Claims
- 1. A method for use in implementing a database system, the method comprising:
gathering information about data that will form the content of the database; gathering information about one or more applications that will access the database; gathering information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur; using the gathered information to:
create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases; and calculate costs for the implementation project; and presenting the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.
- 2. The method of claim 1, where creating a model of relationships includes creating a map that links the database content to the applications that rely on that content.
- 3. The method of claim 1, where creating a model of relationships includes creating a map that links applications to the project phases in which those applications are to be implemented.
- 4. The method of claim 1, where calculating costs includes calculating an amount of database resources needed to implement the database system.
- 5. The method of claim 1, where calculating costs includes calculating an amount of human resources needed to implement the database system.
- 6. The method of claim 1, where calculating costs includes calculating costs for each phase of the implementation project.
- 7. The method of claim 1, also including a step of allowing a human user to modify the graphical display to effect changes in the implementation plan.
- 8. The method of claim 7, also including a step of revising the model of relationships among the content, applications, and phases in response to changes made by the user.
- 9. The method of claim 7, also including a step of recalculating costs for the implementation project in response to changes made by the user.
- 10. The method of claim 1, where gathering information about the data that will form the content of the database includes deriving information from a data model that defines a logical structure for the data in the database.
- 11. A visual modeling tool for use in implementing a database system, the tool comprising computer-readable instructions stored on a tangible storage medium that, when executed by a computer system, cause the system to:
gather information about data that will form the content of the database; gather information about one or more applications that will access the database; gather information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur; use the gathered information to:
create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases; and calculate costs for the implementation project; and present the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.
- 12. The tool of claim 11, where, in creating a model of relationships, the computer system creates a map that links the database content to the applications that rely on that content.
- 13. The tool of claim 11, where, in creating a model of relationships, the computer system creates a map that links applications to the project phases in which those applications are to be implemented.
- 14. The tool of claim 11, where, in calculating costs, the computer system calculates an amount of database resources needed to implement the database system.
- 15. The tool of claim 11, where, in calculating costs, the computer system calculates an amount of human resources needed to implement the database system.
- 16. The tool of claim 11, where, in calculating costs, the computer system calculates costs for each phase of the implementation project.
- 17. The tool of claim 11, where the computer system also allows a human user to modify the graphical display to effect changes in the implementation plan.
- 18. The tool of claim 17, where the computer system revises the model of relationships among the content, applications, and phases in response to changes made by the user.
- 19. The tool of claim 17, where the computer system recalculates costs for the implementation project in response to changes made by the user.
- 20. The tool of claim 11, where, in gathering information about the data that will form the content of the database, the computer system derives information from a data model that defines a logical structure for the data in the database.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/300,967, filed Jun. 26, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60300967 |
Jun 2001 |
US |