`
`USER' S COMMENTS AND
`SUGGESTIONS ARE RETURNED AS
`USER FEEDBACK
`INFORMATION
`
`END
`
`FIG.2
`
`AXR-1003-Page 3 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`/SlO
`COMMENT-SPACE INCLUSIVE PROTOTYPE
`IS PRESENTED TO USER
`BY USING
`INTERNET BROWSER
`
`Sll
`
`USER' S COMMENTS AND
`SUGGESTIONS ARE RETURNED
`AS USER FEEDBACK
`INFORMATION
`
`END
`
`FIG.3
`
`AXR-1003-Page 4 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`S20
`IN DEVELOPMENT
`PROTOTYPE SCREEN
`IS DIRECTLY REPLICATED
`ON USER'S TERMINAL SCREEN
`
`S21
`USER'S COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
`ARE DELIVERED TO THE DEVELOPER
`THROUGH CHAT MESSAGING SERVICE
`
`END
`
`FIG.4
`
`AXR-1003-Page 5 of 37
`
`

`

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`{).
`
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`
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`
`0
`
`-
`
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`
`I
`I
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`I
`
`USE A FULL-LENGTH
`
`PHOTOGRAPH
`
`• OK 0 NG
`• OK 0 NG
`• OK 0 NG
`• NG
`
`(2) 002
`(1) 001 0 OK
`
`(4) 004
`
`(3) 003
`
`SP
`COM
`11 b
`
`COMMENTS
`INFORMATION
`
`CHECK BOX
`
`SCREEN NAME: PERSONAL
`
`ID
`ID: 0006
`
`ITEM
`
`SCREEN
`
`(8) E-MAIL ADDRESS
`(7) PHONE NUMBER
`
`(6) ADDRESS
`
`(5) DATE OF BIRTH
`(4) EMPLOYEE NUMBER
`(3) NAME 2
`(2) NAME 1
`
`PICTURE
`
`(1) FACE
`
`I (11) EXIT I
`
`I (9) NEXT PAGE I I (1 O) PREV I DUS PAGE I
`
`MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`INFORMATION
`
`PERSONNEL
`
`cJ
`
`PRO TOT
`11 a
`
`V-20a SCREEN
`
`AXR-1003-Page 6 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`SEND USER' S COMMENTS
`AND SUGGESTIONS
`
`S30
`
`S31
`
`CHECK USER
`
`ID AND PASSWORD
`
`S32
`DISTRIBUTE USER FEEDBACK
`TO DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS
`
`END
`
`FIG.6
`
`AXR-1003-Page 7 of 37
`
`

`

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`
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`
`00001
`
`0005 B 0 0 1 0
`
`00001
`
`0004 B 0 0 1 0
`
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`
`0003 A0003
`
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`
`0002 A0001
`
`00001
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`REFERENCE
`
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`
`MANAGEMENT TABLE
`DEVELOPMENT TEAM
`
`'12b
`
`FIG. 7
`
`PHOTOGRAPH
`USE A FULL-
`
`LENGTH
`
`'.>
`
`<:
`
`0 0 1
`
`00001 0006
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`SCREEN
`
`REFERENCE
`
`NUMBER
`
`tl12a USER FEEDBACK TABLE
`
`AXR-1003-Page 8 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6,2001
`
`Sheet 8 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`USER I D : U S E R 0 1
`REFERENCE
`SCREEN
`ID
`NUMBER
`00001 0001
`
`12a-1
`
`A0001
`
`ITEM
`
`ID
`
`COMMENTS
`
`001
`
`---->
`
`00001 0002
`
`001
`
`USER I D : U S E R 0 1
`REFERENCE
`NUMBER
`00001 0003 005
`
`SCREEN
`
`ID
`
`ITEM
`
`ID
`
`00001 0003 009
`
`USER I D : U S E R 0 1
`REFERENCE
`NUMBER
`00001 0004 003
`
`ITEM
`
`ID
`
`SCREEN
`
`ID
`
`12a-2
`
`COMMENTS
`
`.....___>
`
`A0003
`
`12a-3
`
`COMMENTS
`
`80010
`
`->
`
`00001 0005
`
`006
`
`USER I D : U S E R 0 1
`REFERENCE
`SCREEN
`ID
`NUMBER
`
`ITEM
`
`ID
`
`00001 0006
`
`001
`
`12a-4
`
`80002
`
`COMMENTS
`USE A FULL- ->
`LENGTH
`PHOTOGRAPH
`
`FIG.8
`
`AXR-1003-Page 9 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`S40
`SERVER CONNECTS USER'S COMPUTER
`TO DEVELOPER'S COMPUTER
`
`S41
`USER ENTERS HIS/HER COMMENTS AND
`SUGGESTIONS WHILE VIEWING
`THE SAME SCREEN AS SEEN
`ON THE DEVELOPER'S COMPUTER
`
`END
`
`FIG. 9
`
`AXR-1003-Page 10 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6,2001
`
`Sheet 10 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`PRESENT PROTOTYPE
`OVER THE NETWORK
`
`'~
`SEND USER' S COMMENTS
`AND SUGGESTIONS
`
`(S5 0
`
`rss1
`
`rss 2
`,
`IN
`MAKE USER FEEDBACK REFLECTED
`APPLICATION UNDER DEVELOPMENT
`
`rss 3
`
`'~
`
`DELIVER FINAL VERSION
`OVER THE NETWORK
`
`,,
`END
`
`FIG. 10
`
`AXR-1003-Page 11 of 37
`
`

