Checking method, device, and computer program product
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsStephan Grimm, Alois Haselböck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a method for checking whether and/or how a technical process may be carried out using a technical system with two or more units having technical capabilities that are potentially relevant to the technical process. At least one ontology is used which describes the technical system and the technical process, and a constraint satisfaction problem is generated using the at least one ontology. In the method, solutions are found for the constraint satisfaction problem. The solutions may be stored or output.
Claims22
A method for checking an implementation of a technical process by a production system having a plurality of production units, each production unit having technical capabilities potentially relevant to the technical process, the method comprising:
- applying, by a production unit of the plurality of production units of the production system, at least one ontology that describes the production system and the technical process;
- forming a constraint satisfaction problem, comprising at least one constraint in a form of a capability matching condition, by way of the at least one ontology, wherein the capability matching condition is defined by a requirement for the technical capabilities offered by the plurality of production units of the production system to match capabilities required for a required technical process, so that the production system is capable of implementing the required technical process;
- determining solutions to the constraint satisfaction problem according to the capability matching condition;
- assigning a production unit having a suitable technical capability to the required technical process when the capability matching condition is fulfilled, indicating that the production system is capable of implementing the required technical process;
- and
- storing or outputting the determined solutions.
A device configured to check an implementation of a technical process, the device comprising:
- a knowledge base having at least one ontology that describes a production system and the technical process;
- a constraint satisfaction problem generator that is configured to apply data of the at least one ontology and to generate a constraint satisfaction problem comprising at least one constraint in a form of a capability matching condition, wherein the capability matching condition is defined by a requirement for technical capabilities offered by a plurality of production units of the production system to match capabilities required for a required technical process, so that the production system is capable of implementing the required technical process;
- and
- a constraint solver that is configured to solve the constraint satisfaction problem according to the capability matching condition and, when the capability matching condition is fulfilled, indicating that the production system is capable of implementing the required technical process, assign a production unit having a suitable technical capability to the required technical process.
A computer program product stored on a device, wherein, when the computer program product is executed, the computer program product causes the device to:
- apply at least one ontology that describes a production system and a technical process;
- form a constraint satisfaction problem, comprising at least one constraint in a form of a capability matching condition, by way of the at least one ontology, wherein the capability matching condition is defined by a requirement for technical capabilities offered by a plurality of production units of the production system to match capabilities required for a required technical process, so that the production system is capable of implementing the required technical process;
- determine solutions to the constraint satisfaction problem according to the capability matching condition;
- assign a production unit having a suitable technical capability to the required technical process when the capability matching condition is fulfilled, indicating that the production system is capable of implementing the required technical process;
- and
- store or output the determined solutions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.