US6694513B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of integrating an application in a computerized system
Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
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Filing: 1999-07-06
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Granted: 2004-02-17
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Expires: 2019-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of integrating an application in a computerized system for representing a real world object, and a system employing the method. The real world object may be any object, device, process or item of equipment, including equipment in industrial or commercial installation or process, in any location. The real world object is represented as an object, called a Composite Object, in a part of a computer program. The invention also includes Aspects which represent the data and/or operations of a Composite Object. The Composite Object is a container holding at least one Aspect representing data for the real world object. The Composite Object includes at least one interface for use by another object which interface is implemented by the Aspect System and accessed through an object Request Broker, that complies, for example, with COM. The principal advantage of the method and system is that applications within the system do not require prior information about other objects or applications included in the system. Modular and simplified expansion of the system is enabled, together with the later integration of applications not specified at the time of designing the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Johan Andersson
- 👤 Mikael Rudin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/20; G06F8/24; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method to integrate an application in a computerized system for control of a real world object, which system comprises an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface, comprising the steps of: representing said real world object as a Composite Object, which contains an Aspect; representing a facet of said real world object as the Aspect of the Composite Object; associating said application with the Aspect by means of a first reference; enabling a query to a Composite Object for a function associated with the Aspect; obtaining through the Composite Object a second reference to the interface of said application which implements the function.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method to integrate an application in a computerized system for control of a real world object, which system comprises an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface, comprising the steps of: representing said real world object as a Composite Object, which contains an Aspect; representing a facet of said real world object as the Aspect of the Composite Object; associating said application with the Aspect by means of a first reference; enabling a query to a Composite Object for a function associated with the Aspect; obtaining through the Composite Object a second reference to the interface of said application which implements the function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the Composite Object provides information about the Aspect that is associated with the Composite Object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the interface accessed through said Object Request Broker is implemented by an Aspect System Object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the Aspect belongs to an Aspect Category which contains a reference to an Aspect Type first reference to an Aspect System Object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first reference comprises a class identifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the Aspect System Object is arranged to provide said interface via said Object Request Broker an in-process, or local, or remote.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said Object Request Broker complies with COM.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 , wherein Aspect inheritance is described in the Aspect Category to which the Aspect belongs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the Composite Object is organized by being placed in more than one position in the Structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the Composite Object is organized by being placed in more than one Structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked as “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one additional function is added by the additional steps comprising: defining an additional Aspect system containing an Aspect System Object; describing an Aspect Type that is implemented in the additional Aspect system; and listing in the Aspect Type the Aspect System Object which is accessed through said Object Request Broker.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
86 words
A system for computerized control of a real world object, having an application and an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface comprising: a Composite Object representing said real world object, an Aspect of the Composite Object, which represents a facet of said real world object, being associated with said application by means of a first reference, where the Composite Object is a container for the Aspect and is arranged to provide a second reference to said interface of said application.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
A system for computerized control of a real world object, having an application and an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface comprising: a Composite Object representing said real world object, an Aspect of the Composite Object, which represents a facet of said real world object, being associated with said application by means of a first reference, where the Composite Object is a container for the Aspect and is arranged to provide a second reference to said interface of said application.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein the Composite Object provides information about the Aspect that is associated with the Composite Object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein said interface accessed through said Object Request Broker is implemented by an Aspect System Object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 14 , the first reference ( 9 ) to the Aspect System Object ( 101 ) is a class identifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein the Aspect belongs to an Aspect category which contains a reference to an Aspect Type, which Aspect Type contains a reference to an Aspect System Object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 16 , wherein the Aspect System Object is arranged to provide said interface which via said Object Request Broker is in-process, or local, or remote.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein said Object Request Broker complies with COM.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein Aspect inheritance is described in an Aspect Category to which the Aspect belongs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 22 , wherein the Composite Object is organized by being placed in more than one position in the Structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 22 , wherein the Composite Object is organized by being placed in more than one Structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 22 , wherein the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object organized subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one additional function may be added comprising: an additional Aspect system containing one or more Aspect System Objects; one or more Aspect types that are implemented in the further Aspect system; and a listing in each Aspect type of one or more Aspect System Objects ( 101 ) which may be accessed through said Object Request Broker.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer program product containing software code means loadable into the internal memory of a computer in a computerized system, comprising: means to make said computer provide a Composite Object capable of representing a real world object, which Composite Object is a container for an Aspect, provide the Aspect capable of representing a facet of the real world object, where the Aspect is associated with an application by means of a first reference, and to return upon request a second refernce to an interface of the application, which interface is accessible through an Object Request Broker.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer program product containing software code means loadable into the internal memory of a computer in a computerized system, comprising: means to make said computer provide a Composite Object capable of representing a real world object, which Composite Object is a container for an Aspect, provide the Aspect capable of representing a facet of the real world object, where the Aspect is associated with an application by means of a first reference, and to return upon request a second refernce to an interface of the application, which interface is accessible through an Object Request Broker.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein the Composite Object provides information about the Aspect that is associated with the Composite Object.