Service Impact Analysis in Service Oriented Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a service-oriented architecture (SOA), determining the impact of modifying a service on consuming applications is challenging due to the distributed and decentralized nature of service references across multiple code bases, making it difficult to assess the cost and extent of changes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that generates a service definition to identify how applications utilize a service, searches for service references across multiple code bases, and determines the impact of modifications by analyzing the number of applications and usage patterns, using a parser to translate service code and identify declaring classes and symbols, thereby quantifying the cost of changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual analysis of service references across distributed code bases is performed, then accuracy of impact assessment can be maintained, but time and resource costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary impact analysis system that acts as a mediator between the service definition and the distributed application code bases. This system automatically searches for service references across multiple code bases, parses source code files to identify declaring classes and symbols, and determines impact without requiring manual analysis. The intermediary automates the previously manual process, maintaining accuracy while dramatically reducing time and resource requirements.
2Reliability
If comprehensive searching of all application code bases is performed to identify service references, then completeness of impact analysis is improved, but system complexity and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive impact analysis process into distinct modular components: (1) service definition generation that parses service source code files to identify declaring classes and symbols, (2) distributed searching across multiple application code bases using the service definition, (3) reference identification that locates specific service references in consuming applications, and (4) impact determination that aggregates results. This segmentation reduces system complexity by breaking down the monolithic searching task into manageable, independent modules that can be executed systematically.
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed parsing of service code and identification of declaring classes is performed, then precision of service definition is improved, but processing time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing detailed parsing of service source code files to generate the service definition before the actual impact analysis across application code bases. The service definition, including declaring classes and symbols, is pre-computed and stored as a reference template. This preliminary preparation ensures high precision in the service definition while enabling faster subsequent searching and matching operations during the impact analysis phase, as the system can directly compare against the pre-parsed service definition rather than re-parsing service code for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes accessing information indicative of a service on which to perform impact analysis; generating, by one or more processing devices, a service definition that is indicative of how an application locally utilizes the service; searching, by the one or more processing devices based on the service definition, a plurality of application code bases for one or more references to the service; identifying, based on searching, which applications utilize the service; and determining, by the one or more processing devices based on the identified application code basis, an impact of a modification to the service.