Researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center have devised an object-oriented architecture for integrating engineering application software. The architecture provides an environment in which the complete engineering design and analysis process can be conducted. It eliminates the need to repeatedly adapt graphical user interfaces (and other tools) to various experimental and analytical information sources, and it brings those sources into a common domain to facilitate the easy (and, eventually, automatic) sharing of engineering content. This architecture has been implemented in the C++ language, and a graphical user interface interacting with the architecture has been developed with a portable tool kit.
Generic engineering application integration architecture.
The structure, depicted in the figure, consists of an application object (labeled PacAppl in the figure) from which emanates (1) a tree of data identifications (the Pid items to the right), (2) a tree of data configurations (the PacCfg items extending toward the lower left), and (3) a map of available operations (the Op items to the upper left). The structure of the data is revealed by the structure of the identification tree, eliminating the need to replicate data within configurations merely to reveal structure. Missing data elements of a configuration are then inherited from the most immediate precursor. Encapsulated operations, as well as data identifications, operate within the context of a current data configuration and, thus, are able to refuse operations not supported by the state of the data.
All the object classes of the architecture derive from a common base class that can provide descriptions of the objects when desired. Names, units, annotations, access controls, and the like can be attached on an object-by-object basis. Key among these is automatic value change histories and a text description, which can be used as a basis for engineering journals.
Lewis contacts: Dr. William H. Jones, (216) 433-5862,
William.H.Jones@grc.nasa.gov
Authors: Dr. William H. Jones
Headquarters program office: OAT
Programs/Projects: Information Systems Base R&T
Last updated June 16, 1999, by Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
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