| Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sourcesRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Presentation Processing Of Document, Operator Interface Processing, And Screen Saver Display Processing, Presentation Processing Of DocumentModeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060200741, Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/726,430, filed Dec. 3, 2003, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/704,471, filed Nov. 1, 2000, claims the priority date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/162,975, filed Nov. 1, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to collecting, modeling, and providing access to information. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A number of attempts have been made to retrieve data from a business organization's various data sources (called back-end data sources) and to present that data to users. An organization's various back-end data sources may contain different types and formats of data, including relational data, point data, time-series data, and object data. Relational data comprise data from multiple tables of multiple fields. The tables may be related to each other through indexes. Point data is single-type data typically associated with manufacturing systems. For example, a data system may continuously collect a motor's operating speed and operating temperature as point data. Unlike relational data, point data typically are not comprised of multiple tables. Time-series data are data that store the change in data value over time. Object data are data represented by objects. The concepts of object, object-oriented design, object-oriented programming and object- oriented databases are known to those skilled in the art. [0006] Data warehouse products and more custom database approaches typically collect data from back-end data sources and deposit the data into a new data warehouse (or data mart) for data analysis and presentation. Some data mining processes operate on data warehouses to provide detailed analysis such as marketing and sales trends, and to test hypotheses such as customer buying patterns. However, those analyses are usually only available to a few analysts and executives in an organization. In addition, a data warehouse usually stores historical data for long term analysis, but is not suitable for real time or near real time applications. [0007] Application packages such as Intellution Dynamics Package by Intellution, Inc. of Foxborough, Mass. and InTouch by Wonderware Corporation of Irvine, Calif. provide for visualization of plant operational data in some manufacturing systems. These packages have very limited abilities to retrieve and present relational data typically associated with other manufacturing systems and non-manufacturing systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Typically, the major limitations include an inability to monitor relational data as it changes over time, navigate the relational data for more detailed monitoring or status, and to find supporting details. Because they do not provide access to both point data and relational data, enterprises often have to use multiple systems to provide data visualization, navigation and analysis of various types and formats of data. Using multiple systems often results in high financial and computing expenses and programming and administrative complexity. [0008] Some systems convert back-end data into relational data stored in a relational database for selection, analysis and visual presentation. Such a relational database typically needs to be managed by a database administrator in order to handle the complexity of a relational database comprising multiple tables and indexes. This is especially true when data has to be converted and acquired from different back-end systems. In addition, those systems cannot utilize the advantages of object data. [0009] Some systems convert point data and relational data from back-end data sources into point data to present to users. Since the back-end data are converted into point data, those systems cannot utilize the advantages of object data and also lose any benefits associated with relational data. [0010] Other systems convert back-end data into object data, but fail to provide access to the object data using a class-based representation model. What is needed is a system and method providing access to back-end data in object form, in real time, and using a class-based component and view model. SUMMARY [0011] One aspect of the invention involves the use of a class-based component and view model to collect and display data from multiple sources. The class-based component and view model is preferably embodied within a system that uses reusable components and views to monitor the operation of a business entity, such as but not limited to a business entity that has manufacturing facilities or plants in various locations. The data that is collected and displayed by the system may, for example, include relational data, point data and/or time-series data. The system also preferably includes development tools for creating and deploying the reusable components and views to generate an information model for monitoring the business entity. [0012] To generate a model in a preferred embodiment, reusable components are initially defined for each type of business element or data source to be monitored. For example, a "plant" component may be generated that represents the general structure of a manufacturing or processing plant, and a "pump" component may be generated to represent a type of pump. A given component may include one or more other components as members. For example, if each plant within the business entity includes multiple pumps, the associated plant component may include multiple pump components. The task of generating the reusable components is performed in the preferred embodiment using a component builder tool. [0013] In addition to defining reusable components, one or more reusable views may be defined for a given component to specify how data collected by that component is to be displayed. Each such view is generally a graphical representation of a corresponding component, and may include graphs, charts, animations, and/or other types of graphical elements to represent the associated data collected by that component. If a first component is a member of a second component, a first view associated with the first component may optionally be inserted into a second view associated with the second component, such that the first view is automatically displayed as a subset of the second view. The task of generating the reusable views is performed in the preferred embodiment using a view builder tool. [0014] The system preferably allows multiple views to be defined for the same component, and thus allows users or developers to build different views of varying levels of detail corresponding to the same component. This is advantageous because different people within a business organization may demand different views that connect to the same data. For example, a plant foreman may want views that show the operating temperature, speed and production numbers of machines. The plant supervisor may want views that show the production numbers of machines. The company executive may want views that show the production totals of each plant. Some prefer to have data displayed in tables while others prefer charts. [0015] Once one or more reusable components and associated views have been generated, a solution builder tool may be used to generate an informational model or "solution" for a business entity. This task involves creating instances of specific components, and connecting these instances to respective back end data sources. For example, if a given business entity has physical plants in Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland, three separate instances of the "plant" component may be created, one for each physical plant. Each such component instance would also be connected to the corresponding back end data source or sources (point data sources, databases, etc.) associated with its respective physical plant. As part of this process, different data collection frequencies and other data connection parameters may be specified for different instances of the same component. The task of creating a solution from a set of preexisting components can advantageously be performed by a person having little or no knowledge of the structure of the associated components. If changes are made to a particular component or its view(s) over time, the changes may be propagated automatically to all instances of the associated component. [0016] The solution or model may be navigated in the preferred embodiment using a navigation tree in which each instance of each component is represented by a respective node or icon within an expandable tree. Using the navigation tree, a user can select a node (component instance) and view the associated data collected by that instance. If multiple views have been defined for an associated component (e.g., basic view, detailed view, etc.), the user can also select between these alternative views. In one embodiment, users can access the navigation tree using an ordinary web browser. [0017] Neither this summary nor the following detailed description purports to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 illustrates components and environments that use one embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a representation of modules of an application environment and a development environment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 3 illustrates the tree-style solution display and navigation structure of the preferred embodiment. Continue reading about Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources... Full patent description for Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Mime type detection for feeds Next Patent Application: System and method for capture and storage of forward and reverse link audio Industry Class: Data processing: presentation processing of document ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Modeling system for retrieving and displaying data from multiple sources patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14787 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
