Computer method and apparatus for automatic execution of software applications

• US 6,591,244 B2
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspentech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aspen Technology Inc (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Navani, Girish, Jim, Parsons
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/267,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9, 705/8, 705/7, 345/777, 345/779, 345/810, 345/841, 345/963
• US Class Current: 705/7.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A computer method and apparatus for automatic execution of software applications where the software applications are launched from a business terminology oriented workspace built using a business solutions framework. The framework includes the ability to define a workspace consisting of users, user types, business categories, business activities and business tasks. The workspace is presented by displaying associated business activities and the business tasks using business-oriented language and organization. A hierarchy of business categories, business activities and business tasks is also displayed in the workspace.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus providing a process engineering computer program execution framework comprising:

a configuration module for defining a workspace, including users, user types, process engineering business categories, process engineering business activities and process engineering business tasks, the configuration module further comprising;

a process engineering business category module for specifying the process engineering business categories and associating the process engineering business categories with the process engineering business activities, such that a hierarchy is formed of the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks;

a process engineering business task module for defining the process engineering business tasks using a process engineering business task template, the process engineering business task template providing forte definition of process engineering task configuration information and process engineering task argument information;

a presentation module for viewing the defined workspace including associating the process engineering business activities with the process engineering business tasks using non-engineering terminology, the presentation module further comprising;

a category tab bar module for presenting a graphical representation of the process engineering business categories, the category tab bar being a root of the hierarchy formed of the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks, and

a workspace module for presenting a tree view and an information view within a single document window;

an execution module responsive to the presentation module for launching the process engineering business tasks; and

wherein at least one of the process engineering business tasks access a process engineering computer program to perform process modeling, simulation or optimization, the process engineering computer program executing within the information view of the defined workspace.

2. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration module further comprises;

a user module for specifying the users;

a user type module for specifying the user types, associating the user types with a plurality of the users, and associating the user types with a plurality of the business categories, business activities and business tasks;

a business task module for defining the business tasks;

a business activity module for specifying the business activities and associating the business activities with a plurality of the business tasks or other of the business activities; and

a business category module for specifying the business categories and associating the business categories with the business activities, such that a hierarchy is formed of business categories, business activities and business tasks.

3. The computer apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the presentation module further comprises;

a tab bar module for presenting a graphical representation of the business categories;

a tree module for presenting a hierarchical view of the business categories, the business activities and the business tasks;

an information module for presenting input and output from the business tasks;

a status bar module for providing information specific to the business task, including indications of current operational status and device status;

a menu module for presenting a command interface to the workspace;

a tool bar module providing graphical representations that are used as shortcuts to the command interface; and

a title bar module to enable naming the workspace.

4. The computer apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the user module for specifying users and the user type module for specifying user types provide attributes, definable for each user and user type, that control access to the customize ability of the workspace.

5. The computer apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the business categories are displayed using graphical representations of the business categories, oriented on a horizontal dimension.

6. The computer apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the hierarchical view is displayed using graphical representations of the business categories, the business activities and the business tasks, oriented on a vertical dimension.

7. The computer apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the business categories are displayed using graphical representations of the business categories, oriented on a horizontal dimension; and

the hierarchical view is displayed using graphical representations of the business categories, the business activities and the business tasks, oriented on a vertical dimension.

8. The computer apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the business tasks are formed from commercial or customized software applications and templates capable of performing a desired function, including applications that will execute in a window within the workspace as well as applications that will execute in a window separate from the workspace.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the business task template further provides for the definition of task logon information.

9. A method of providing a process engineering computer program execution framework comprising the steps of:

(a) configuring a workspace, including defining users, user types, process engineering business categories, process engineering business activities and process engineering business tasks, and associating the process engineering business categories with the process engineering business activities and associating the process engineering business activities with the process engineering business tasks, such that a hierarchy is fanned of the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks, the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks being configurable using non-engineering terminology;

(b) defining the process engineering business tasks using a process engineering business task template, the process engineering business task template providing for the definition of process engineering task configuration information and process engineering task argument information;

(c) presenting the defined workspace including associating the defined process engineering business activities with the defined process engineering business tasks using non-engineering terminology, and presenting a graphical representation of the process engineering business categories using a category tab bar being a root of the hierarchy formed of the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks, the defined workspace including a tree view and an information view within a single document window;

(d) executing the defined process engineering business tasks; and

wherein at least one of the process engineering business tasks access a process engineering computer program perform process modeling, simulation or optimization, the process engineering computer program executing within the information view of the defined workspace.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of configuring a workspace further includes the steps of:

(a) specifying the users;

(b) creating the user types, associating the user types with a plurality of the users, and associating the user type with a plurality of the business categories, business activities and business tasks;

(c) forming the business tasks;

(d) specifying the business activities and associating the business activities with a plurality of the business tasks or other of the business activities; and

(e) specifying the business categories and associating the business categories with the business activities, such that a hierarchy is formed of business categories, business activities and business tasks.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of presenting the defined workspace further includes the steps of:

(a) presenting a graphical representation of the business categories;

(b) presenting a hierarchical view of the business categories, the business activities and the business tasks;

(c) presenting input and output from the business tasks;

