Management of component members using tag attributes

• US 7,814,123 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bauer, George Philip III, Nguyen, Thomas Ngoc
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): XUE, BIN
• Application Number:
  US11/004,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/796
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system to associate a plurality of members with a component, associate a member type with one of the plurality of members, and associate a value tag attribute with the one of the plurality of members. Some aspects include receipt of an instruction to access data associated with a member of a component, determination of whether the member is associated with a first tag attribute, and issuance, if the member is associated with the first tag, of a first query for the data associated with the member of the component and for data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a respective tag attribute.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating, by a processor, a first member of a plurality of members of a component with point data;

associating, by the processor, a second member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data provides context for the point data;

associating, by the processor, a first tag attribute with the first member;

associating, by the processor, a second tag attribute with the second member;

receiving, by the processor, an instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component;

in response to the instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component, determining, by the processor, whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, said determining whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute resulting in a determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute; and

in response to the determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute;

wherein the first member is not a member of the second member; and

wherein the second member is not a member of the first member.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tag attributes comprise one or more of:

a value tag attribute, a units tag attribute;

a description tag attribute;

a key tag attribute;

a high limit tag attribute;

or a low limit tag attribute.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second tag attributes is associated with only one of the plurality of members.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the value tag attribute is associated with only one of the plurality of members.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the component in a component model.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a query for data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute; and

querying a database for the data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein querying the database for the data comprises issuing a respective query for data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the point data comprises a numerical value produced by at least one of:

a gauge and monitor.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the non-point data comprises a unit characterizing the numerical value.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the non-point data comprises a limit characterizing the numerical value.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the component is a pressure component or a speed component.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the component is a pressure component or a speed component.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the point data is a numerical value produced by a gauge.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the point data is a numerical value produced by a monitor.

30. A method according to claim 28, further comprising associating a third member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data associated with the third member comprises a limit that provides context for the point data.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising associating a fourth member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data associated with the fourth member comprises a limit that provides context for the point data.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising associating a fifth member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data associated with the fifth member comprises a description that provides context for the point data.

33. A method according to claim 1, further comprising associating a member type and a value tag attribute with the first member.

34. A method according to claim 23, further comprising associating a member type and a value tag attribute with the first member.

35. A method according to claim 24, further comprising associating a member type and a value tag attribute with the first member.

36. A method according to claim 25, further comprising associating a member type and a value tag attribute with the first member.

37. A method according to claim 26, further comprising associating a member type and a value tag attribute with the first member.

38. A method according to claim 30, further comprising associating a member type and a value tag attribute with the first member.

39. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first member is associated with a tag attribute.

40. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first tag attribute comprises a value tag attribute and wherein the second tag attributes comprise one or more of:

a description tag attribute;

a key tag attribute;

a high limit tag attribute;

or a low limit tag attribute.

41. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second tag attributes comprises one or more of:

a high limit tag attribute;

or a low limit tag attribute.

42. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first tag attribute is not associated with the second member and wherein the second tag attribute is not associated with the first member.

44. A method according to claim 1, wherein issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute comprises:

issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a respective tag attribute.

45. A method according to claim 1, wherein issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute comprises:

issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute and not for data associated with any member of the component that is not associated with a tag attribute.

46. A method according to claim 1, wherein issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute comprises:

issuing, by the processor, a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a respective tag attribute and not for data associated with any member of the component that is not associated with a tag attribute.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a processor in communication with the memory; and

a display to display a user interface in response to commands issued by the processor, the user interface comprising;

a member interface to associate a first member of a plurality of members of a component with point data, and to associate a second member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data provides context for the point data; and

a tag attribute interface to associate a first tag attribute with the first member, and to associate a second tag attribute with the second member;

the processor to;

receive an instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component;

in response to the instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component, determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, said determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute resulting in a determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute; and

in response to the determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, issue a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute;

wherein the first member is not a member of the second member; and

wherein the second member is not a member of the first member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first and second tag attributes comprise one or more of:

a value tag attribute, a units tag attribute;

a description tag attribute;

a key tag attribute;

a high limit tag attribute;

or a low limit tag attribute.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the first and second tag attributes is to be associated with only one of the plurality of members.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and

a processor in communication with the memory and operative in conjunction with the stored process steps to;

associate a first member of a plurality of members of a component with point data;

associate a second member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data provides context for the point data;

associate a first tag attribute with the first member;

associate a second tag attribute with the-second member;

receive an instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component;

in response to the instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component, determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, said determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute resulting in a determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute; and

in response to the determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, issue a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute;

wherein the first member is not a member of the second member; and

wherein the second member is not a member of the first member.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second tag attributes comprise one or more of:

a value tag attribute, a units tag attribute;

a description tag attribute;

a key tag attribute;

a high limit tag attribute;

or a low limit tag attribute.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of the first and second tag attributes is associated with only one of the plurality of members.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the value tag attribute is associated with only one of the plurality of members.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, the processor further operative in conjunction with the stored process steps to:

receive a query for data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute; and

query a database for the data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein querying the database for the data comprises issuing a respective query for data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable process steps, the processor-executable process steps comprising;

a step to associate a first member of a plurality of members of a component with point data;

a step to associate a second member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data provides context for the point data;

a step to associate a first tag attribute with the first member;

a step to associate a second tag attribute with the second member;

a step to receive an instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component;

a step to, in response to the instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component, determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, said determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute resulting in a determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute; and

a step to, in response to the determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, issue a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute;

wherein the first member is not a member of the second member; and

wherein the second member is not a member of the first member.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the one or more tag attributes comprise one or more of:

a value tag attribute, a units tag attribute;

a description tag attribute;

a key tag attribute;

a high limit tag attribute;

or a low limit tag attribute.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of the first and second tag attributes is associated with only one of the plurality of members.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the value tag attribute is associated with only one of the plurality of members.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, the process steps further comprising:

a step to receive a query for data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute; and

a step to query a database for the data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the step to query the database for the data comprises a step to issue a respective query for data associated with each of the plurality of members that is associated with a tag attribute.

43. An apparatus comprising:

a data storage device storing processor-executable process steps, the processor-executable process steps comprising;

a step to associate a first member of a plurality of members of a component with point data;

a step to associate a second member of the plurality of members of the component with non-point data, wherein the non-point data provides context for the point data;

a step to associate a first tag attribute with the first member;

a step to associate a second tag attribute with the second member;

a step to receive an instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component;

a step to, in response to the instruction to access data associated with the first member of the component, determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, said determine whether the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute resulting in a determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute; and

a step to, in response to the determination that the first member of the component is associated with a tag attribute, issue a query that is for data associated with the first member of the component, data associated with the second member of the component and data associated with each other member of the component that is associated with a tag attribute;

wherein the first member is not a member of the second member; and

wherein the second member is not a member of the first member.