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein the interface ( 102 ) accessed through the Object Request Broker is implemented by an Aspect System Object ( 101 ).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein each Aspect belongs to an Aspect Category which contains a reference to an Aspect Type, which Aspect Type contains a reference to an Aspect System Object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein the first reference to the Aspect System Object is a class identifier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer program product according to claim 29 , wherein the Aspect System Object is arranged to provide said interface which via said Object Request Broker is in-process, or local, or remote.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein the Object Request Broker complies with COM.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer program product according to claim 30 , wherein Aspect inheritance is described in an Aspect Category.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program product according to claim 35 , wherein the Composite Object is organized by being placed in more than one position in a Structure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program product according to claim 35 , wherein the Composite Object is organized by being placed in more than one Structure.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program product according to claim 35 , the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object organized subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , comprising: first means for providing at least one further Aspect system containing one or more Aspect System Objects; second means for providing one or more Aspect Types that are implemented in the further Aspect system; and third means for providing a listing in each Aspect Type of one or more Aspect System Objects which may be accessed through the Object Request Broker.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 , wherein the program is embodied on a computer readable medium.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
Use of a system according to claim 14 , for controlling a real world object located in an industrial or commercial location, a residence or a home.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
Use of a computer program product according to claim 27 for controlling a real world object located in an industrial or commercial location, a residence or a home.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
127 words
A method to integrate an application in a computerized system for control of a real world object, wherein software means represents the real world object, a first reference to an interface is associated with the software means; and an object Request Broker provides access to said application through an interface comprising the steps of: configuring said software means as a Composite Object which contains an Aspect; representing a function of said real world object as the Aspect; associating said application with the Aspect by means of a second reference; enabling a query by means of the first reference to the Composite Object for the function associated with the Aspect; obtaining through the Composite Object a third reference to the interface of said application which implements the function.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
127 words
A method to integrate an application in a computerized system for control of a real world object, wherein software means represents the real world object, a first reference to an interface is associated with the software means; and an object Request Broker provides access to said application through an interface comprising the steps of: configuring said software means as a Composite Object which contains an Aspect; representing a function of said real world object as the Aspect; associating said application with the Aspect by means of a second reference; enabling a query by means of the first reference to the Composite Object for the function associated with the Aspect; obtaining through the Composite Object a third reference to the interface of said application which implements the function.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
151 words
A method to integrate an application in a computerized system for control of a real world object, which system comprises an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface, comprising the steps of: representing said real world object as a Composite Object, which contains an Aspect; representing a facet of said real world object as the Aspect of the Composite Object; associating said application with the Aspect by means of a first reference; enabling a query to a Composite Object for a function associated with the Aspect of the Composite Object; obtaining through the Composite Object a second reference to the interface of said application which implements the function; and wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure; and the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked as “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
151 words
A method to integrate an application in a computerized system for control of a real world object, which system comprises an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface, comprising the steps of: representing said real world object as a Composite Object, which contains an Aspect; representing a facet of said real world object as the Aspect of the Composite Object; associating said application with the Aspect by means of a first reference; enabling a query to a Composite Object for a function associated with the Aspect of the Composite Object; obtaining through the Composite Object a second reference to the interface of said application which implements the function; and wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure; and the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked as “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for computerized control of a real world object, having an application and an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface comprising: a Composite Object representing said real world object, an Aspect of the Composite Object, which represents a facet of said real world object, being associated with said application by means of a first reference, where the Composite Object is a container for the Aspect and is arranged to provide a second reference to said interface of said application; the Composite Object is organized in a Structure; and the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked “ 1 ” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object organized subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for computerized control of a real world object, having an application and an Object Request Broker that provides access to said application through an interface comprising: a Composite Object representing said real world object, an Aspect of the Composite Object, which represents a facet of said real world object, being associated with said application by means of a first reference, where the Composite Object is a container for the Aspect and is arranged to provide a second reference to said interface of said application; the Composite Object is organized in a Structure; and the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked “ 1 ” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object organized subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product containing software code means loadable into the internal memory of a computer in a computerized system, comprising: means to make a computer: provide a Composite Object capable of representing a real world object, which Composite Object is a container for an Aspect; provide the Aspect capable of representing a facet opf the real world object, where the Aspect is associated with an application by means of a first reference, and to return upon request a second refernce to an interface of the application, which interface is accessible through an Object Request Broker; wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure; and the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object organized subordinated in the same Structure.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product containing software code means loadable into the internal memory of a computer in a computerized system, comprising: means to make a computer: provide a Composite Object capable of representing a real world object, which Composite Object is a container for an Aspect; provide the Aspect capable of representing a facet opf the real world object, where the Aspect is associated with an application by means of a first reference, and to return upon request a second refernce to an interface of the application, which interface is accessible through an Object Request Broker; wherein the Composite Object is organized in a Structure; and the Aspect of a first Composite Object in a Structure marked “to-be-inherited-within-the-same-Structure” is inherited by at least one second Composite Object organized subordinated in the same Structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-16 | 2007-08-18 | 2008-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-16 | 2011-08-18 | 2012-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-16 | 2015-08-18 | 2016-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |