OBJECT DESIGN

• US 20140130012A1
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weatherhead, Norman, Stump, Andrew R., Mansouri, Haithem, Rodriguez, Axel, Thomsen, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Described herein are systems, methods and apparatuses that can provide a holistic, bottom-up approach to facilitate the design of objects (e.g., modular objects that can facilitate industrial automation applications). The design approach includes selection of an object from a library of a plurality of objects; filtration of functionalities of the object based on a workflow of an application; and display of the object for customization of the object for the application with the filtered functionalities masked.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory, that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to at least;

select an object from a data store of a plurality of objects;

filter first data representing functionalities of the object based on second data representing a workflow of an application resulting the first data comprising third data representing filtered functionalities and fourth data representing unfiltered functionalities; and

facilitate a display of the fourth data representing unfiltered functionalities for customization of the object for the application while masking the third data representing the filtered functionalities.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data representing the functionalities of the object is filtered based on third data representing a role of an entity that has selected or customized the object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store is an internal library with a local security protocol that applies to a set of devices communicatively coupled by one or more local area networks.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store is an external library with a global security protocol that applies to a set of devices communicatively coupled by a wide area network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data representing the functionalities of the object is filtered based on a determination of a type of the application.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the computer-executable instructions to:

receive an input including an instruction to customize, for the application, an unmasked functionality of the object of the functionalities of the object.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the computer-executable instructions to:

receive an input including an instruction to save the object with the customized unmasked functionality to the data store.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor further facilitates the execution of the computer-executable instructions to:

select the object from the data store of the plurality of objects based on a determination of a type of the application.

9. A method, comprising:

selecting, by a system including a processor, an object from a library of object data;

filtering, by the system, a parameter of the object based on workflow data defining a workflow of an application; and

facilitating, by the system, a display of the object including masking the filtered parameter of the object to facilitate a customization of the object for the application.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, an input relating to an unmasked parameter of the object to customize the unmasked parameter of the object for the application.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

customizing, by the system, the object to generate a customized object for the application based on at least one characteristic of the object on display.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

saving, by the system, the customized object for the application in a private library.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

saving, by the system, the customized object for the application in a globally accessible library.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the object based on a determination of a type of the application.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the object based on a determination of a goal of the application.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the object based on a determination of a rule for the application.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing device including a processor to perform operations, comprising:

selecting an object from a library of a plurality of objects;

filtering a parameter of the object based on a role of an entity selecting the object; and

displaying an unfiltered parameter of the object and masking the filtered parameter to facilitate customization of the object for an application.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

customizing the object for the application according to an input for the unfiltered parameter.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

saving the object customized for the application in an external library accessible according to a global security protocol.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

saving the object customized for the application in an external library accessible according to a global security protocol.