Analysis of a model of a complex system, based on two models of the system, wherein the two models represent the system with different degrees of detail

• US 8,027,859 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ipr Value Ug
• Original Assignee: Roland Pulfer
• Inventors: Pulfer, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty; Romain
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh; Gurkanwaljit
• Application Number:
  US10/548,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/7.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for analyzing a computer-based data processing model of a complex system, said model comprising at least two modeling levels on which the system is represented at different degrees of abstraction. The inventive method comprises the following steps: a first partial model of the system is created on a first modeling level by defining objects and links between said objects; a second partial model of the system is created on a second modeling level by defining objects and links between said objects; associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modeling level are created; at least one first chain of events is created which represents a sequence of actions on the first modeling level and describes said sequence of actions by means of the objects of the first modeling level; at least one second chain of events is created which represents the same sequence of actions on the second modeling level and describes said sequence of actions by means of the objects of the second modeling level; and at least one of the following two steps: the partial models and associations and chains of events created according to the previous steps are automatically analyzed in order to determine and output quality-related data about the model; the partial models and associations and chains of events created according to the previous steps are automatically analyzed in order to obtain data about the modeled system and output said data.

Claims

1. A method for analysis of a computer-based and data-processing model of a complex system, wherein the model comprises at least two modelling levels, on which the complex system is represented with different degrees of abstraction, and the analysis method comprises the following steps:

creating a first part model of the complex system on a first modelling level by defining objects and links between these objects;

creating a second part model of the complex system on a second modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modelling level;

creating at least one first event chain which represents an action sequence in the first modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the first modelling level, wherein the action sequence is a sequence of actions in the complex system;

creating at least one second event chain which represents the same action sequence in the complex system in the second modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the second modelling level at a different degree of detail than at the first modelling level;

as well as at least one of the following two steps performed by a data processor;

automatically analysing the part models and associations and event chains set up according to the preceding steps, for determining and issuing quality information on the model itself, by determining consistency information concerning agreements and contradictions between the models on the two modelling levels,

automatically analysing the part models and associations and event chains created according to the preceding steps, for obtaining information on the modelled complex system and for issuing this information,

wherein the associations between the first and the second modelling level represent a partial support of the objects of the first modelling level by the objects of the second modelling level; and

wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent processes, wherein a process is an entirety of tasks and sequences of an organisation unit or production unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent elements, wherein an element is a real physical or logical unit, and wherein the support of the process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the links represent an exchange or transfer of working means, wherein a working means represents a physical unit or an information unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent elements, wherein an element represents a real physical or logical unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent information and function units, wherein the information- and function units are data, programs or rules, and wherein the support of an element by an information- and function unit expresses the fact that the element requires the information- and function unit in order to be able to function.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of assigning a second interface between objects on the second modelling level to a first interface between objects on the first modelling level, and the step of, for forming consistency information, checking as to whether a working means which is transmitted via the first interface, and a working means which is transmitted via the second interface, correspond to one another.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein several first interfaces are part of the first event chain, and several second interfaces are part of the second event chain, and in each case one of the first interfaces is assigned to one of the second interfaces.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of determining with the automatic analysis of the modelled system, at least one numerical support degree which represents whether and how much an object on the first modelling level is supported by an object on the second modelling level;

wherein the support of a process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function, or wherein the support of an element by an information- and function unit expresses the fact that the element requires the information- and function unit in order to be able to function.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising the step of determining, by way of support degrees, whether a supported process is supported too little or excessively, and whether a supporting element is under-burdened or overburdened.

8. The method according to claim 6, comprising the step of determining, by way of support degrees and by way of costs of the elements, actual costs of processes and from this, costs of products.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of determining, with the automatic analysis of the modelled system, at least one numeric performance value which represents a degree of the accomplishment of predefined goals, wherein goals are assigned to the objects and the goals are grouped in a hierarchical manner and are weighted relative to one another.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising the step of representing a graphic representation of the goals and their degree of accomplishment to a user.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of processing, with the automatic analysis of the modelled system, numerical values for describing risks by way of risk objects which in each case are assigned to one of the other model objects.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of a risk object, in the case that a risk exceeds a predefined threshold value, triggering a message to a user and/or a control command to the system.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein in total three modelling levels are used and at least some of the objects on the third modelling level represent information and function units, wherein the information and function units are data, programs or rules, and wherein the support of an element by an information and function unit expresses the fact that the element requires the information and function unit in order to be able to function.

14. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of using objects for representing products which are displaced between processes, between elements and/or along event chains.

15. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of using data evaluated in the model for the control of the system, said system being a technical installation or a production process.

16. A data processing system for modelling a complex system, wherein the data processing system comprises a processor, a data storage means, and a computer program stored by the data storage means and executed by the processor;

wherein execution of the computer program by the processor implements a method for analysis of a computer-based and data-processing model of a complex system, wherein the model comprises at least two modelling levels, on which the complex system is represented with different degrees of abstraction, and the analysis method comprises the following steps;

creating a first part model of the complex system on a first modelling level by defining objects and links between these objects;

creating a second part model of the complex system on a second modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modelling level;

wherein the associations between the first and the second modelling level represent a partial support of the objects of the first modelling level by the objects of the second modelling level; and

wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent processes, wherein a process is an entirety of tasks and sequences of an organisation unit or production unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent elements, wherein an element is a real physical or logical unit, and wherein the support of the process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function;

creating at least one first event chain which represents an action sequence in the first modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the first modelling level, wherein the action sequence is a sequence of actions in the complex system;

creating at least one second event chain which represents the same action sequence in the complex system in the second modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the second modelling level at a different degree of detail than at the first modelling level;

as well as at least one of the following two steps;

automatically analysing the part models and associations and event chains set up according to the preceding steps, for determining and issuing quality information on the model itself, by determining consistency information concerning agreements and contradictions between the models on the two modelling levels,

automatically analysing the part models and associations and event chains created according to the preceding steps, for obtaining information on the modelled complex system and for issuing this information.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the data processing system is implemented by a computer program for modelling a complex system, which may be loaded and implemented on data processing unit, and which on implementation carries out the complex system modelling.

18. A method for analysis of a computer-based and data-processing model of a complex system, wherein the model comprises at least two modelling levels, on which the complex system is represented with different degrees of abstraction, and the analysis method comprises the following steps:

creating a first part model of the complex system on a first modelling level by defining objects and links between these objects;

creating a second part model of the complex system on a second modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating a third part model of the complex system on a third modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modelling level;

creating associations or relations between objects of the second and the third modelling level;

creating at least one first event chain which represents an action sequence in the first modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the first modelling level, wherein the action sequence is a sequence of actions in the complex system;

creating at least one second event chain which represents the same action sequence in the complex system in the second modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the second modelling level at a different degree of detail than at the first modelling level;

as well as at least one of the following two steps;

automatically analysing by a data processor the part models and associations and event chains set up according to the preceding steps, for determining and issuing quality information on the model itself, by determining consistency information concerning agreements and contradictions between the models on the two modelling levels,

automatically analysing by a data processor the part models and associations and event chains created according to the preceding steps, for obtaining information on the modelled complex system and for issuing this information,

wherein the links represent an exchange or transfer of working means, wherein a working means represents a physical unit or an information unit, wherein the associations between the first and the second modelling level represent a support of the objects of the first modelling level by the objects of the second modelling level,

wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent processes, wherein a process is an entirety of tasks and sequences of an organisation unit or production unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent elements, wherein an element is a real physical or logical unit, wherein the support of the process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function, and

wherein the associations between the second and the third modelling level represent a support of the objects of the second modelling level by the objects of the third modelling level,

wherein at least some objects on the third modelling level represent information and function units, wherein the information- and function units are data, programs or rules, and wherein the support of an element by an information- and function unit expresses the fact that the element requires the information- and function unit in order to be able to function.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising the step of determining with the automatic analysis of the modelled system, at least one numerical support degree which represents whether and how much an object on the first modelling level is supported by an object on the second modelling level.