`

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`
`NOTIFICATION UNIT
`
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`
`UN IT
`DISPLAY
`PROTOTYPE
`
`42
`
`MENT ORDER UNIT
`1 1 SOFTWARE DEVELOP-
`
`"
`
`40 CL I ENT COMPUTER
`
`____ ........,
`
`A1
`
`30 NETWORK
`
`FIG. 11
`
`56
`
`55
`
`DISTRIBUTION UNIT
`
`USER FEEDBACK
`
`PRESENTATION UNIT
`
`PROTOTYPE
`
`ASSIGNMENT UNIT
`
`CATION KEY
`AUTHENTI(cid:173)
`
`54
`
`QUOTATION
`
`UNIT
`
`53
`50 SERVER
`
`SEARCHING UNIT
`SIMILAR CASE
`
`51
`
`PROCESS CONTENT
`52
`
`NATION UNIT
`
`DETERMI(cid:173)
`
`AXR-1003-Page 12 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6,2001
`
`Sheet 12 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`START
`
`S60
`
`ISSUE SOFTWARE
`DEVELOPMENT ORDER
`
`S62
`
`DETERMINE PROCESS
`CONTENTS BASED ON
`SIMILAR CASE DATA
`
`S63
`
`NEWLY DEFINE
`PROCESS CONTENTS
`
`ESTIMATE SOFTWARE
`DEVELOPMENT COST
`
`ASSIGN AUTHENTICATION KEY
`
`PRESENT PROTOTYPE TO USER
`
`DISPLAY PROTOTYPE
`
`SEND USER' S COMMENTS
`AND SUGGESTIONS
`
`S64
`
`S65
`
`S66
`
`S67
`
`S68
`
`DISTRIBUTE USER FEEDBACK
`TO DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS
`
`S69
`
`END
`
`FIG. 12
`
`AXR-1003-Page 13 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6,2001
`
`Sheet 13 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`/" 51 a S I M I LAR CASE TABLE
`
`REFERENCE
`NUMBER
`
`00001
`
`INDUSTRY
`SOFTWARE
`APPLICATION
`JOB
`CLASS I Fl- CATEGORY SYSTEM NAME
`INSTRUMENT
`CATION
`PERSONNEL PERSONNEL Access
`MANU-
`FACTURING AFFAIRS
`MANAGEMENT
`SALES
`00002 DISTRI-
`BUT ION
`MANAGEMENT
`
`SALES
`
`Not es
`
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`
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`I
`
`FIG. 13
`
`AXR-1003-Page 14 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 14 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`REFERENCE
`NUMBER
`00001
`
`00001
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`00002
`
`~ 51 b SIM I LAR CASE TABLE
`SCREEN
`ID
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`SUMMARY
`INFORMATION
`INDIVIDUAL
`INFORMATION
`
`0005
`
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`FIG. 14
`
`AXR-1003-Page 15 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6,2001
`
`Sheet 15 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
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`AXR-1003-Page 16 of 37
`
`

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`FIG. 16
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`AXR-1003-Page 17 of 37
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar.6,2001
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`Sheet 17 of 27
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`AXR-1003-Page 19 of 37
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`AXR-1003-Page 20 of 37
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`AXR-1003-Page 21 of 37
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`AXR-1003-Page 22 of 37
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6,2001
`
`Sheet 22 of 27
`
`US 6,199,193 Bl
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`AXR-1003-Page 23 of 37
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`AXR-1003-Page 24 of 37
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`AXR-1003-Page 25 of 37
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`132
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`HEADQUARTERS ----------.
`131
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`AXR-1003-Page 26 of 37
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`

