CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20110107349A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kishita, Yuri
• Granted Patent: US 8,752,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs

Abstract

A middleware layer based on a middleware program is provided between a platform layer and an application layer. In the middleware layer, an interface on the application layer side is selectable, and also an interface on the platform layer side is selected. Further, functions in the middleware layer are configured as functional modules so that they are selectable according to a function on the application layer side and a function on the platform layer side.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A control apparatus, comprising:

a first execution section for executing one or a plurality of application programs;

a second execution section for executing a platform program for controlling an operation of a hardware resource in accordance with a request from the application program; and

a third execution section for executing a middleware program for transferring data between the application program and the platform program according to the application program and the platform program,

wherein the third execution section includes a plurality of functional modules.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the third execution section selects the functional module from the plurality of functional modules according to the application program or the platform program, and executes the selected functional module.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the third execution section includes:

for a plurality of different application programs, application associating sections for transferring data to/from the application program, respectively; and

for a plurality of different platform programs, platform associating sections for transferring data to/from the platform program, respectively, and

selects the application associating section and the platform associating section in accordance with the application program and the platform program to be executed.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, with a process of the middleware program, the third execution section selects data to be sent to the application program among data from the platform program, and selects an output destination in the platform program for data when sending the data from the application program to the platform program.

13. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, with a process of the middleware program, the third execution section transfers information indicating the application program to be executed by the first execution section, information identifying the application program being executed by the first execution section, or status information about the application program executed by the first execution section, to/from the first execution section or the second execution section.

14. The control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an instructing section for instructing the first execution section to execute the application program, the second execution section to execute the platform program, and the third execution section to execute the middleware program; and

a detecting section for detecting an execution status of the application program being executed by the first execution section, an execution status of the platform program being executed by the second execution section, and an execution status of the middleware program being executed by the third execution section.

15. A control apparatus, comprising:

first execution means for executing one or a plurality of application programs;

second execution means for executing a platform program for controlling an operation of a hardware resource in accordance with a request from the application program; and

third execution means for executing a middleware program for transferring data between the application program and the platform program according to the application program and the platform program,

wherein the third execution means includes a plurality of functional execution means.

16. The control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the third execution means selects the functional execution means from the plurality of functional execution means according to the application program or the platform program, and executes the selected functional execution means.

17. The control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the third execution means includes:

for a plurality of different application programs, application associating means for transferring data to/from the application program, respectively; and

for a plurality of different platform programs, platform associating means for transferring data to/from the platform program, respectively, and

selects the application associating means and the platform associating means in accordance with the application program and the platform program to be executed.

18. The control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein, with a process of the middleware program, the third execution means includes:

means for selecting data to be sent to the application program among data from the platform program; and

means for selecting an output destination in the platform program for data when sending the data from the application program to the platform program.

19. The control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein, with a process of the middleware program, the third execution means includes means for transferring information indicating the application program to be executed by the first execution means, information identifying the application program being executed by the first execution means, or status information about the application program executed by the first execution means, to/from the first execution means or the second execution means.

20. The control apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for instructing the first execution means to execute the application program, the second execution means to execute the platform program, and the third execution means to execute the middleware program; and

means for detecting an execution status of the application program being executed by the first execution means, an execution status of the platform program being executed by the second execution means, and an execution status of the middleware program being executed by the third execution means.

21. A control method for controlling a hardware resource by executing one or a plurality of application programs and executing a platform program for controlling an operation of the hardware resource in accordance with a request from the application program, the method comprising:

executing a middleware program for transferring data between the application program and the platform program according to the application program and the platform program; and

selecting a function to be executed by the middleware program, according to the application program or the platform program.

22. A non-transitory storage medium readable by a computer and storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute transfer of data between one or a plurality of application programs and a platform program for controlling an operation of a hardware resource in accordance with a request from the application program, according to the application program and the platform program, wherein

the computer program includes a plurality of program components separated into predetermined function units, and causes a computer to select the program component from the plurality of program components according to the application program or the platform program.