Hierarchical intersections
OwnerJohn Prouty, Kenneth R. Alleninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer can include memory, which can include a database. The database can include a base, and instances of the base. The instances of the base can be organized into a hierarchy. Hierarchical intersections can be used to represent the hierarchy of the instances of the base. When the hierarchy is modified, the hierarchical intersections can be duplicated, and the duplicates modified, to reflect the change in the hierarchy.
Claims32
An apparatus, comprising:
- a computer, including a memory;
- a database stored in the memory;
- a type stored in the database;
- a hierarchy of instances of the type stored in the database, each instance in the hierarchy including information about an object in a process design;
- a plurality of hierarchical intersections stored in the database, the plurality of hierarchical intersections representing the hierarchy of instances of the type;
- and
- a modifier to modify the plurality of hierarchical intersections responsive to a change in the hierarchy of instances of the type, the modifier operative to duplicate the plurality of hierarchical intersections and to modify at least one of the duplicated plurality of hierarchical intersections.
A method, comprising:
- creating a hierarchy of instances of a type in a computer, wherein the hierarchy of instances is represented using hierarchical intersections between pairs of instance s, and in each pair of instance s, a first instance is a parent instance and a second instance is a child instance;
- receiving a change to the hierarchy of instances;
- duplicating the hierarchical intersections that represent the hierarchy of instances;
- and
- modifying one of hierarchical intersections in the duplicate hierarchical intersections responsive to the change to the hierarchy of instances.
An article, comprising a non-transitory storage medium, said non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine, result in:
- creating a hierarchy of instances of a type in a computer, wherein the hierarchy of instances is represented using hierarchical intersections between pairs of instance s, and in each pair of instance s, a first instance is a parent instance and a second instance is a child instance;
- receiving a change to the hierarchy of instances;
- duplicating the hierarchical intersections that represent the hierarchy of instances;
- and
- modifying one of hierarchical intersections in the duplicate hierarchical intersections responsive to the change to the hierarchy of instances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.