Rebuilding a Unified Database Service via Context Analysis Method

In this paper we present an empirical study of using a context analysis method to resolve the problems in data sharing and synchronization between applications that occur due to the lack of an interaction mechanism within legacy mobile software platform. Context analysis methods are generally used in software requirements engineering to define system boundaries through the analysis of interactions between the system under development and its exterior systems and to clearly define the requirements that the system should provide within those boundaries. We tailored existing context analysis methods to explicitly identify the dependencies and contextual problems inherent in legacy system from structural and behavioral viewpoints. Context modeling and analysis in this research plays a key role to improve to current problems and to restructure the legacy system to be more responsive to the predictable changes of the mobile platform because the data usage styles and dependencies of legacy applications are analyzed and the roles of legacy applications, the data related entities, and the relationships between them are defined. The case study presented will illustrate how context analysis can be used to help improvements in the maintenance of legacy system and in situations that require reengineering.