METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INFORMATION INTEGRATION IN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS

• US 20160132838A1
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Australia (University of Adelaide)
• Original Assignee: University of South Australia (University of Adelaide)
• Inventors: GROSSMAN, Georg, STUMPTNER, Markus, SCHREFL, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/51 Source to source
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

A computational method for performing a data transformation process for use in Engineering Asset Management on an industrial scale is described, The method and associated integration environment includes a transformation engine or module to map model elements and data items from a first information system, for example a procurement and construction database that records the thousands of individual components used to construct an industrial site, to a second information system. Such as an operation and maintenance database. The method uses a model transformation user interface using hierarchically linked layers to allow users to create, view and modify the transformation specification, as well as element terms and element relationships which define a transformation specification, without having to write the underlying code that performs the transformation.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating a computer executable transformation engine for transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to second set of model elements in a second information system, the method comprising:

providing a model transformation user interface for displaying a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising;

a plurality of user definable element terms;

a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms;

at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer,

wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and zero or more element relationships, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, and

the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer which receives the first set of model elements and transforms the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using at least one instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer; and

wherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer has an associated visual representation; and

receiving one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers; and

wherein in use, the model transformation specification is used to generate a computer executable transformation engine which receives the first set of model elements from the first information system, and sends the second set of model elements to the second information system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising generating the computer executable transformation engine.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more user inputs for creating an element term in a new layer above the highest layer, wherein the created element term is made immediately visible to all lower layers.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a model transformation library comprising a plurality of computer executable modules for implementing the model transformation specification, and the transformation engine is generated using the model transformation library.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of computer modules comprises code for implementing each of the plurality of terms and each of the plurality of relationships, and the step of receiving one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification further comprises immediately updating the plurality of computer executable modules.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the model transformation user interface is implemented in a first computing language, and the method further comprises generating one or more secondary model transformation user interfaces that display a visual representation of the model transformation specification to a user, and allowing a user to create and modify an element term or an element relationship within the at least the lowest two layers of the model transformation specification, but not the highest layer, and to generate a computer executable transformation engine.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the model transformation user interface is implemented in a first computing language, and the one or more secondary model transformation user interfaces are generated in a second computing language.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the model transformation user interface and the one or more secondary model transformation user interfaces are in communication with a common model transformation library comprising a plurality of computer executable modules for implementing the model transformation specification, and the transformation engine is generated using the model transformation library.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first information system stores model elements according to a first data specification, and the second information system stores model elements according to a second data specification, and the first data specification is a MIMOSA OSA-EAI compliant data specification and the second data specification is a ISO 15926 compliant data specification, or the second data specification is a MIMOSA OSA-EAI compliant data specification and the first data specification respectively is a ISO 15926 compliant data specification.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the model transformation user interface is implemented in an object orientated language.

11. A transformation apparatus for transforming a first set transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to second set of model elements in a second information system, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory, the memory comprising;

a model transformation user interface module comprising instructions for causing the processor to display a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising;

a plurality of user definable element terms;

a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms;

at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer,

wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and zero or more element relationships, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, and

the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer which receives the first set of model elements and transforms the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using at least one instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer; and

wherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer has an associated visual representation; and

the model transformation user interface is configured to receive one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, and wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers; and

a transformation engine, wherein the transformation engine is configured to receive the first set of model elements from the first information system, transform the first set of model elements using the model transformation specification, and sending the second set of model elements to the second information system.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising receiving one or more user inputs for creating an element term in a new layer above the highest layer, wherein the created element term is made immediately visible to all lower layers.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the model transformation user interface further comprises a model transformation library comprising a plurality of computer executable modules for implementing the model transformation specification, and the transformation engine is generated using the model transformation library.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of computer modules comprises code for implementing each of the plurality of terms and each of the plurality of relationships, and the step of receiving one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification further comprises immediately updating the plurality of computer executable modules.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the model transformation user interface is implemented in a first computing language, and the method further comprises generating one or more secondary model transformation user interfaces that display a visual representation of the model transformation specification to a user, and allowing a user to create and modify an element term or an element relationship within the at least the lowest two layers of the model transformation specification, but not the highest layer, and to generate a computer executable transformation engine.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the model transformation user interface is implemented in a first computing language, and the one or more secondary model transformation user interfaces are generated in a second computing language.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the model transformation user interface and the one or more secondary model transformation user interfaces are in communication with a common model transformation library comprising a plurality of computer executable modules for implementing the model transformation specification, and the transformation engine is generated using the model transformation library.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first information system stores model elements according to a first data specification, and the second information system stores model elements according to a second data specification, and the first data specification is a MIMOSA OSA-EAI compliant data specification and the second data specification is a ISO 15926 compliant data specification, or the second data specification is a MIMOSA OSA-EAI compliant data specification and the first data specification respectively is a ISO 15926 compliant data specification.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the model transformation user interface is implemented in an object orientated language.

20. A computer program product comprising a non transitory computer readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for generating computer executable transformation engine for transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to second set of model elements in a second information system, the instructions configuring the computer to:

provide a model transformation user interface for displaying a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising;

a plurality of user definable element terms;

a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms;

at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer,

wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and zero or more element relationships, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, and

the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer which receives the first set of model elements and transforms the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using at least one instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer; and

wherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer as an associated visual representation; and

receive one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers; and

wherein in use, the model transformation specification is used to generate a computer executable transformation engine which receives the first set of model elements from the first information system, and sends the second set of model elements to the second information system.

21. (canceled)

22. A model transformation library comprising a plurality of computer executable modules comprising instructions for implementing a model transformation specification in a computer, wherein the model transformation specification comprises:

a plurality of user definable element terms;

a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms;

at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer,

wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and zero or more element relationships, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves, and

each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, and

the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer which receives the first set of model elements and transforms the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using at least one instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer.

23. The model transformation library as claimed in claim 22, wherein the model transformation library is in communication with a model transformation user interface, and the computer executable modules are updated in response the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship within a layer in the model specification, and all modules associated with lower layers are immediately updated to reflect the creation or modification.

24. A computer executable model transformation engine comprising the model transformation library of claim 22.