Timeout object for object-oriented, real-time process control system and method of operation thereof

A method of time-limiting a request for information from a client to a resource, comprising:

• receiving, from said client, said request and a time-based parameter;
• forwarding said request to said resource;
• waiting for said information an amount of time that is a function of said time-based parameter;
• returning said information to said client if said timeout object receives said information within said amount of time;
• and
• returning a timeout indicator to said client if said timeout object fails to receive said information within said amount of time.

A real-time process control system, comprising:

• a computer system;
• a plurality of sensors and controllable devices;
• a data bus coupling said computer system to said plurality of sensors and controllable devices, said plurality of sensors and controllable devices representing resources for said computer system;
• a client, associated with said computer system and capable of generating a request for information from one of said resources;
• and
• a timeout object for time-limiting said request that includes:
• a client interface that receives, from said client, said request and a time-based parameter, and
• a resource interface that forwards said request to said one of said resources and waits for said information an amount of time that is a function of said time-based parameter, said client interface:
• returning said information to said client if said timeout object receives said information within said amount of time, and
• returning a timeout indicator to said client if said timeout object fails to receive said information within said amount of time.