Method and system for information integration in industrial systems
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for generating a computer executable transformation engine for transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to a second set of model elements in a second information system, the method comprising:
- providing a model transformation user interface for displaying a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising;
a plurality of user definable element terms;
a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms;
a multilayer metamodel comprising at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer,wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and is capable of having element relationships between the user defined element terms, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves and each element term is a separate class definition and each element relationship is a separate class definition such that the highest layer is a language layer, andeach of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, wherein each group defines a transformation specification class for use in a lower layer and are themselves instances of a class defined in a higher layer, wherein the transformation specification class is stored in a model transformation library, andthe lowest layer is a transformation execution layer, that comprises a computer-executable transformation engine, which receives the transformation specification class stored in the model transformation library;
provides the transformation specification class to a transformation engine; and
instantiates by the transformation engine the transformation specification class to a transformation element instance;
wherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer has an associated visual representation; and
executing the computer-executable transformation engine to perform steps of;
receiving the first set of model elements from the first information system;
transforming the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using the transformation element instance;
sending the second set of model elements to the second information system; and
receiving one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers.
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Abstract
A computational method for performing a data transformation process for use in Engineering Asset Management on an industrial scale is described, The method and associated integration environment includes a transformation engine or module to map model elements and data items from a first information system, for example a procurement and construction database that records the thousands of individual components used to construct an industrial site, to a second information system. Such as an operation and maintenance database. The method uses a model transformation user interface using hierarchically linked layers to allow users to create, view and modify the transformation specification, as well as element terms and element relationships which define a transformation specification, without having to write the underlying code that performs the transformation.
16 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for generating a computer executable transformation engine for transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to a second set of model elements in a second information system, the method comprising:
providing a model transformation user interface for displaying a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising; a plurality of user definable element terms; a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms; a multilayer metamodel comprising at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer, wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and is capable of having element relationships between the user defined element terms, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves and each element term is a separate class definition and each element relationship is a separate class definition such that the highest layer is a language layer, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, wherein each group defines a transformation specification class for use in a lower layer and are themselves instances of a class defined in a higher layer, wherein the transformation specification class is stored in a model transformation library, and the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer, that comprises a computer-executable transformation engine, which receives the transformation specification class stored in the model transformation library;
provides the transformation specification class to a transformation engine; and
instantiates by the transformation engine the transformation specification class to a transformation element instance;wherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer has an associated visual representation; and executing the computer-executable transformation engine to perform steps of; receiving the first set of model elements from the first information system; transforming the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using the transformation element instance; sending the second set of model elements to the second information system; and receiving one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computational transformation apparatus for generating a computer-executable transformation engine for transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to a second set of model elements in a second information system, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; an input/output interface; and at least one memory, the memory comprising; a model transformation user interface module comprising instructions for causing the processor to display a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising; a plurality of user definable element terms; a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms; a multilayer metamodel comprising at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer, wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and is capable of having element relationships between the user defined element terms, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves and each element term is a separate class definition and each element relationship is a separate class definition such that the highest layer is a language layer, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, wherein each group defines a transformation specification class for use in a lower layer and are themselves instances of a class defined in a higher layer, wherein the transformation specification class is stored in a model transformation library, and the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer, that comprises a computer-executable transformation engine, which receives the transformation specification class stored in the model transformation library;
provides the transformation specification class to a transformation engine; and
instantiates by the transformation engine the transformation specification class to a transformation instance;wherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer has an associated visual representation; and the model transformation library further configured to; implement the model transformation specification; and the processor further hr configured to; execute the transformation engine comprising instructions for causing the processor to perform steps of; receiving the first set of model elements from the first information system via an input/output interface; transforming the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using the transformation element instance; and sending the second set of model elements to the second information system; and the model transformation user interface is configured to receive one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for generating a computer executable transformation engine for transforming a first set of model elements in a first information system to a second set of model elements in a second information system, the instructions configuring the computer to:
provide a model transformation user interface for displaying a visual representation of a model transformation specification to a user, the model transformation specification comprising; a plurality of user definable element terms; a plurality of user definable element relationships, each element relationship relating two or more element terms; a multilayer metamodel comprising at least three user definable hierarchically linked layers comprising a lowest layer, one or more intermediate layers, and a highest layer, wherein each layer comprises one or more user definable element terms, and is capable of having element relationships, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in the highest layer are instances of themselves and each element term is a separate class definition and each element relationship is a separate class definition such that the highest layer is a language layer, and each of the element terms and each of the element relationships in an intermediate layer is an instance of a group of one or more element terms and one or more element relationships defined in the next highest layer, wherein each group defines a transformation specification class for use in a lower layer and are themselves instances of a class defined in a higher layer, wherein the transformation specification class is stored in a model transformation library, and the lowest layer is a transformation execution layer, that comprises a computer-executable transformation engine, which receives the transformation specification class stored in the model transformation library;
provides the transformation specification class to a transformation engine; and
instantiates by the transformation engine the transformation specification class to a transformation instance; andwherein each element term, each element relationship, and each layer has an associated visual representation; receive the first set of model elements from the first information system; transform the first set of model elements into the second set of model elements using the transformation element instance; send the second set of model elements to the second information system; and receive one or more user inputs for creating or modifying an element term or an element relationship within a layer of the model transformation specification, wherein the creation or modification of an element term or an element relationship in a layer is made immediately visible to all lower layers.
Specification