System and method for interconnecting components

• US 6,820,249 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Neuberger, Klaus, Jachmann, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHEN, WEI Y
• Application Number:
  US09/913,496
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 717/114-119, 717/162-167, 717/120-123, 717/106-109
• US Class Current: 717/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for interconnection of components, in particular of software components for at least one data processing application. For interconnection of the components without special programming, for example in the form of what is referred to as glue code, the invention proposes that the components have at least one interface which is intended for direct interconnection of components. In an alternative embodiment, the components have interfaces which are interconnected with one another via an interconnection component.

Claims

1. A system for interconnection of software components for at least one data processing application, comprising:

a storage unit to store components surrounded by a container, the components having at least one interface intended for interconnection of the components by an interconnection component, the interconnection component, and not the container, containing information required for interconnection of the components.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components locally provide interconnection information containing interconnection intelligence required for the interconnection of the components.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components are ActiveX components.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the components are input and output components.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnection component is intended for the components to be interconnected to search for matching interfaces.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components are intended for multiple interconnections with further components.

7. A method for interconnection of software components for at least one data processing application, comprising

storing components interconnected via at least one interface and surrounded by a container that does not include information to interconnect the components;

and

interconnecting the components using an interconnection component included in the container and containing information required for interconnection of the components.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the components locally provide interconnection information containing interconnection intelligence required for the interconnection of the components.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the components are input and output components.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the components are ActiveX components.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the interconnection component searches for matching interfaces from components to be interconnected.

12. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the components are used for multiple interconnections with further components.

13. At least one computer-readable medium storing at least one data processing application, comprising:

components surrounded by a container, the components having at least one interface intended for interconnection of the components by an interconnection component, the interconnection component, and not the container, containing information required for interconnection of the components.

14. The at least one computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the components locally provide interconnection information containing interconnection intelligence required for the interconnection of the components.

15. The at least one computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the components are ActiveX components.

16. The at least one computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the components are input and output components.

17. The at least one computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the interconnection component searches for matching interfaces from components to be interconnected.

18. The at least one computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the components are used for multiple interconnections with further components.