JP2001273126A - Automatic programming service method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic programming service method and system which can automatically execute a programming without preparing complicated specification, etc., and have high availability and also which can effectively utilize the fragmented programs as a program having versatility. SOLUTION: The automatic programming service method comprises a step in which available program fragments registered in a fragment library and information on the program fragments are offered to a user through a transmitting medium, a step in which a program prepared by utilizing the offered program fragments is received from the user through the transmitting medium, a step in which the received program is converted to automatically generate a computer performable program, and a step in which the automatically generated computer executable program is offered to the user through the transmitting medium in order to solve the above problems.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic program generation service method and a program automatic generation service system using program parts, and more particularly, to an open communication network typified by the Internet and a transmission medium such as a dedicated line. And a method and system for providing an automatic program generation service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art To operate a system with a computer, programming and accompanying debugging are required. In the 60's and 70's, due to the low performance of computers, languages for programming work such as assembler, Kobol, Fortran etc. were used for machines that were efficient, but took time and effort for system developers. Have been. However, with the times, computers have made great progress in terms of hardware, and the cost required for system development has weighed more on software than on hardware, and the productivity of software development has become a major problem.

In view of such a situation, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-236720 and
JP-A-9-204301, JP-A-2000-478
It has been proposed to automatically generate a program as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59-59. However, in these proposed methods, a program creator writes a specification and automatically generates a program based on the specification, and the preparation of the specification is technically complicated. At the same time, only the accuracy and efficiency of automatic program generation are considered in mind, and automatic generation of programs is not widely provided to stakeholders as a versatile and highly usable service.

On the other hand, system programs used in the field of business are not exactly the same,
Program parts that perform very similar procedures may appear everywhere. For this reason, there has been an active movement to reuse a program that has been created once, and the idea of using a program as a component for programming has come to be used. However, the fact is that the program componentization is performed in each system development department in an individual way, there is no versatility, there is no part you want to use even if you try to use it, or you do not know how to use it, In general, it was almost impossible for another system developer to use parts created by one system developer because of doubts about reliability.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an automatic generation of a program without creating a complicated specification is required. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for automatically generating a program which can be executed and have good usability, and to provide a method and a system for effectively utilizing a componentized program as a general-purpose program.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing a step of providing usable program components registered in a component library and information about the program components to a user through a transmission medium. Receiving a program created using the program components from a user through a transmission medium, converting the received program to automatically generate a computer-executable program, and transmitting the automatically generated computer-executable program A program automatic generation service method including a step of providing to a user through a medium, a parts library in which usable program parts are registered, and usable program parts and information on those program parts are transmitted to a user through a transmission medium. Hands to offer And means for receiving a program created using program components from a user, means for converting a received program to automatically generate a computer-executable program, and means for generating the computer-executable program By providing a program automatic generation service system including means for providing the user to a user via a transmission medium.

[0007] That is, the present invention provides a method and system for widely providing related persons with automatic generation of a program as a versatile service through a transmission medium such as an open communication network or a service line represented by the Internet. Things. The user receives, for example, information on usable program components from a service provider called a generation center through a transmission medium, easily creates his / her own program using the program components, and creates the simple program. All that is required is to send the program converted to a computer-executable form from the production center via the transmission medium.

The generation center has a library of program components called a component library. Many of the program components stored in the library are created using a common tool, so that they have versatility. It can be used repeatedly. In the present invention, the accumulation of program components in the component library is performed as follows. That is, the program component development tool is provided to the component creator who has been registered in advance, and the component creator sends the program component created using the program component development tool to the generation center via a transmission medium, and the generation center receives the program component. Register the programmed parts in the parts library. Since all the program components registered in this way are created by a common development tool, they are versatile regardless of the creator, and are widely used through the program automatic generation service method or system provided by the present invention. It is provided to users and can be used effectively and repeatedly.

According to the program automatic generation service method of the present invention, when a service provision request is received through a transmission medium, it is possible to determine whether the provision requester is a registered user or an unregistered person. The level of service to be provided is made different depending on the result of the determination, and an unregistered person can be informed of a method of becoming a registered user.

Further, according to the program automatic generation service method of the present invention, the usage fee is automatically set for each user based on the number of steps of the program received from the user and / or the type and number of used program parts. And, if necessary, a step of charging the user for the calculated usage fee.The usage frequency of the program components used in the program received from the user may be included. Calculating a fee to be paid to a registered creator of the program component based on the creator. By doing so, it is possible for users to calculate fees fairly and objectively, and to motivate program component creators to develop program components that are versatile and easy to use. It becomes possible.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic program generation service method and system according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an automatic program generation service system according to the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram in the case where the Internet is used as a transmission medium. FIG.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a generation center which is an entity that performs an automatic program generation service, and the generation center 1 is connected to a computer 2, a program automatic generation device 3 connected to the computer 2, and a program automatic generation device 3. It has a parts library 4. 5 is WW
W (World Wide Web) server, computer 2
And to the transmission medium 6 such as the Internet. The connection between the WWW server 5 and the computer 2 may be a direct line connection as shown in the figure, or may be a connection via the transmission medium 6. Further, the WWW server 5 may be managed by the generation center 1, or may be managed by another provider or the like.

