Addon mechanism for a control system based on a type data field

• US 7,080,353 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wagner, Peter, Rosenberg, Jens Ansgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US09/968,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 717108-109, 717114-116
• US Class Current: 717/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4492 Inheritance

Abstract

Flexible extension of a control system needs to be possible without touching the original object model and hence the control software. To this end, the invention proposes attaching data elements which contain registration information for existing and newly added tools to object data. An object type can then be instantiated selectively for the existing or new tools. This allows extensions to be instantiated subsequently without affecting the essence of the existing object model.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling or regulating an automation system based on a basic object model which represents the functionality of a runtime system of the automation system and/or of the automation system to be controlled or to be regulated, comprising a data processing device for processing a first object type having a predetermined data structure which is part of the basic object model defining a plurality of first objects representing at least a plurality of functional units of the automation system, and which can be instantiated for objects, wherein the data processing device is used to attach at least one type data field to the first object type to allow for an extension of the object model defining additional virtual object types having additional functionality not defined in said plurality of first objects.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device is used to create and/or process a second object type as an additional object type, wherein the second object type is defined by the at least one type data field and the second object type is identical to the first object types and comprising an additional extension data field for providing additional information data for the second object type.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one type data field can store registration information for at least one standard or additional tools, for a specific editor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one of the at least one standard or additional tools is a standard tool comprising a standard editor and/or standard view, and another one of the at least one standard or additional tool is an additional tool comprising an extended editor and/or view having extended functionality, and wherein only the additional tool has access to the additional extension data field.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a standard tool can be used on first and second object types.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one type data field can identify a virtual object type which is not part of the basic object model, and the virtual object type can be associated with a specifically designed editor by the type data field.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one type data field comprises a Virtual Type ID list which can be used to identify the additional virtual object types which are not part of the basic object model.

8. A method for controlling or regulating an automation system based on a basic object model which represents the functionality of a runtime system of the automation system and/or of the automation system to be controlled or to be regulated, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the basic object model comprising a first object type which has a predetermined data structure and can be instantiated for objects,

creating an object from the basic object model and attaching a type data field wherein the type data field either defines said first object type or a second object type with extended functionality, and

instantiating of the object for wherein in case the type data field defines the second object type, said second object type is associated with an additional tool which is not part of the basic object model.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of attaching an extension data field to said object in case the type data field defines the second object type which stores data from or for the additional tool.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the type data field stores a Virtual Type ID list or a Virtual Type ID field which is used to associate object uniquely with one or more standard or additional tools upon instantiation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a standard tool is a standard editor and/or standard view and an additional tools is an extended editor and/or view having extended functionality, and only the additional tool has access to the extension data field.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the standard tools include a browser, viewer, copying, inserting, importing and exporting, which can be used on the first and second object types.