20. A method for analysis of a computer-based and data-processing model of a complex system, wherein the model comprises at least two modelling levels, on which the complex system is represented with different degrees of abstraction, and the analysis method comprises the following steps:

creating a first part model of the complex system on a first modelling level by defining objects and links between these objects;

creating a second part model of the complex system on a second modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modelling level;

wherein the associations between the first and the second modelling level represent a partial support of the objects of the first modelling level by the objects of the second modelling level; and

wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent processes, wherein a process is an entirety of tasks and sequences of an organisation unit or production unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent elements, wherein an element is a real physical or logical unit, and wherein the support of the process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function;

creating at least one first event chain which represents an action sequence in the first modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the first modelling level, wherein the action sequence is a sequence of actions in the complex system;

creating at least one second event chain which represents the same action sequence in the complex system in the second modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the second modelling level at a different degree of detail than at the first modelling level;

automatically analysing, by a data processor, the part models and associations and event chains set up according to the preceding steps, for determining and issuing quality information on the model itself; and

comprising the further steps of;

determining, with the automatic determining of quality information on the model, consistency information concerning agreements and contradictions between the models on the two modelling levels,

assigning several second interfaces between objects on the second modelling level to several first interfaces between objects on the first modelling level, wherein the first interfaces are part of the first event chain, and the second interfaces are part of the second event chain, and in each case one of the first interfaces is assigned to one of the second interfaces, and

for forming consistency information, checking as to whether a working means which is transmitted via the first interface, and a working means which is transmitted via the second interface, correspond to one another.

21. A method for analysis of a computer-based and data-processing model of a complex system, wherein the model comprises at least two modelling levels, on which the complex system is represented with different degrees of abstraction, and the analysis method comprises the following steps:

creating a first part model of the complex system on a first modelling level by defining objects and links between these objects;

creating a second part model of the complex system on a second modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating a third part model of the system on a third modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modelling level;

wherein the associations between the first and the second modelling level represent a partial support of the objects of the first modelling level by the objects of the second modelling level; and

wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent processes, wherein a process is an entirety of tasks and sequences of an organisation unit or production unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent elements, wherein an element is a real physical or logical unit, and wherein the support of the process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function;

creating associations or relations between objects of the second and the third modelling level;

creating at least one first event chain which represents an action sequence in the first modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the first modelling level, wherein the action sequence is a sequence of actions in the complex system;

creating at least one second event chain which represents the same action sequence in the complex system in the second modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the second modelling level at a different degree of detail than at the first modelling level;

automatically analysing, by a data processor, the part models and associations and event chains created according to the preceding steps, for obtaining information on the modelled system and for issuing this information; and

the method comprising the further steps of;

processing, with the automatic analysis of the modelled system, numerical values for describing risks by way of risk objects which in each case are assigned to one of the other model objects, and of

a risk object, in the case that a risk exceeds a predefined threshold value, triggering a message to a user and/or a control command to the system.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by one or more computer processors to perform a method for analysis of a computer-based and data-processing model of a complex system, wherein the model comprises at least two modelling levels, on which the complex system is represented with different degrees of abstraction, and the stored instructions comprise instructions for:

creating a first part model of the complex system on a first modelling level by defining objects and links between these objects;

creating a second part model of the complex system on a second modelling level by defining of objects and links between these objects;

creating associations or relations between objects of the first and the second modelling level;

wherein the associations between the first and the second modelling level represent a partial support of the objects of the first modelling level by the objects of the second modelling level; and

wherein at least a few objects on the first modelling level represent processes, wherein a process is an entirety of tasks and sequences of an organisation unit or production unit, and wherein at least some objects on the second modelling level represent elements, wherein an element is a real physical or logical unit, and wherein the support of the process by an element expresses the fact that the process requires the element in order to be able to function;

creating at least one first event chain which represents an action sequence in the first modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the first modelling level, wherein the action sequence is a sequence of actions in the complex system;

creating at least one second event chain which represents the same action sequence in the complex system in the second modelling level and describes the action sequence by way of the objects of the second modelling level at a different degree of detail than at the first modelling level;

as well as at least one of the following two steps;

automatically analysing the part models and associations and event chains set up according to the preceding steps, for determining and issuing quality information on the model itself, by determining consistency information concerning agreements and contradictions between the models on the two modelling levels,

automatically analysing the part models and associations and event chains created according to the preceding steps, for obtaining information on the modelled complex system and for issuing this information.