Abstract: An extensible, object-oriented framework describes various generic elements of legacy automation systems. That framework is used as a basis for porting one or more of those elements to another (“target”) automation system. Objects in the framework, known as “extensions,” adapt information from the legacy system to a corresponding, generic representation. Compilers express those representations in the target system. The framework thus translates the “old” automation configuration for use in a “new” automation system. The scheme can be extended to accommodate arbitrary control systems (i.e., other manufacturers and product lines), new sub-domains within the automation domain (e.g. operator interfaces, batch control etc.) and new target systems without altering the core framework.

Abstract: A method for storing and accessing data in the operation of a program driven computer system for carrying out an industrial process, which system includes a non-volatile, long access time memory medium and a volatile, short access time memory medium, which method includes: configuring the non-volatile and volatile memory media into a unitary, relational database composed of a plurality of tables each composed of an ordered set of data elements; storing in the non-volatile memory medium a set of data elements which forms at least a first table of the database and which is required by the process infrequently and/or need not be accessed rapidly; storing in the volatile memory medium a set of data elements which forms at least a second table of the database which must be rapidly accessed; executing a plurality of programs in cooperation with data elements forming the database in order to control the process; and establishing communication between the programs and the database via an interface which causes the pr