Joint Workshop for the Use of Models that Define the Data and Processes for Information Systems

TC184 SC5 WG4 Presentation, Paul Clements

Hello, my name is Paul Clements I am one of the UK nominated experts to SC5 WG4 and in the next two minutes I will hope to give you some ideas as to (a) the work of SC5 WG4 and (b) the requirements of SC5 WG4 from bodies such as yourselves.

SC5 WG4 is concerned with the development of a Manufacturing Automation Programming Environment (MAPLE) which is a common vendor-independent neutral support facility for the programming of multiple manufacturing devices and controls.

A "Functional Architecture" of MAPLE is at the moment undergoing balloting as a Draft International Standard. Meanwhile, work is progressing on a working draft on "MAPLE Services and Interfaces."

Basically, the MAPLE environment will provide two facilities:

• First, an infrastructure that allows an easy exchange of data between applications. This, among other things, implies the need for a unified data definition language. For the problem of easy exchange of data, the STEP standard, together with its data definiton language, EXPRESS, appears to be a good candidate.

• Second, an infrastructure that allows for an easy linking of application programs originating from various sources and written in various programming languages and paradigms. This implies the need for a unified interface definition language. For the problem of easy linkage of applications, there exists for example, CORBA, with its interface definition language, IDL, which should be examined for ideas towards this goal.

MAPLE only standardizes the functions of - and interfaces to - the environment, leaving the actual implementation of the functionalities to the MAPLE software developer.

Hence two issues for SC5 WG4 are (a) how can SC5 WG4 in a predominately heterogeneous environment support the various types of modelling that will be utilised and (b) how can SC5 WG4 support the incorporation of various application tools within the MAPLE environment.