Organizing a process database having different types of data blocks by maintaining separate tables for generic routines and for block-type specific routines

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 further comprising means for maintaining a plurality of tables corresponding respectively to said plurality of block types, each table containing a record of information that identifies the category of routines that are specific to the corresponding block type, and said record of said separate table containing information identifying said generic category of routines for said plurality of block types.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 further comprising means for maintaining a second separate table that includes a record of information identifying a category of routines that are generic to all of said types of data blocks.

Claim 5

The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein the record of said plurality of tables, the record of said separate table, and the record of said second separate table each comprise a set of entries that indicate parameters of each described routine.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein one of said parameters is a name of said routine.

Claim 7

The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein one of said parameters is a location in a memory of a piece of data that the described routine will process.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein one of said parameters is a size of said piece of data.

Claim 9

The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein one of said parameters is an input function for processing data that the described routine will process.

Claim 10

The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein one of said parameters is an output function for processing data that the described routine will process.

Claim 11

The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein one of said parameters is a protection level of the described routine.

Claim 12

The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein one of said parameters is a generic parameter that can be different for different described routines.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1 wherein all data blocks comprise header fields and other fields, and said generic routines process data in said header fields and said specific routines process data in said other fields.

Claim 14

The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of computers that communicate over a network, each one of said computers including said means for maintaining said table and said means for maintaining said separate table.

Claim 15

The system of claim 13 wherein contents of said table and said separate table are identical for at least some of said computers.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14 wherein at least one of said computers is adapted to transfer data between its process database and external devices.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said external devices is a sensor that sends data representative of a detected condition to said process database.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said external devices is a control device for performing an operation in response to data sent from said process database.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the computers on said network is adapted to obtain over the network data stored in the process database of said computers that transfer data to and from said external devices.

Claim 20

The system of claim 1 wherein at least one routine in said category that is specific to one of said block types is also in said category that is specific to another one of said block types.

Claim 21

In a system that comprises a processor and a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block type, a method of adding a new type of data block which will store at least said generic data, said method comprising the steps of said processor accepting input from a user of said system that defines a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to said new type of data block, said processor thereafter using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said new type of data block, said processor responding to said input by creating a table for said new block type that contains a record of information identifying said category of specific routines for said new type of block, and said processor maintaining information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said new type of block and at least one other block type in a record of a separate, pre-existing table so that said processor need not redescribe said generic routines in said table that said processor creates for said new block type.

Claim 22

In a system that comprises a processor and a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block type, a method of adding a new type of data block which will store at least said generic data, said method comprising the steps of said processor accepting input from a user of said system that defines a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to said new type of data block, said processor thereafter using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said new type of data block, said processor responding to said input by creating a table for said new block type that contains a record of information identifying said category of specific routines for said new type of block, and said processor maintaining information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said new type of block and at least one other block type in a record of a separate, pre-existing table so that said processor need not redescribe said generic routines in said table that said processor creates for said new block type.

Claim 23

In a system that comprises a processor and a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block type, a method of modifying an existing type of data block, said method comprising the steps of said processor maintaining a table that contains a record of information identifying a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to said type of data block being modified, said processor using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said type of data block, said processor accepting input from a user of said system that modifies one or more of said specific routines of said type of data block, said processor responding to said input by modifying said table so that said record of information identifies the modified routines, and said processor maintaining information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said type of block being modified and at least one other block type in a record of a separate table so that said user need not enter said information identifying said generic routines to enable said processor to perform said modifying of said table for said modified block type.

Claim 24

In a system that comprises a processor and a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block type, a method of modifying an existing type of data block, said method comprising the steps of said processor maintaining a table that contains a record of information identifying a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to said type of data block being modified, said processor using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said type of data block, said processor accepting input from a user of said system that modifies one or more of said specific routines of said type of data block, said processor responding to said input by modifying said table so that said record of information identifies the modified routines, and said processor maintaining information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said type of block being modified and at least one other block type in a record of a separate table so that said user need not enter said information identifying said generic routines to enable said processor to perform said modifying of said table for said modified block type.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21 wherein said modifying comprises said processor accepting input from said user that changes an existing routine in said category of specific routines, and said processor changing the record that contains information about said changed routine in said table for said block type, without changing a record in said separate table for said generic routines.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 wherein said modifying comprises said processor accepting input from said user that adds a new routine to said category of specific routines, and said processor changing said table for said block type to include a record of information about said new routine, without changing a record in said separate table for said generic routines.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20 or 21 wherein the system further comprises means for maintaining a plurality of tables respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of data blocks, each one of said tables having a record of information about a category of routines that are specific to the corresponding block type, the record of said separate table containing information about said generic category of routines for said plurality of block types.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein the record of said plurality of tables and the record of said generic table each contain an identical set of entries for information concerning routines.