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`PREV I OLIS PAGE
`
`APR I L 1 , 1989
`APR I L 1 , 1985
`APR I L 1 , 1982
`APRIL 1, 1986
`APRIL 1, 1984
`APR I L 1 , 1985
`APR I L 1 , 1987
`APRIL 1, 1987
`
`EMPLOYMENT
`DATE OF
`
`r141
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`140
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`STAFF
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`PRODUCT
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`FIRST
`SALES DEPT.
`SECOND
`SALES DEPT.
`FIRST
`SALES DEPT.
`FIRST
`DEPT.
`FINANCIAL
`AFFAIRS DEPT.
`GENERAL
`AFFAIRS DEPT.
`GENERAL
`DEPARTMENT
`
`AICHI FACTORY
`OSAKA BRANCH
`CHIBA BRANCH
`YOKOHAMA BRANCH
`SHINJUKU OFFICE
`HEADQUARTERS
`HEADQUARTERS
`HEADQUARTERS
`LOCATION
`
`UEDA KAZUO
`YAMADA YOSHIO
`TAKAHASHI KYOKO
`ICHIRO
`YAMAMOTO
`SATO MASAKO
`SUZUKI TARO
`TANAKA HIROSHI
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`1129
`1126
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`
`AXR-1003-Page 27 of 37
`
`

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`APRIL 1 . 1987
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`REMARKS
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`AXR-1003-Page 28 of 37
`
`

`

`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE
`DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE DESIGN
`EVALUATION SERVER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a method and system for
`software development and a software design evaluation
`server therefor. More particularly, the present invention
`relates to a method and system for software development
`which allows users to verify the functional specifications
`during the development process, and also to a software
`design evaluation server which facilitates user participation
`in a software development process to verify the functional
`specifications of an application under development.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In the context of business process reengineering (BPR)
`including analysis and redesign of business rules and
`practices, many organizations recognize the necessity of
`reconfiguration and redeployment of their business comput(cid:173)
`ing systems to adapt to the new business processes. Infor(cid:173)
`mation system departments in such organizations are
`requested to put their efforts to improvement of productivity
`in the software development processes, while the end users
`are also encouraged to develop a system by themselves
`according to their own needs.
`In reality, however, actual user needs are so diversified
`that information system departments are overwhelmed by
`ever-increasing development work backlogs. The delivery
`of maximum efficiency in software development is therefore
`an urgent requirement to be achieved.
`With respect to the software development methodologies,
`a conventional "waterfall" process has been popularly used
`to develop business application programs, in which each
`development phase strictly follows its predecessor. That is,
`a software development process starts with repeated discus(cid:173)
`sions between the user and developer so as to clarify the
`user's requirements and finalize the product target
`specifications, and then proceeds to the next phases such as
`design, coding, and test in a stepwise manner.
`Today, prototyping has been widely introduced, on the
`other hand, as an integral part of a software development
`process. In this methodology, the users are requested to
`evaluate a prototype of an application under development
`and provide their comments and suggestions on the features
`presently implemented therein, thus allowing the developer
`to modify and improve the program in a timely manner
`according to the user's feedback. The prototyping method- 50
`ology promotes heightened user involvement in the product
`definition and development processes, while ensuring satis(cid:173)
`faction with the final application.
`The above-described software development with proto(cid:173)
`typing phases requires users to participate in the system
`development from its early stage to achieve a high quality
`level in the final product. This user participation, however,
`entails movement of human resources and/or instruments
`from one place to another, thus imposing some burdens on
`both users and developers.
`Another problem is availability of users. They are not
`always ready for frequent participation in the system devel(cid:173)
`opment. Insufficient user participation, however, reduces the
`opportunities for in-process check and correction, which
`may result in some indefinite functional specifications
`remaining unclarified or necessary features left missing in
`the final product.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Taking the above into consideration, a first object of the
`present invention is to provide a convenient software design
`evaluation server which ensures that all functions requested
`5 by the user be fully implemented in the application under
`development.
`To accomplish the first object, according to the present
`invention, there is provided a software design evaluation
`server, coupled to a client computer via a network, which
`allows a user to make a review of functional specifications
`of an application during a development process thereof. This
`software design evaluation server comprises: (a) comment(cid:173)
`space inclusive prototype presentation means for generating
`a comment-space inclusive prototype by adding a comment
`space to a prototype of the application under development to
`allow the user to write comments and suggestions about
`features of a screen or data items included in the screen as
`part of the prototype, and for sending the comment-space
`inclusive prototype to the client computer for presentation to
`the user; (b) identification data storage means for storing
`information for identifying the screen and the items, as well
`as information for identifying development engineers
`involved in the development of the application; and ( c) user
`feedback distribution means for receiving from the user the
`comments and suggestions about the screens and/or the
`items from the user through the network, and distributing the
`received comments and suggestions to the development
`engineers, based on the information stored in said identifi-
`30 cation data storage means.
`A second object of the present invention is to provide a
`convenient software development method which assures
`that all functions requested by the user will be implemented
`in the application under development.
`To accomplish the second object, according to the present
`invention, there is provided a software development method
`which allows a user to make a review of functional speci(cid:173)
`fications of an application during a development process
`thereof. This software development method comprises the
`40 steps of: (a) presenting a prototype of the application under
`development to the user over a network; (b) sending the
`user's comments and suggestions about the prototype over
`the network; (c) correcting the application under develop(cid:173)
`ment so that the user's comments and suggestions be
`45 reflected therein, whereby the development process
`advances toward a final version of the application; and (d)
`delivering the final version of the application to the user via
`the network.
`A third object of the present invention is to provide a
`convenient software development system which assures that
`all functions requested by the user will be implemented in
`the application under development.
`To accomplish the third object, according to the present
`invention, there is provided a software development system
`55 which allows a user to make a review of functional speci(cid:173)
`fications of an application during a development process
`thereof.
`This software development system comprises: (a) a client
`computer comprising (al) software development order
`60 means for placing an order for software development via a
`network, (a2) prototype display means for displaying a
`prototype of the application under development on a monitor
`screen, and (a3) user feedback notification means for send(cid:173)
`ing comments and suggestions concerning functional speci-
`65 fications for the prototype over the network; and (b) a server
`comprising (bl) similar case searching means for accepting
`the software development order from the user and retrieving
`
`AXR-1003-Page 29 of 37
`
`

