Legacy Software Multimedia Capture and Analysis

Abstract

A system of tools and methodologies configured to capture, process, and analyze user interaction through multimedia tagging for the purpose of exposing users' adapted behavior when they are performing their job function with the legacy application is described. The resulting analysis can be applied to the re-engineering process in order to create a new application that is fully functional in a modern context.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which the like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a method of capturing user interactions with a legacy application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing how captured user interactions are processed and organized.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing how processed multimedia is linked for modeling and analysis.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary mechanical model.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary semantic model.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of a multimedia analysis tool of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a process flow of a method for legacy software multimedia capture and analysis.

Claims

1. A software modernization method for use by a business analyst, comprising: recording a plurality of media streams, the media streams including at least one of audio, video, and screen images relating to a business process that utilizes a legacy software application;generating a run-time log of the legacy software application during the business process; andcreating tags configured to link the media streams to a model of the legacy software application;wherein each tag is configured to contain an annotation describing a business process; andwherein each tag is associated with at least one point in time in one of the media streams.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying via a graphical user interface at least a segment of one of the media streams in a playback window, the segment having a selected time code that is also displayed via the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface further is configured to display elements within the model of the legacy software program that are linked to the selected time code via a tag.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display a portion of the run-time log that is linked to the selected time code via a tag.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display an annotation associated with the selected time code.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising converting each of the media streams and the run-time log of the legacy software, and tags associated therewith, to a common time frame of reference.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein converting is accomplished in part by embedding each of the media streams with time codes based on a synchronized clock.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the time codes are zero-based time codes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the model of the legacy software application includes a semantic model and a mechanical model, and wherein the tags are linked to either or both of the semantic model and the mechanical model.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the media streams, run-time log tags, and model of the legacy software are stored in a repository accessible by a computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the run-time log includes a time code for each time a program is invoked.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the run-time log further comprises a timestamp for each database query.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the repository to observe how the legacy application behaves when a particular code segment is executed.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the repository to view related mechanical assets.

15. The method of claim 10, further wherein the computing device is configured to display a graphical user interface including video playback window, playback controls, time code annotations, time codes, and a view of linked elements in the legacy software model, and the run-time log.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotations are assigned to categories selected from the group consisting of screen, menu, concept, event, actor, system interface, process, category, and an adapted use.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching the media streams according to at least one tag.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the annotation to XML format.