(d) presenting information specific to the business task, including indications of current operational status and device status;

(e) presenting a command interface to the workspace;

(f) presenting graphical representations that are used as shortcuts to the command interface; and

(g) presenting a name for the workspace.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the steps of specifying the users and creating the user types further include the step of:

providing attributes, definable for each of the users and the user types, such that control access to the customizeability of the workspace is achieved.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the business task template further provides for the definition of task logon information.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for providing a process engineering computer program execution framework comprising the steps of:

(a) configuring a workspace, including defining users, user types, process engineering business categories, process engineering business activities and process engineering business tasks, and associating the process engineering business categories with the process engineering business activities and associating the process engineering business activities with process engineering business tasks, such that a hierarchy is formed of the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks, the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks being configurable using non-engineering terminology;

(b) defining the process engineering business tasks using a process engineering business task template, the process engineering business task template providing for the definition of process engineering task configuration information and process engineering task argument information;

(c) presenting the defined workspace including associating the defined process engineering business activities with the defined process engineering business tasks using non-engineering terminology, and presenting a graphical representation of the process engineering business categories using a category tab bar being a root of the hierarchy formed of the process engineering business categories, the process engineering business activities and the process engineering business tasks, the defined workspace including a tree view and an information view within a single document window;

(d) executing the defined process engineering business tasks; and

wherein at least one of the process engineering business tasks access a process engineering computer program to perform process modeling, simulation or optimization, the process engineering computer program executing within the information view of the defined workspace.

14. The article of manufacture claim 13 wherein the step of configuring a workspace further includes the steps of:

(a) specifying the users;

(b) creating the user types, associating the user types with a plurality of the users, and associating the user type with a plurality of the business categories, business activities and business tasks;

(c) forming the business tasks;

(d) specifying the business activities and associating the business activities with a plurality of the business tasks or other of the business activities; and

(e) specifying the business categories and associating the business categories with the business activities, such that a hierarchy is formed of business categories, business activities and business tasks.

15. The article of manufacture claim 13 wherein the step of presenting the defined workspace further includes the steps of:

(a) presenting a graphical representation of the business categories;

(c) presenting information specific to the business task, including indications of current operational status and device status;

(d) presenting a command interface to the workspace;

(e) presenting graphical representations that are used as shortcuts to the command interface; and

(f) presenting a name for the workspace.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein the business task template further provides for the definition of task logon information.

16. A method of providing a process engineering computer program execution framework comprising the steps of:

(a) configuring a workspace, including defining users, user types, process engineering business categories, process engineering business activities and process engineering business tasks;

(b) defining the process engineering business tasks using a process engineering business task template, the process engineering business task template providing for the definition of process engineering task configuration information and process engineering task argument information;

(c) presenting the defined workspace including associating the defined process engineering business activities with the defined process engineering business tasks using non-engineering terminology, the defined workspace including a tree view and an information view within a single document window; and

(d) executing the defined process engineering business tasks;

wherein the process engineering business categories comprise;

Planning and Scheduling, Production Execution, Production Accounting, Advanced Process Control and Engineering;

wherein the process engineering business activities comprise;

Long Term Planning, Mid Term Planning and Scheduling, the process engineering business activities each associated with a plurality of the process engineering business categories;

wherein the process engineering business tasks comprise;

model management and polymer analysis, the business tasks each associated with a plurality of the business activities;

wherein the process engineering business tasks are formed from commercial or customized software applications and the process engineering business task template capable of performing a desired function; and

wherein at least one of the process engineering business tasks access a process engineering computer program to perform process modeling, simulation or optimization, the process engineering computer program executing within the information view of the defined workspace.

20. A method for executing a process engineering computer program, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a window having a category tab bar, a tree view and an information view, the category tab bar being linked to the tree view, and the information view providing for interaction with a process engineering computer program;

(b) presenting a workspace within the tree view defining a hierarchical representation of a configurable process engineering business category, a configurable process engineering business activity and a configurable process engineering business task, the configurable process engineering business category, the configurable process engineering business activity and the configurable process engineering business task being configurable using non-engineering terminology;

(c) defining the category tab bar such that a category tab in the category tab bar corresponds to a root of the hierarchy representation formed of the configurable process engineering business category, the configurable process engineering business activity and the configurable process engineering business task; and

wherein at least one instance of the configurable process engineering business category, the configurable process engineering business activity and the configurable process engineering business task is predefined by the workspace such that upon selection of the configurable process engineering business task, a process engineering business task template providing for the definition of process engineering business task configuration information and process engineering business task argument information is invoked to launch and execute the process engineering computer program to perform process modeling, simulation or optimization within the information view of the defined workspace to perform process modeling, simulation or optimization.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the process engineering computer program comprises an expert system to prevent overspecification and logically inconsistent specification of a process and the modeling performed by the process engineering computer program creates a flow sheet model.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the process engineering computer program comprises a sequential modular simulation routine and a separate optimization routine used in the modeling performed by the process engineering computer program.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the modeling performed by the process engineering computer program comprises a polymer characterizing simulation process to obtain thermo-physical property calculations and polymerization kinetics.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the modeling performed by the process engineering computer program comprises tracking instantaneous property measures to calculate full polymer property distributions.