Integrating engineering applications via loosely coupled techniques: A knowledge-based approach

摘要

The present article elaborates on an integration methodology for engineering applications that are disparated among an interconnected computer environment. The investigated integration methodology is based on loosely coupling techniques and aims at the establishment of a cooperation basis between traditional, stand-alone engineering applications like CAD, CAM, CIM, and FMS systems. In the light of this coupling, modeling and data sharing techniques are particularly crucial for the achievement of the desired interoperability. The utilization of these techniques is of major importance for the various activities performed in such an environment such as design, construction, testing, configuration and customization, and eventually reusability of the manipulated objects. This article investigates the impact of using knowledge-based techniques in the construction of a virtual layer that provides the functionality required in a loosely coupled system of application programs and their corresponding information repositories.