`

`US 6,199,193 Bl
`
`3
`a similar case that relates to the ordered software
`development, (b2) process content determination means for
`determining contents of the application, based on the similar
`case that has been retrieved by the similar case searching
`means, (b3) quotation means for issuing a price quotation of 5
`the software development, (b4) authentication key assign(cid:173)
`ment means for giving an authentication key to the user,
`when the user has accepted the price quotation and a
`software development contract has been made, (bS) proto(cid:173)
`type presentation means for presenting the prototype to the 10
`user via the network, and (b6) user feedback distribution
`means for distributing the comments and suggestions
`received from the client computer to development engineers
`in charge of the software development.
`The above and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will become apparent from the fol(cid:173)
`lowing description when taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention by way of example.
`
`15
`
`4
`FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an initial menu of a
`personnel information management system;
`FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a search condition entry
`screen through which a first kind of search conditions are
`entered to the personnel information management system;
`FIG. 24 is a diagram showing another search condition
`entry screen through which a second kind of search condi(cid:173)
`tions are entered to the personnel information management
`system;
`FIG. 25 is a diagram showing still another search condi(cid:173)
`tion entry screen through which a third kind of search
`conditions are entered to the personnel information man(cid:173)
`agement system;
`FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a summary of matches
`screen; and
`FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a personnel database
`screen.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`20
`
`25
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of a software
`design evaluation server of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operational procedure of
`a first embodiment;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operational procedure of
`a second embodiment;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operational procedure of
`a third embodiment;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen
`presented by a comment-space inclusive prototype presen(cid:173)
`tation unit;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process where the user's
`comments and suggestions about prototype specifications
`are notified as user feedback and reflected in the prototype;
`FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how a user feedback table is
`associated with a development team management table;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how the user feedback is
`distributed to development engineers;
`FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing how the user feedback is
`reflected in a prototype in the third embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a
`software development method according to the present 45
`invention;
`FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a concept of a software
`development system according to the present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the
`software development system;
`FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a similar case table;
`FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another similar case table;
`FIG. 15 is a diagram showing still another similar case
`table;
`FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data item table;
`FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a software specification
`table;
`FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another software specifi(cid:173)
`cation table;
`FIG. 19 is a diagram showing still another software
`specification table;
`FIG. 20 is a diagram showing how a price quotation is
`processed by a quotation unit;
`FIG. 21 is a diagram showing how a prototype presenta- 65
`tion unit reports the development progress status and pre(cid:173)
`sents a prototype to the user;
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Several embodiments of the present invention will be
`described below with reference to the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings.
`FIG. 1 explains the concept of a software design evalu-
`ation server of the present invention. More specifically, FIG.
`1 illustrates a simple client/server model comprising a
`software design evaluation server 10, a client computer 20
`at a user's site, and a network 30 for interconnecting them.
`30 It is assumed here that a personnel management application
`is now in development and its prototype lla is available for
`the purpose of evaluation of functional specifications. The
`software design evaluation server 10 supports prototype
`evaluation by the user during the process of software devel-
`35 opment.
`The software design evaluation server 10 comprises a
`comment-space inclusive prototype presentation unit 11
`which generates a special form of prototype by adding a
`comment space llb to the original prototype lla to allow the
`40 user to put his/her comments and suggestions about the
`proposed screens design or the items included in the proto(cid:173)
`type screens. This prototype is referred to as the comment(cid:173)
`space inclusive prototype. The comment-space inclusive
`prototype presentation unit 11 sends th