US 8,285,660 B2Granted

Semi-automatic evaluation and prioritization of architectural alternatives for data integration

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsPeter Alan Coldicott, Guenter Anton Sauter, Mei Yang Selvage, Olaf W Zimmermann

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Abstract

Evaluating and prioritizing architectural design pattern alternatives for data integration is provided. A set of decision factors is derived from requirements for a system to be integrated. A default score is assigned to each decision factor based on historical data integration knowledge, and the default scores are weighted. A priority score is also assigned to each decision factor based on collected inputs from system metadata and subject matter experts in the enterprise system. Next, an individual consolidated score for each decision factor is calculated using the default score, the weighted score, and the priority score, and a total consolidated score is calculated from the individual consolidated scores for the architecture design pattern. The total consolidated score for the architecture design pattern may be compared against total consolidated scores for other architecture design patterns to determine a suitable candidate architecture design pattern for data integration.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for evaluating architectural design patterns for data integration in an enterprise system, the method comprising the steps of:

deriving, by a computer, a set of decision factors from a set of requirements for a system to be integrated, wherein the set of requirements specify capabilities that an architecture design pattern is required to provide;
assigning, by the computer, a default score to each decision factor in the set of decision factors based on historical data integration knowledge;
calculating, by the computer, a weighted score for each decision factor using the default scores to indicate a priority of a decision factor in relation to other decision factors;
assigning, by the computer, a priority score to each decision factor based on inputs obtained from system metadata related to the decision factors from virtual and physical data sources, experts in the enterprise system, and expert data related to the decision factors from subject matter experts in the enterprise system;
calculating, by the computer, an individual consolidated score using the default score, weighted score, and the priority score of each decision factor;
calculating, by the computer, a total consolidated score from the individual consolidated scores for the architecture design pattern;
and
comparing, by the computer, the total consolidated score for the architecture design pattern against total consolidated scores for other architecture design patterns to determine a suitable candidate architecture design pattern for data integration.

5 more elements

A computer system for evaluating architectural design patterns for data integration in an enterprise system, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to derive a set of decision factors from a set of requirements for a system to be integrated, wherein the set of requirements specify capabilities that an architecture design pattern is required to provide;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to assign a default score to each decision factor in the set of decision factors based on historical data integration knowledge;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to calculate a weighted score for each decision factor using the default scores to indicate a priority of a decision factor in relation to other decision factors;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to assign a priority score to each decision factor based on inputs obtained from system metadata related to the decision factors from virtual and physical data sources, experts in the enterprise system, and expert data related to the decision factors from subject matter experts in the enterprise system;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to calculate an individual consolidated score using the default score, weighted score, and the priority score of each decision factor;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to calculate a total consolidated score from the individual consolidated scores for the architecture design pattern;
and
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, to compare the total consolidated score for the architecture design pattern against total consolidated scores for other architecture design patterns to determine a suitable candidate architecture design pattern for data integration.

6 more elements

A computer program product for evaluating architectural design patterns for data integration in an enterprise system, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to derive a set of decision factors from a set of requirements for a system to be integrated, wherein the set of requirements specify capabilities that an architecture design pattern is required to provide;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to assign a default score to each decision factor in the set of decision factors based on historical data integration knowledge;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to calculate a weighted score for each decision factor using the default scores to indicate a priority of a decision factor in relation to other decision factors;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to assign a priority score to each decision factor based on inputs obtained from system metadata related to the decision factors from virtual and physical data sources, experts in the enterprise system, and expert data related to the decision factors from subject matter experts in the enterprise system;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to calculate an individual consolidated score using the default score, weighted score, and the priority score of each decision factor;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to calculate a total consolidated score from the individual consolidated scores for the architecture design pattern;
and
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to compare the total consolidated score for the architecture design pattern against total consolidated scores for other architecture design patterns to determine a suitable candidate architecture design pattern for data integration.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.