Claims
- 1. A computer system for processing individual data objects, the system comprising:
a data repository for individual objects, each individual object a) pertains to a unique asset within an asset family, b) is associated with an object family corresponding to the asset family, and c) includes, when first created, a unique identifier value, and capable of including additional attributes and attribute values; and an executable software module that adds attributes to an individual object based on user input, and that associates an attribute value with each added attribute.
- 2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein:
the object family identifies the attributes that are permitted to be added to each individual object associated with the object family, and the executable software module only adds an attribute to an individual object when the attribute is identified by the object family as a permitted attribute.
- 3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each individual object in the data repository includes an attribute value for each attribute of the individual object.
- 4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the asset is a product.
- 5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the asset is a service.
- 6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the asset is an intangible product.
- 7. A computer system for processing individual data-objects the system comprising:
a data repository for individual objects, each individual object a) pertains to a unique asset within an asset family, b) is associated with an object family corresponding to the asset family and c) includes, when first created, only a unique identifier value, and capable of including additional attributes and attribute values; and an executable software module that adds attributes to an individual object in response to a temporal event having an impact on the unique asset to which the individual object pertains, and that associates an attribute value with each added attribute.
- 8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein:
the object family identifies the attributes that are permitted to be added to each individual object associated with the object family, and the executable software module only adds an attribute to an individual object when the attribute is identified by the object family as a permitted attribute.
- 9. The computer system of claim 7 wherein each individual object in the data repository includes an attribute value for each attribute of the individual object.
- 10. A data repository including individual objects, wherein:
each individual object is associated with an object family, each individual object has a unique identifier attribute and attributes that are common with other individual objects that are associated with the same object family to which the object is associated, wherein each attribute has a corresponding attribute value.
- 11. The data repository of claim 10 wherein each individual object pertains to a unique asset within an asset family.
- 12. The data repository of claim 11 wherein:
additional attributes are added to each individual object in response to a temporal event having an impact on the unique asset to which the individual object pertains, and an attribute value is associated with each added attribute.
- 13. The data repository of claim 11 wherein the repository includes asset information.
- 14. The data repository of claim 13 wherein the asset information includes information for a product.
- 15. The data repository of claim 13 wherein the asset information includes information for a service.
- 16. The data repository of claim 13 wherein the asset information includes information for an intangible product.
- 17. The data repository of claim 10 wherein:
the repository includes business partner information, and each individual object is capable of being associated with a business partner.
- 18. The data repository of claim 10 wherein each individual object is capable of including configuration information for the individual object.
- 19. The data repository of claim 10 wherein each individual object is capable of being associated with history information for the individual object.
- 20. The data repository of claim 10 wherein each individual object is capable of having location information for the geographical location of the individual object.
- 21. The data repository of claim 10 wherein each individual object is capable of being associated with calendar information that includes dates and tasks, each task being associated with a particular date.
- 22. A data repository comprising:
product master data including product master records, each product master record being associated with a particular type of product; business partner master data including business partner master records, each business partner master record being associated with a particular business partner; and individual objects, each individual object a) pertains to a unique asset within an asset family, b) is associated with an object family corresponding to the asset family, c) includes, when first created, a unique identifier and attributes, each attribute being associated with an attribute value, and d) being associated with a particular product master record and a particular business partner master record, wherein additional attributes are added to an individual object in response to a temporal event having impact on the asset to which the individual object pertains and attribute values are associated with each added attribute.
- 23. An integration system that integrates a computer system executing a software application with uniquely defined individual data objects, wherein each uniquely defined individual data object has firstly, attributes, secondly, allowable states for the attributes, and thirdly, allowable transitions between the allowable states, the system comprising:
an executable software module, wherein, in response to the integration system receiving, from the computer system executing the software application, information that requires an action to be performed on an identified one of the uniquely defined individual data objects, the executable software module produces a corresponding triggering event; data containers firstly for importing context data for the raised event, and secondly for exporting context data returned by the identified individual data object in response to the generated triggering event; an executable event manager software module that, firstly, determines, based on the raised triggering event and any imported context data, an action to be performed on the identified individual data object, the event manager using a state manager to determine any transition in the allowable state of the identified individual data object that is required to be made in response to the generated triggering event, and, secondly, executes the action, including any required state change, on the identified individual data object.
- 24. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the individual data objects represent a configurable item whose configuration changes over the lifecycle of the item.
- 25. The integration system of claim 24 wherein the item is a product.
- 26. The integration system of claim 25 wherein the product is an automobile.
- 27. The integration system of claim 24 wherein the item is a service.
- 28. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the information received from the computer system explicitly identifies the triggering event.
- 29. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the information received from the computer system implicitly identifies the triggering event.
- 30. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the attributes include an identifier that uniquely identifies an item corresponding to a particular uniquely defined individual object.
- 31. The integration system of claim 30 wherein the unique identifier is a vehicle identification number for an automobile.
- 32. The integration system of claim 23 wherein possible triggering events include a data request.
- 33. The integration system of claim 23 further comprising a state manager adapter that interfaces the event manager with the state manager.
- 34. The integration system of claim 33 wherein the state manager is part of the integration system.
- 35. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the state manager is a separate system called by the integration system.
- 36. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the state manager includes a state machine engine.
- 37. The integration system of claim 23 wherein the state manager includes a repository of allowable states for individual data objects and a repository of allowable transitions between states.
- 38. The integration system of claim 23 wherein upon execution of the action on the individual object, a data container is populated with context data from the identified individual object.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application. No. 60/386,547, filed Jun. 5, 2002, and titled “Individual Objects,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60386547 |
Jun 2002 |
US |