Automated tool management in a multi-protocol environment
First Claim
1. A method for automated tool management comprising the steps of:
- receiving a message by an application interface unit in a first protocol from a user, wherein said message comprises a request to perform a selected action on a tool, data, and a pointer to an object in an equipment model of said tool;
invoking a method of said object associated with said pointer and said selected action;
supplying a value received from said tool in response to the invoking when the tool is a synchronous source;
setting a value in said tool in response to the invoking when the tool is a mutable synchronous source;
checking a local database for information in response to the invoking when the tool is an asynchronous source; and
returning a result to said user corresponding to the supplying, setting, or checking.
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Abstract
A system, computer program product and method for automated tool management in a multi-protocol environment. A user may issue a message in accordance with an object-oriented interapplication communication protocol to a corresponding application interface unit. The message may be a request to perform a particular action on a selected tool. The content of the message may be extracted by the corresponding application interface unit which may comprise data required by the requested action and a pointer to the object representing the tool. The application interface unit may invoke a method of the object pointed to by the pointers in the message. A value may then be procured by an equipment model where the value may be associated with particular information requested in the message about a tool or a notification informing the user that an event occurred. The equipment model may transfer the value to the appropriate user.
50 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for automated tool management comprising the steps of:
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receiving a message by an application interface unit in a first protocol from a user, wherein said message comprises a request to perform a selected action on a tool, data, and a pointer to an object in an equipment model of said tool; invoking a method of said object associated with said pointer and said selected action; supplying a value received from said tool in response to the invoking when the tool is a synchronous source; setting a value in said tool in response to the invoking when the tool is a mutable synchronous source; checking a local database for information in response to the invoking when the tool is an asynchronous source; and returning a result to said user corresponding to the supplying, setting, or checking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification