Method for accessing a function of a real-world object

• US 8,185,603 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Hansen, Magne, Pauly, Thomas, Andersson, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US10/539,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,080 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548

Abstract

A method to provide access to Aspects of Aspect Objects from a standard web browser. A web browser sends a request of access to a certain Aspect of an Aspect Object. The request includes a URL address. The URL address specifies the Aspect, the Aspect Object. The method enables the use of thin clients to access Aspects of Aspect Objects representing functions of real world objects connected to a control system.

Claims

1. A control system comprising a web server, an Aspect Object, an Aspect System Object and a software application, wherein the system executes a method comprising

generating a web request for the function of the real world object with a world wide web presentation unit installed on a device, the web request comprising a Uniform Resource Locator comprising an identifier configured to identify the Aspect Object and the Aspect of the Aspect Object, the web request further comprising contextual information regarding the device and characteristics of the world wide web presentation unit, wherein the function comprises closing a valve, retrieving maintenance records of a motor, presenting a list of available suppliers, physical location, current stage in a process, a control function, an operator interaction, a simulation model, and documentation about the real-world object,

transmitting the web request from the device through a network,

receiving the web request in a web server of the control system,

transmitting the web request to a software application unrelated to the world wide web presentation unit,

identifying in the software application of the control system the Aspect Object and the Aspect by use of information in the Uniform Resource Locator,

querying the identified Aspect Object from the software application for a reference to an interface to an Aspect System Object associated with the Aspect,

receiving from the Aspect System Object to the software application the reference to the interface of the Aspect System Object, which implements the function of the identified Aspect,

transmitting one of the contextual information or a reference to the contextual information about the world wide web presentation unit by the software application to the Aspect System Object,

invoking functionality of the Aspect with the software application utilizing the reference to carry out the function of the real-world object,

sending a response message from the web server to the world wide web presentation unit, wherein the response message is adapted to the contextual information, and

updating the world wide web presentation unit with the result of the performed function of the real-world object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response message is adapted according to the contextual information by an Aspect System Object.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the response message is adapted as an HTTP response.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the response message is adapted according to extensible markup language.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Aspect Object during run-time inherits the Aspect from another Aspect Object through a hierarchical structure, wherein the Aspect Object during run-time inherits the association of the Aspect System Object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the world wide web presentation unit is a standard web browser.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the web browser is installed on a wireless device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the wireless device is a cell phone Personal Digital Assistant, a cell phone or a handheld computing device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contextual information of the world wide web presentation unit describes technical characteristics of the world wide web presentation unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein technical characteristics of the world wide web presentation unit comprise type of web browser, available plug-ins or screen resolution.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying in the software application comprises evaluating in the software application which function of the Aspect System Object for the software application to query for a reference based on the contextual information in addition to the identified Aspect Object, the Aspect of the Aspect Object.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein each Aspect Object comprises a plurality of references to objects that implement the Aspects, wherein the Aspects comprise functions or facets of a real-world object.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the functions or facets of the real-world object comprise at least one of a physical location, a current stage in a process, a control function, an operator interaction, a simulation model, or documentation about the real-world object.

2. A computer program product, comprising:

computer program instructions stored in a device and a control system which when run on a computer or a processor causes said computer or processor to carry out a method comprising

generating a web request for the function of the real world object with a world wide web presentation unit installed on a device, the web request comprising a Uniform Resource Locator comprising an identifier configured to identify the Aspect Object and the Aspect of the Aspect Object, the web request further comprising contextual information regarding the device and characteristics of the world wide web presentation unit, wherein the function comprises closing a valve, retrieving maintenance records of a motor, presenting a list of available suppliers, physical location, current stage in a process, a control function, an operator interaction, a simulation model, and documentation about the real-world object,

transmitting the web request from the device through a network,

receiving the web request in a web server of the control system,

transmitting the web request to a software application unrelated to the world wide web presentation unit,

identifying in the software application of the control system the Aspect Object and the Aspect by use of information in the Uniform Resource Locator,

querying the identified Aspect Object from the software application for a reference to an interface to an Aspect System Object associated with the Aspect,

receiving from the Aspect System Object to the software application the reference to the interface of the Aspect System Object, which implements the function of the identified Aspect,

transmitting one of the contextual information or a reference to the contextual information about the world wide web presentation unit by the software application to the Aspect System Object,

invoking functionality of the Aspect with the software application utilizing the reference to carry out the function of the real-world object,

sending a response message from the web server to the world wide web presentation unit, wherein the response message is adapted to the contextual information, and

updating the world wide web presentation unit with the result of the performed function of the real-world object.

3. A method to respond to a request for a function of a real-world object connected to a control system, which function is represented as an Aspect of an Aspect Object, the method comprising:

generating a web request for the function of the real world object with a world wide web presentation unit installed on a device, the web request comprising a Uniform Resource Locator comprising an identifier configured to identify the Aspect Object and the Aspect of the Aspect Object, the web request further comprising contextual information regarding the device and characteristics of the world wide web presentation unit, wherein the function comprises closing a valve, retrieving maintenance records of a motor, presenting a list of available suppliers, physical location, current stage in a process, a control function, an operator interaction, a simulation model, and documentation about the real-world object,

transmitting the web request from the device through a network,

receiving the web request in a web server of the control system,

transmitting the web request to a software application unrelated to the world wide web presentation unit,

identifying in the software application of the control system the Aspect Object and the Aspect by use of information in the Uniform Resource Locator,

querying the identified Aspect Object from the software application for a reference to an interface to an Aspect System Object associated with the Aspect,

receiving from the Aspect System Object to the software application the reference to the interface of the Aspect System Object, which implements the function of the identified Aspect,

transmitting one of the contextual information or a reference to the contextual information about the world wide web presentation unit by the software application to the Aspect System Object,

invoking functionality of the Aspect with the software application utilizing the reference to carry out the function of the real-world object,

sending a response message from the web server to the world wide web presentation unit, wherein the response message is adapted to the contextual information, and

updating the world wide web presentation unit with the result of the performed function of the real-world object.