Gap analysis system & methods

Abstract

A system and methods for comparing differences and similarities of at least two models including generating corresponding metamodel maps, visual representation of the models, and conducting a series of phases of comparison of the models using a mapping index, wherein the mapping index includes the metamodel maps and the visual representation of the models to produce a comparison output.

1 . A method for comparing models comprising the steps of:
 providing at least two models each having corresponding metamodel maps; comparing the metamodel maps; and generating a mapping index based upon the comparison step, thereby identifying differences and similarities of the models.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each model further includes entities. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the entities further include attributes, relationships, and/or definitions, appropriate for each model. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the models are comparable based upon comparison of the entities within the models. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the models include sets of entities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the step of matching entities within the models. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing includes a series of comparing steps that repeats until a satisfactory result is realized. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the series of comparisons includes phases. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phases include a first phase of fine-tuning comparison data, and a second phase of automatic comparison of the models. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phases further include a third phase of manual comparison. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of indicating matches based upon the mapping index comparison. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of reporting results of the comparison. 
     
     
         13 . A method for comparing models comprising the steps of: providing two models generating metamodel maps for each model comparing the models in a series of phases producing a mapping index for comparing the at least two metamodel maps, thereby identifying differences and similarities between the at least two models. 
     
     
         14 . A system for comparing models comprising: two models each having a corresponding metamodel, wherein the metamodels are different from each other, a visual representation of the models, a series of phases of comparison of the models using the metamodel maps, wherein the metamodel differences are comparable in a mapping index, thereby providing a model comparison within the mapping index for models having different metamodels. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the models are not directly comparable without a translation. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mapping index provides the translation of the models that enables comparison of the models. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the series of phases of comparison includes a first comparison of the metamodel maps and a second comparison of the visual representations of the models. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mapping index includes a multiplicity of factors that provide the comparison between the models 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the index further includes a weighting for the factors. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the weighting of the factors is predetermined. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the weighting of the factors is variable. 
     
     
         22 . A system for comparing models comprising: at least two models, each model having a corresponding metamodel, wherein at least two of the metamodels are different; metamodel maps for making a first comparison of the models; a visual representation of the models for making a second comparison of the models, and a series of phases for comparison represented in a mapping index of the comparison of the metamodel maps.