System and method for testing and/or debugging runtime sytems for solving mes manufacturing execution system problems

• US 20050044532A1
• Filed: 11/28/2002
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pfander, Gotthard, Thurnet, Elmar
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for testing and/or debugging runtime systems, particularly runtime systems used for solving MES (manufacturing execution system) problems. According to the invention, a user uses an editor to link graphic elements to an activity diagram that can be visually depicted on a display device. Communication relationships can be established between the activity diagrams by using appropriate means. In addition, the operation of an asynchronously cooperating state machine is described by an activity diagram.

Claims

1-17. -17. (cancelled)

18. A method for testing and/or debugging runtime systems for solving mes problems, comprising:

linking graphic elements to one activity diagram or a plurality of activity diagrams that can be visually depicted on a display device;

establishing communication relationships between the activity diagrams;

describing the operation of an asynchronously cooperating state machine by an activity diagram;

describing the relevant business and production processes to solve the MES problem;

defining and describing the relevant business objects or components by asynchronously cooperating state machines;

fractionizing the relevant business and production processes into disjoint, sequentially operating sub-processes with synchronization and data transmission messages between the sub-processes, wherein the sub-processes operate on business objects and are themselves objects;

performing a single test with the sub-processes during interaction by a step-by-step or complete run through the sub-processes;

visualizing the element that is active in the activity diagram; and

controlling progress to the next step by the user, wherein steps can be repeated or skipped.

19. A Method according to claim 18, wherein the sub-processes comprise single steps, which refer to executable code.

20. A Method according to claim 18, wherein control of the runtime system is effected in elements of the activity diagram.

21. A Method according to claim 18, wherein the variables for the single steps are pre-allocated statically or dynamically.

22. A Method according to claim 18, wherein complete or partial solutions are loaded and launched with their connections.

23. A Method according to claim 18, wherein during operation of the asynchronously cooperating state machine the current graphic element in the activity diagram in each instance is identified optically on a display device.

24. A Method according to claim 18, wherein error statuses are highlighted visually.

25. A Method according to claim 18, wherein the method is implemented by a computer program.

26. A System for testing and/or debugging runtime systems for solving MES problems, comprising:

a display device;

an editor for linking graphic elements to one activity diagram or a plurality of activity diagrams that can be visually depicted on the display device;

a mechanism for establishing communication relationships between the activity diagrams and wherein the operation of an asynchronously cooperating state machine is described by an activity diagram;

first input and/or display mechanisms for determining and describing the relevant business and production processes to solve the MES problem;

second input and/or display mechanisms for defining and describing the relevant business objects or components by asynchronously cooperating state machines;

third input and/or display mechanisms for breaking down the relevant business and production processes into disjoint, sequentially operating sub-processes with synchronization and data transmission messages between the sub-processes, wherein the sub-processes operate on business objects and are themselves objects;

a test mechanism for a single test on the sub-processes during interaction by a step-by-step or complete run through the sub-processes; and

an input mechanism for controlling progress to the next step, wherein steps can be repeated or skipped, and wherein

an element that is active in the activity diagram is identified on the display device.

27. A System according to claim 26, wherein the sub-processes comprise single steps, which refer to executable code.

28. A System according to claim 26, wherein control of the runtime system is effected in elements of the activity diagram.

29. A System according to claim 26, wherein the variables for the single steps are pre-allocated statically or dynamically.

30. A System according to claim 26, wherein complete or partial solutions are loaded and launched with their connections.

31. A System according to claim 26, wherein during operation of the asynchronously cooperating state machine the current graphic element in the activity diagram in each instance is identified optically on a display device.

32. A System according to claim 26, wherein error statuses are highlighted visually.

33. A data medium, comprising a computer program for performing a method for testing and/or debugging runtime systems for solving MES problems, the method comprising:

linking graphic elements to one activity diagram or a plurality of activity diagrams that can be visually depicted on a display device;

establishing communication relationships between the activity diagrams;

describing the operation of an asynchronously cooperating state machine by an activity diagram;

describing the relevant business and production processes to solve the MES problem;

defining and describing the relevant business objects or components by asynchronously cooperating state machines;

fractionizing the relevant business and production processes into disjoint, sequentially operating sub-processes with synchronization and data transmission messages between the sub-processes, wherein the sub-processes operate on business objects and are themselves objects;

performing a single test with the sub-processes during interaction by a step-by-step or complete run through the sub-processes;

visualizing the element that is active in the activity diagram; and

controlling progress to the next step by the user, wherein steps can be repeated or skipped.

34. A data processing device, on which a computer program for performing a method for testing and/or debugging runtime systems for solving MES problems is installed, the method comprising:

linking graphic elements to one activity diagram or a plurality of activity diagrams that can be visually depicted on a display device;

establishing communication relationships between the activity diagrams;

describing the operation of an asynchronously cooperating state machine by an activity diagram;

describing the relevant business and production processes to solve the MES problem;

defining and describing the relevant business objects or components by asynchronously cooperating state machines;

fractionizing the relevant business and production processes into disjoint, sequentially operating sub-processes with synchronization and data transmission messages between the sub-processes, wherein the sub-processes operate on business objects and are themselves objects;

performing a single test with the sub-processes during interaction by a step-by-step or complete run through the sub-processes;

visualizing the element that is active in the activity diagram; and

controlling progress to the next step by the user, wherein steps can be repeated or skipped.