7a, 7b, 7c,... Are users of the automatic program generation service of the present invention, and are typically end users, off-consumer dealers, or end users who develop and create programs for their own use. SI companies that build and operate systems on behalf of users. The users 7a, 7b, 7c,... Know the existence of the program automatic generation service of the present invention through, for example, an advertisement or the like, and the generation center 1
It connects to the homepage of the program automatic generation service provided via the server 5. The homepage of the automatic program generation service provides an overview of the automatic program generation service, a brief description of the program components that can be used, etc., and the details of the specific services that you can receive when you become a registered user Information is provided on how to become a registered user, pricing, and how to become a registered user.

A user 7 looking at the homepage and wishing to become a registered user of the program automatic generation service
.., 7b, 7c,... move to the registration page, enter necessary information on the application form on the page, and send it to the transmission medium 6.
The registration application is made by sending to the generation center 1 through. After examining the contents of the registration application sent, the generation center 1 provides the user who has received the registration application with a key such as an ID number and a password necessary for starting the use of the service, and the service starts. Is done. It is a matter of course that the registration application may be made by using an existing communication means such as mailing without using the transmission medium 6.

On the homepage screen, there is a button such as "start service". When the button is selected by clicking a mouse or the like, a key such as an ID number and a password necessary for starting use of the service such as a password is provided. If you are unable to provide the required key, you will be asked to provide specific services, fee structure, and how to become a registered user when you become a registered user. The page where the information is provided is shown. On the other hand, for a user who can present a necessary key, provision of an automatic program generation service is started.

A registered user, for example, 7a, can use a list of available program parts and their functions on the homepage,
You can get detailed information on how to use,
If necessary, you can also learn how to use the program components with a simple learning program. Based on the provided information, the registered user 7a creates a target program using the program components presented as usable. The creation of the program on the registered user 7a side is performed by using a wide variety of easy-to-use program parts, so that the number of steps can be greatly reduced and the program can be performed relatively easily.

Here, the program parts to be used may be those made of a conventional object module, but are preferably source parts in a text format if possible. Source parts in text format are easy for humans to understand, COBOL, VB, C +
Since various native languages such as + and JAVA can be generated, it is excellent in versatility.

The registered user 7a, which has completed the creation of the program using the program components, connects to the homepage of the automatic program creation service again and sends the created program to the computer 2 of the creation center 1 via the transmission medium 6. And send. The computer 2 of the generation center 1
The received program is sent to the automatic program generation device 3, which converts the program using the sent parts, develops the program parts into the used programming language, and then uses the computer Automatically generate executable programs. For example, a one-line program described using a program component may be expanded into a program of several to several tens of lines, sometimes more than 100 lines, depending on the type of the component and the content of the program. Speaking of a comparison between the number of lines of the program actually described by the creator and the number of lines of the program developed by the automatic program generation device 3, the number of lines of the program described by the program creator is equal to the number of lines of the developed program. In this case, the productivity is improved several times to several tens of times by using the program component. In addition, since the program that can be executed by the computer is automatically executed by the program automatic generation device 3 without human intervention,
Extremely high productivity can be obtained.

The automatically generated computer-executable program is transmitted to the registered user 7a via the transmission medium 6.
And the automatic program generation service ends.
Depending on the length and complexity of the program, the time it takes to send a program from a registered user to a computer-executable program and send it back to the registered user is typically 5 minutes or less. In the early case, it is less than 3 minutes.

As part of the automatic program generation service, the computer 2 of the generation center 1 automatically determines the number of steps of the program sent from the registered user and the type and frequency of the parts used for each registered user. And based on a predetermined usage fee table,
It has a function of calculating the usage fee to be charged to each registered user, and further has a function of charging the calculated usage fee to each registered user.

In FIG. 1, 8a, 8b, 8c,.
Is the creator of the program parts, interviews, tests,
Those who have been registered as program component creators through document screening, etc., and have been provided with component development tools. Application and registration as the creator of the program parts is done on the transmission medium 6
Needless to say, in this case, it is desirable to post the recruitment requirements of the program component creator on the homepage of the automatic program generation service or on a site linked to the homepage.

