System and method for projecting transformations of object trees

• US 7,571,390 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2002
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Thurner, Elmar, Langkafel, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Sy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Linh K
• Application Number:
  US10/499,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 715/805, 715/763, 715/513, 715/810, 715/853, 717/109
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database

Abstract

A system and method for projecting the transformation of object trees, especially in MES systems, wherein the course object tree and target object tree are represented in a common meta-object model of a software system, especially a framework. The source object tree is transformed into the target object tree by adjustment. Transformation occurs directly in the object of the meta-object model, thereby enabling communication between connected applications by means of pure data exchange.

Claims

1. A method for projecting transformations of object trees of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), comprising:

representing a source object tree and a target object tree in a common meta-object model of a software system operatively installed on a computer;

displaying the source object tree on a first screen area of a display device connected to the computer;

displaying the target object tree on a second screen area of the display device;

providing a work area on a third screen area of the display device;

copying representations of selected nodes and selected sub-elements of the selected nodes of both object trees onto the work area; and

projecting a transformation on the work area by interactively graphically connecting the representations of the selected nodes and selected sub-elements positioned on the work area;

wherein the copied representations are positioned in the work area such that copied representations of source and target sub-elements are respectively graphically connected without showing crossing lines.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying operators and/or rules on a fourth screen area of the display device; and

positioning selected ones of the operators and/or the rules on the work area.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transformation is performed in the underlying user domain.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the rules are represented as objects of the software system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nodes are positioned and interconnected by input aids using drag&

drop.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the operators and/or the rules are positioned and interconnected by input aids using drag&

drop.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein further transformation operators and/or rules are defined by a user.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software system is implemented by at least one framework program.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the source and target object tree are predefined by the object models of coupled adapters.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by a computer program.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by a computer program which is stored on a data medium.

12. A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) data processing device comprising a computer program operating a computer for performing a method for projecting transformations of object trees on a display device, the method comprising:

representing a source object tree and a target object tree in a common meta-object model of a software system;

displaying the source object tree on a first screen area of the display device;

displaying the target object tree on a second screen area of the display device;

providing a work area on a third screen area of the display device;

copying representations of selected nodes and selected sub-elements of the selected nodes of both object trees onto the work area; and

projecting a transformation on the work area by interactively graphically connecting the representations of selected nodes and selected sub-elements positioned on the work area;

wherein the copied representations are positioned in the work area such that copied representations of source and target sub-elements are respectively graphically connected without showing crossing lines.