Url-based access to aspect objects

• US 20060129683A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Pauly, Thomas, Andersson, Johan, Hansen, Magne
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548

Abstract

A method to provide access to Aspects of Aspect Objects from a standard web browser. A web browser sends a request of access to a certain Aspect of an Aspect Object. The request includes a URL address. The URL address specifies the Aspect, the Aspect Object. The method enables the use of thin clients to access Aspects of Aspect Objects representing functions of real world objects connected to a control system.

Claims

1. A method to respond to a request for a function of a real-world object connected to a control system which function is represented as an Aspect of an Aspect Object, the method comprising:

receiving a web request in a web server, which web request is sent by a web presentation means and said web request comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which URL comprises means to identify the Aspect Object and the Aspect of the Aspect Object,

identifying in a software application the Aspect Object and the Aspect by use of information in the URL,

querying the identified Aspect Object from the software application for an interface to an Aspect System Object associated with the Aspect,

receiving from the Aspect System Object to the software application a reference to an interface of the Aspect System Object, which implements the function of the identified Aspect,

invoking functionality of the Aspect by means of the reference,

sending a response message to the world wide web presentation means, which response message is adapted to contextual information which describes characteristics of the world wide web presentation means, wherein the world wide web presentation means is updated with the result of the performed function of the real-world object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contextual information is comprised in the web request sent from the world wide web presentation means.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step receiving a web request, further comprising:

passing the web request from the web server to the software application.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the response message is adapted according to the contextual information by an Aspect System Object.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the response message is adapted as an HTTP response.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the response message is adapted according to extensible markup language (XML).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Aspect Object during run-time inherits the Aspect from another Aspect Object through a hierarchical structure, wherein the Aspect Object during run-time inherits the association of the Aspect System Object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the web presentation means is a standard web browser.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the web browser is installed on a wireless device such as a cell phone Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cell phone or a handheld computing device.

10. The method according to 1, wherein the contextual information of the world wide web presentation means describes technical characteristics of the world wide web presentation means such as type of web browser, available plug-ins or screen resolution.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises:

evaluating in the software application which function of the Aspect System Object the software application should query for a reference based on the contextual information in addition to the identified Aspect Object, the Aspect of the Aspect Object.

12. A control system comprising a web server, an Aspect Object, an Aspect System Object and a software application, wherein the system executes the method according to claim 1.

13. A computer program product which when run on a computer or a processor causes said computer or processor to carry out one or more steps of a the method according to claim 1.