Patent ID: 6192390
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for a location-independent exchange of process data between application programs and process management systems for further processing the process data within a technical plant, the method which comprises:coordinating, with a software system, a plurality of computer systems interconnected by a network and having process management systems and application programs;converting process data from process-computer-specific data structures from each of the plurality of computer systems into process-computer-independent data structures available as stored data at an interface;providing interface functions for permitting defined operations on the stored data in each of the plurality of computer systems;registering and updating, with each of the plurality of computer systems, the process data converted into the stored data, including a storage location of the stored data, with a switching service; andproviding the stored data to the application programs by the steps of:ascertaining from the switching service available stored data types and their storage location;selecting at least one of the stored data types; andexecuting operations on selected stored data types.