Program component creators 8a, 8b, 8c,
.. Are used to develop and create program components based on a component development tool provided from the generation center 1 through, for example, the transmission medium 6 by an original idea or by entrustment from the generation center 1. Then, the created program component is sent to the generation center 1 via the transmission medium 6, for example. Upon receiving the sent program parts, the computer 2 of the generation center 1 automatically determines whether or not the sender is a part creator registered as a part creator by requesting an ID number and a password. Then, the program component is confirmed to be sent from the registered component creator, and the sent program component is received.

The generation center 1 inspects the received program parts to determine whether they are created based on the provided part development tool, whether they are necessary parts, whether there are any duplicate parts, and the like. If the component can be used, the usage fee, the return rate to the creator, and the like are determined, and registered in the component library 4 together with information such as the function, usage method, and creator. The parts registered in the parts library 4 are presented as usable parts on the homepage of the program automatic generation service via the computer 2.

As described above, a common component development tool is created by a plurality of component creators 8a, 8b, 8c outside the generation center 1.
... and those parts creators 8a, 8b, 8
By having c, ... create program parts,
Many versatile program parts that can be used according to certain rules are created, and the parts library 4
Can be registered and stored. As the number of types of parts registered in the parts library 4 increases, the effort of the registered user to create a program is further reduced, and the productivity of the program is further improved.

The computer 2 of the generation center 1 stores the type and frequency of the program components used in the program received from the registered user, ie, the program to be converted and automatically generated by the computer. Is calculated for each program component creator, and a fee to be paid to each program component creator is calculated based on a predetermined fee table.

In the above description, provision of necessary information and transmission of programs and program parts are all performed via the Internet. However, the transmission medium as a communication means is not limited to the Internet, but may be any other network. Or, of course, a dedicated line may be used.

[0027]

As described above, the method and system for automatically generating a program according to the present invention have a program component library, and store information about the functions and usage methods of the program components registered and stored therein. For example, since it is widely provided to users through a transmission medium such as the Internet, information on usable program components can be accurately and sufficiently transmitted to users. Since the user describes the program using the program parts provided as usable ones, not only the number of lines of the program can be reduced, but also the contents of the described program can be easily understood. Is relatively easy.

A program automatic generation service method and system according to the present invention receive a program created by a user through a transmission medium, convert the program, and automatically generate a computer-executable program. Therefore, without requiring human power,
Extremely high program productivity can be realized. The user can obtain a desired program simply by creating a relatively simple program using the provided program components and sending it to the generation center without creating a complicated specification.

In the automatic program generation service method and system according to the present invention, a common component development tool is provided to the component creator, and the program component created by the component creator based on the common component development tool is converted into a component. Since it is registered and stored in the library sequentially, a versatile parts group with common specifications will be systematically stored, making the parts of the program practical and easy to use. Can be done. Also,
Since information about the program parts, transmission of the program, and registration are all performed through the transmission medium, there is an advantage that the labor can be saved and the service can be provided to a large number of users extremely smoothly and accurately. .

As described above, the present invention has various innovative effects, and its influence on the technical field is enormous.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 generation center 2 computer 3 automatic program generation device 4 parts library 5 WWW server 6 transmission medium 7a, 7b, 7c user 8a, 8b, 8c parts creator

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A step of providing usable program components registered in a component library and information about those program components to a user through a transmission medium, and transmitting a program created using the provided program components to a transmission medium. Receiving from a user through a PC, converting a received program to automatically generate a computer-executable program, and providing the user with the automatically generated computer-executable program to a user through a transmission medium. Generation service method. 2. When a service provision request is received through a transmission medium, it is determined whether the provision requester is a registered user or an unregistered person, and the level of the service to be provided is made different depending on the result of the determination. 2. The automatic program generation service method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of informing unregistered users of the method of becoming a registered user. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving a created program component from a registered component creator provided with the program component development tool via a transmission medium; and registering the received program component in a component library. 3. The automatic program generation service method according to 1 or 2. 4. A step of automatically calculating a usage fee for each user based on the number of steps of the program received from the user and / or the type and number of used program components, and 4. The automatic program generation service method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of charging the user for the calculated usage fee accordingly. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating, for each creator, a fee to be paid to a registered creator of the program component based on a use frequency of the program component used in the program received from the user. 5. The program automatic generation service method according to 3 or 4. 6. A component library in which usable program components are registered, usable program components and means for providing information on the program components to a user through a transmission medium, and a program created using the program components. Means for receiving the generated program from the user, means for converting the received program to automatically generate a computer-executable program, and means for providing the generated computer-executable program to the user via a transmission medium And an automatic program generation service system. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: means for receiving a program component created by a component creator provided with the program component development tool through a transmission medium, and registering the received program component in a component library. Automatic program generation service system.