Patent ID: 7171652
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: verifying consistency within a first electronic software design specification document, wherein said verifying comprises identifying a particular function that is defined in a first section of the first design specification document, wherein the first section is a section in which functions are defined; automatically determining whether the particular function is declared in a second section of the first design specification document, wherein the second section is a section in which functions are declared; if the function is not declared in the second section, then reporting that the function is not declared; if the function is declared in the second section, then automatically determining whether a particular parameter is associated with the function in the first section and is declared in the second section; if the particular parameter is associated with the function in the first section and is not declared in the second section, then storing the particular parameter as an undeclared parameter, and incrementing an undeclared parameter frequency variable that is associated with the particular parameter and with the function, wherein the undeclared parameter frequency variable indicates the number of times that the particular parameter is used in the function; automatically determining whether a particular class attribute is associated with the function in the first section and is described in a third section of the first design specification document, wherein the third section lists class attributes of a class associated with a software application; and if the particular class attribute is associated with the function in the first section and is not described in the third section, then storing the particular class attribute as an undeclared class attribute, and incrementing an undeclared parameter frequency variable that is associated with the particular class attribute and with the function, wherein the undeclared attribute frequency variable indicates the number of times that the particular class attribute is used in the function.