Microsoft patents AI tool to rewrite old software into new code
Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that uses artificial intelligence to translate old, legacy software into modern programming languages. The AI first creates a map, or schema, of the old app's functions and how they connect, then uses this map to rewrite the code while keeping the original logic intact.
In the filing’s own words
Techniques are described herein that are capable of causing an AI system to convert a legacy application into a converted application using a schema. An AI system is caused to generate a schema that defines functional blocks of a legacy application and logical relationships therebetween based on documentation describing the functional blocks and the logical relationships. The AI system is caused to perform a conversion of the legacy application into a converted application based on the schema and the legacy application. Performing the conversion includes converting the functional blocks, which are configured to have respective functionalities and are written in a first programming language, into code blocks, which are configured to have the respective functionalities and are written in a second programming language. Performing the conversion further includes configuring the code blocks to have the logical relationships. The converted application is defined by the code blocks and the logical relationships.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system comprising: a processor system; and a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that are executable by the processor system to at least: cause an artificial intelligence system to generate a schema, which defines functional blocks of a legacy application and logical relationships between the functional blocks, by providing the legacy application and documentation, which describes the functional blocks and the logical relationships, as first inputs to the artificial intelligence system; and cause the artificial intelligence system to perform a conversion of the legacy application into a converted application by providing the schema and the legacy application as second inputs to the artificial intelligence system, the conversion comprising: convert the functional blocks, which are configured to have respective functionalities and which are written in a first programming language, into code blocks, which are configured to have the respective functionalities and which are written in a second programming language that is different from the first programming language, by using the schema to identify the functional blocks; and configure the code blocks to have the logical relationships by using the schema to identify the logical relationships, wherein the converted application is defined by the code blocks and the logical relationships.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- AI-BASED CONVERSION OF A LEGACY APPLICATION INTO A CONVERTED APPLICATION USING A SCHEMA
- Publication number
- US20260277551A1
- Application number
- 19078041
- Filed
- Mar 12, 2025
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 11
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 8/30 Physics & computingMore from Microsoft in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.