Mapping between objects representing different network systems

• US 8,112,498 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Komiya, Noriyuki, Kushiro, Noriyuki, Ito, Yoshiaki, Nakata, Masanori, Suzuki, Shigeki, Ochiai, Yoshiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sciacca, Scott M
• Application Number:
  US10/466,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,373 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217-219, 709220-222, 709/223, 709/224, 709/249, 707/1, 707/10, 707/102, 707/103.R, 707/103.Y
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/88 Mark-up to mark-up conversion conversion for visualization in web browsing G06F16/9577
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/022 Multivendor or multi-standard integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]

Abstract

To provide an easy and simple mapping between objects representing different network systems A and B. In the configuration where data of an object, a system component, is available in another system, it is provided with an intermediate model 102 which is mutually accessible. The intermediate model has an intermediate object 103corresponding to a component. Each system performs mapping to the intermediate object 103 an item of a corresponding component 106 of the system, and transmits data to an mapped item. In addition, the system accesses the intermediate object to obtain data corresponding to the item when component data of the other system is needed.

Claims

1. A gateway apparatus comprising:

a memory portion;

a first object, stored in the memory portion, representing a first component of a first system in an original model, and including first supplemental information characterizing the first component, the first supplemental information being independent of a type of the first system, wherein the first system represents a real entity;

a second object, stored in the memory portion, representing a second component of a second system in the original model, and including second supplemental information characterizing the second component, the second supplemental information being independent of a type of the second system, wherein the second system represents a real entity; and

an intermediate model including a first intermediate object and a second intermediate object, wherein the intermediate model is a virtual model;

wherein the first intermediate object includes a property that corresponds to a property of the first component;

wherein the second intermediate object includes a property that corresponds to a property of the second component;

wherein the gateway apparatus performs mapping between the first intermediate object and the second intermediate object if the property of the first intermediate object and the property of the second intermediate object match by more than a predetermined percentage, and performs mapping between the first object and the second object if the first intermediate object and the second intermediate object are mapped and if the first supplemental information and the second supplemental information match;

wherein data of the property of the first component is transferred to the property of the first intermediate object and the property of the second intermediate object when the first object and the second object are mapped;

and wherein the transferred data is stored in the first intermediate object and the second intermediate object; and

wherein the second system, including the component having the property corresponding to the property of the second intermediate object, retrieves the stored data when the data is needed for the second component.

2. The gateway apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate model and its intermediate objects, and the first system and its components are displayed on a same screen for mapping between the first system and the intermediate model.

3. The gateway apparatus according to claim 1, wherein mapping to the first intermediate object and the second intermediate object is performed by data which is written in a structured data description language.

4. A gateway setup tool, comprising:

a memory portion;

a setup data inputting section setting up groups of objects representing a system A and a system B, respectively;

a system A object setup database holding object data of the system A which is set up by the setup data inputting section;

a system A object data processing section receiving data from the system A object setup database, compressing the data, and returning it;

an all system A object database, stored in the memory portion, including model data of an object available for the system A which exchanges data with the system A object setup database;

a system B object setup database, stored in the memory portion, holding object data of the system B which is set up by the setup data inputting section;

a system B object data processing section receiving data from the system B object setup database, compressing the data, and returning it;

an all system B object database, stored in the memory portion, including model data of an object available for the system B which exchanges data with the system B object setup database;

a mapping setup database, stored in the memory portion, holding mapping data for mapping which is set up by the setup data inputting section;

a mapping data processing section receiving data from the mapping setup database, compressing the data, and returning it;

an all mapping database including model data of mapping between an object available for the all system A object database and an object available for the all system B object database, and exchanging data with the mapping setup database;

a mapping generating section performing mapping between each data of the system A object setup database and each data of the system B object setup

database with reference to the all mapping database, and transmitting it to the mapping setup database;

a setup data displaying section displaying data as needed of the system A object setup database, the system B object setup database, the mapping setup database, the all system A object database, the all system B object database, or the all mapping database; and

a setup data transmitting and receiving section for exchanging data among the system A object setup database, the system B object setup database, and the mapping setup database;

wherein the object data of the system A object setup database and the object data of the system B object setup database include supplemental information that is independent of correlation between the system A and the system B;

the supplemental information including values of the property of the object data of the system A and a property of the object data of the system B;

wherein the mapping generating section generates mapping data between objects based on the supplemental information and type information of a property of the object data of the system A and a property of the object data of the system B by mapping the object data of the system A to the object data of the system B; and

wherein the setup data transmitting and receiving section transmits the mapping data to a gateway apparatus where the object data of the system A and the object data of the system B are exchanged.

5. The getaway setup tool according to claim 4, wherein the getaway setup tool exchanges data written in a structured data description language with the gateway apparatus.

6. The gateway setup tool of claim 4, wherein the gateway apparatus receiving the mapping data comprises:

a mapping database holding the mapping data; and

a mapping executing section exchanging the object data of the system A and the object data of the system B.

7. The gateway apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the gateway apparatus exchanges data written in a structured data description language with the gateway setup tool.