US5903453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for estimating software operation and performance using a goal-question-metric paradigm
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-19
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2016-01-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method for estimating software operation and performance measures using a goal/question/metric paradigm. In the present invention, each goal is associated with questions and metrics and stored to memory as a tree. The nodes in the tree are then interconnected in accordance with boolean logic relationships. A minimal path is determined through the tree. Probabilities are then assigned to each node and used in assigning an overall probability to the top node or goal. A percentage contribution to the overall probability is then assigned to each node. The probabilities, minimal path and percentage contributions are then used in determing an action plan to use during development of the software to ensure software operation and performance accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert William Stoddard II
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3604; G06F11/3616
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for estimating software operation and performance measures, comprising the steps of: identify a goal, associated questions, and associated metrics wherein said goal, said associated questions and said associated metrics relate to measurement of software operation and performance; storing nodes which represent said identified goal, associated questions, and associated metrics to a memory; interconnecting said nodes in accordance with boolean relationships between said goal, said associated questions, and said associated metrics to generate a success tree; determining a minimal path set through said success tree; assigning probabilities to said nodes of said success tree which represent said associated questions and said associated metrics; determining a probability associated with said identified goal in accordance with said probabilities; determining a percentage contribution of each of said nodes to said probability; and generating an action plan for use during development of said software in accordance with said probabilities -and said percentage contributions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for estimating software operation and performance measures, comprising the steps of: identify a goal, associated questions, and associated metrics wherein said goal, said associated questions and said associated metrics relate to measurement of software operation and performance; storing nodes which represent said identified goal, associated questions, and associated metrics to a memory; interconnecting said nodes in accordance with boolean relationships between said goal, said associated questions, and said associated metrics to generate a success tree; determining a minimal path set through said success tree; assigning probabilities to said nodes of said success tree which represent said associated questions and said associated metrics; determining a probability associated with said identified goal in accordance with said probabilities; determining a percentage contribution of each of said nodes to said probability; and generating an action plan for use during development of said software in accordance with said probabilities -and said percentage contributions.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for estimating software operation and performance measures, comprising the steps of: identifying a goal, associated questions, and associated metrics wherein said goal, said associated questions and said associated metrics relate to measurement of software operation and performance; storing nodes which represent said identified goal, associated questions, and associated metrics to a memory; interconnecting said nodes in accordance with boolean relationships between said goal, said associated questions, and said associated metrics to generate a success tree; determining a minimal path set through said success tree; assigning probabilities to said nodes of said success tree which represent said associated questions and said associated metrics; determining a probability associated with said identified goal in accordance with said probabilities; determining a percentage contribution of each of said nodes to said probability; and generating an action plan for use during development of said software in accordance with said probabilities and said percentage contributions; said step of determining a percentage contribution includes the step of determining said percentage contribution in accordance with a Vesely-Fussel Importance analysis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for estimating software operation and performance measures, comprising the steps of: identifying a goal, associated questions, and associated metrics wherein said goal, said associated questions and said associated metrics relate to measurement of software operation and performance; storing nodes which represent said identified goal, associated questions, and associated metrics to a memory; interconnecting said nodes in accordance with boolean relationships between said goal, said associated questions, and said associated metrics to generate a success tree; determining a minimal path set through said success tree; assigning probabilities to said nodes of said success tree which represent said associated questions and said associated metrics; determining a probability associated with said identified goal in accordance with said probabilities; determining a percentage contribution of each of said nodes to said probability; and generating an action plan for use during development of said software in accordance with said probabilities and said percentage contributions; said step of determining a percentage contribution includes the step of determining said percentage contribution in accordance with a Vesely-Fussel Importance analysis.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for estimating software operation and performance measures, comprising the steps of: identifying a goal, associated questions, and associated metrics wherein said goal, said associated questions and said associated metrics relate to measurement of software operation and performance; storing nodes which represent said identified goal, associated questions, and associated metrics to a memory; interconnecting said nodes in accordance with boolean relationships between said goal, said associated questions, and said associated metrics to generate a success determining a minimal path set through said success tree: assigning probabilities to said nodes of said success tree which represent said associated questions and said associated metrics; determining a probability associated with said identified goal in accordance with said probabilities; determining a percentage contribution of each of said nodes to said probability; and generating an action plan for use during development of said software in accordance with said probabilities and said percentage contributions; said step of generating an action plan includes the step of generating said action plan in accordance with a pareto analysis of said minimal path set.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for estimating software operation and performance measures, comprising the steps of: identifying a goal, associated questions, and associated metrics wherein said goal, said associated questions and said associated metrics relate to measurement of software operation and performance; storing nodes which represent said identified goal, associated questions, and associated metrics to a memory; interconnecting said nodes in accordance with boolean relationships between said goal, said associated questions, and said associated metrics to generate a success determining a minimal path set through said success tree: assigning probabilities to said nodes of said success tree which represent said associated questions and said associated metrics; determining a probability associated with said identified goal in accordance with said probabilities; determining a percentage contribution of each of said nodes to said probability; and generating an action plan for use during development of said software in accordance with said probabilities and said percentage contributions; said step of generating an action plan includes the step of generating said action plan in accordance with a pareto analysis of said minimal path set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said software operation and performance measures include software reliability measures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said software operation and performance measures include software quality measures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said software operation and performance measures include software productivity measures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said software operation and performance measures include software maintainability measures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-10 | 2002-11-09 | 2003-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |