Requirement Feature Modeling With Dependency Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for requirement specification in large-scale software development lack a holistic view of system evolution with interconnections, leading to inconsistencies and manual, document-centric processes that are time-consuming and SME-dependent.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for feature specification and dependency extraction from requirement specification documents using a feature model generation technique, specification extraction technique, and dependency extraction technique, employing Natural Language Processing (NLP) to generate hierarchical product feature models and update dependency associations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional methods (UML, BPMN, Feature Modeling) are used for requirement specification, then a specific view of the system can be addressed, but a holistic view of system evolution with interconnections cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple conventional modeling approaches (UML, BPMN, Feature Modeling) into a unified feature model that captures both specific views and holistic system evolution. The feature model integrates structural, behavioral, and evolutionary aspects into a single comprehensive representation that maintains interconnections across different system views.
Solution Approach 2:
The feature model serves multiple functions simultaneously: it represents system structure, captures behavioral sequences, tracks evolutionary changes, and maintains interconnections between different views. This multi-functional model replaces the need for separate specialized models for each view.
2Reliability
If modeling-based approaches (UML, BPMN, Feature Modeling) are specified for large-scale product development, then system views can be represented, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically extracts feature models from existing requirement documentation without requiring manual modeling by specialists. The automated extraction process analyzes natural language requirements and generates structured feature models, eliminating the tedious manual specification process while maintaining model accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical modeling processes with automated computational extraction. Instead of specialists manually creating models through tedious processes, an automated system processes requirement documents and generates feature models algorithmically, significantly improving productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual document-centric processes are used for requirement specification, then flexibility in documentation is maintained, but the process becomes SME-dependent and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms unstructured natural language requirement documents into structured feature models with standardized parameters and relationships. This transformation maintains the flexibility of natural language documentation while imposing consistent structural parameters that enable automated processing and reduce SME-dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The feature model acts as an intermediary between diverse requirement documents and the development process. It provides a standardized intermediate representation that captures requirements consistently while allowing the original flexible documentation formats to be preserved as input sources.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a holistic model for feature specification and dependency representation for requirement specification documents where the conventional models fail to provide. The present disclosure receives a plurality of requirement specification documents and a related data. A product feature model is generated based on the plurality of requirement specification documents and the related data using a feature model generation technique. The product feature model includes a plurality of product feature elements. The plurality of product feature elements includes a feature area, a major feature and a plurality of features. A specification model is generated further for each of the plurality of features using a specification extraction technique. Post generating the specification model, a plurality of dependency associations are generated for each of a plurality of specification elements of the specification model using a dependency extraction technique. Finally, the plurality of dependency associations are updated in the specification model.