Automated tool management in a multi-protocol environment

A computer program product having a computer readable storage medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for automated tool management, comprising:

• programming operable for receiving a first message in a first selected protocol from a first client application, wherein said first message comprises a first request to perform a first action on a first took;
• programming operable for extracting a first pointer from the contents of said first message to identify a first object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said first tool;
• Programming operable for invoking a first procedure of said first object in response to said first message;
• programming operable for transferring a first return value to said first client application, wherein said first return value is associated with said first action;
• programming operable for receiving a second message in a second selected protocol from a second client application, wherein said second message comprises a second request to perform a second action on said first took;
• programming operable for extracting a second pointer from the contents of said second message to identify said first object in said equipment model, wherein said second selected protocol is different than said first selected protocol;
• programming operable for invoking a second procedure of said first object in response to said second message;
• programming operable for transferring a second return value to said second client application, wherein said second return value is associated with said second action;
• wherein if said first request comprises a request for data and if said first tool is an asynchronous source of said data, then the computer program product further comprises:
• if valid information exists corresponding to said data, programming operable for creating said first return value based on said valid information;
• if valid information does not exist corresponding to said data, programming operable for creating said first return value based on a database of said equipment model;
• programming operable for incorporating said first return value into a return message to said first client application;
• and
• programming operable for transferring said return message in said selected protocol to said client application in response to an address provided by said client application.

A system, comprising:

• a processor:
• a memory unit storing a computer program operable for storing a computer program operable for automated tool management;
• and a bus system coupling the processor to the memory, wherein the computer program is operable for performing the following programming steps:
• receiving a first message in a first selected protocol from a first client application, wherein said first message comprises a first request to perform a first action on a first tool;
• extracting a first pointer from said first message to identify a first object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said first tool;
• invoking a first procedure of said first object in response to said first message;
• transferring a first return value to said first client application, wherein said first return value is associated with said first action;
• receiving a second message in a second selected protocol from a second client application, wherein said second message comprises a second request to perform a second action on said first tool;
• extracting a second pointer from said second message to identify said first object in said equipment model, wherein said second selected protocol is different than said first selected protocol;
• invoking a second procedure of said first object in response to said second message;
• transferring a second return value to said second client application, wherein said second return value is associated with said second action;
• wherein if said first request comprises a request for data and if said first tool is an asynchronous source of said data, then the computer program is further operable for performing the following programming steps:
• if valid information exists corresponding to said data, creating said first return value based on said valid information;
• if valid information does not exist corresponding to said data, creating said first return value based on a database of said equipment model;
• incorporating said first return value into a return message to said first client application;
• and
• transferring said return message in said selected protocol to said client application in response to an address provided by said client application.

A method for automated tool management comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first message in a first selected protocol from a first client application, wherein said first message comprises a first request to perform a first action on a first tool;
• extracting a first pointer from the contents of said first message in order to identify a first object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said first tool;
• invoking a first procedure of said first object in response to said first message;
• transferring a first return value to said first client application, wherein said first return value is associated with said first action;
• receiving a second message in a second selected protocol from a second client application, wherein said second message comprises a second request to perform a second action on said first tool;
• extracting a second pointer from the contents of said second message in order to identify said first object in said equipment model, wherein said second selected protocol is different than said first selected protocol;
• invoking a second procedure of said first object in response to said second message;
• transferring a second return value to said second client application, wherein said second return value is associated with said second action;
• receiving a third message in said first selected protocol from said first client application, wherein said third message comprises a third request to perform a third action on a second tool, wherein said third message identifies a second object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said second tool;
• invoking a third procedure of said second object in response to said third message;
• and
• transferring a third return value to said first client application, wherein said third return value is associated with said third action.

A computer program product having a computer readable storage medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for automated tool management, comprising:

• comprising:
• programming operable for receiving a first message in a first selected protocol from a first client application, wherein said first message comprises a first request to perform a first action on a first tool;
• programming operable for extracting a first pointer from the contents of said first message to identify a first object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said first tool;
• programming operable for invoking a first procedure of said first object in response to said first message;
• programming operable for transferring a first return value to said first client application, wherein said first return value is associated with said first action;
• programming operable for receiving a second message in a second selected protocol from a second client application, wherein said second message comprises a second request to perform a second action on said first tool;
• programming operable for extracting a second pointer from the contents of said second message to identify said first object in said equipment model, wherein said second selected protocol is different than said first selected protocol;
• programming operable for invoking a second procedure of said first object in response to said second message;
• programming operable for transferring a second return value to said second client application, wherein said second return value is associated with said second action;
• programming operable for receiving a third message in said first selected protocol from said first client application, wherein said third message comprises a third request to perform a third action on a second tool, wherein said third message identifies a second object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said second tool;
• programming operable for invoking a third procedure of said second object in response to said third message;
• and
• programming operable for transferring a third return value to said first client application, wherein said third return value is associated with said third action.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory unit storing a computer program operable for storing a computer program operable for automated tool management and a bus system coupling the processor to the memory, wherein the computer program is operable for performing the following programming steps:
• receiving a first message in a first selected protocol from a first client application, wherein said first message comprises a first request to perform a first action on a first tool;
• extracting a first pointer from said first message to identify a first object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said first tool;
• invoking a first procedure of said first object in response to said first message;
• transferring a first return value to said first client application, wherein said first return value is associated with said first action;
• receiving a second message in a second selected protocol from a second client application, wherein said second message comprises a second request to perform a second action on said first tool;
• extracting a second pointer from said second message to identify said first object in said equipment model, wherein said second selected protocol is different than said first selected protocol;
• invoking a second procedure of said first object in response to said second message;
• transferring a second return value to said second client application, wherein said second return value is associated with said second action;
• receiving a third message in said first selected protocol from said first client application, wherein said third message comprises a third request to perform a third action on a second tool, wherein said third message identifies a second object in an equipment model, wherein said equipment model comprises a logical representation of said second tool;
• invoking a third procedure of said second object in response to said third message;
• and
• transferring a third return value to said first client application, wherein said third return value is associated with said first action.