Mobile App Generator for Automation Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual generation of mobile applications for controlling and monitoring automation devices is costly and time-consuming, requiring specialized knowledge, and existing application generators cannot automatically generate mobile applications using existing application descriptions of automation devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically generate mobile applications by analyzing and breaking down application descriptions of automation devices into component descriptions, selecting necessary software artifacts, and generating executable source code, allowing for user-specific customization without requiring special knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual generation of mobile applications is used, then customization and quality can be ensured, but cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates application templates in advance that contain pre-defined structures, functions, and configurations for mobile applications. These templates are prepared beforehand and can be automatically instantiated when a mobile application is needed, eliminating the need for manual coding while ensuring consistent quality through the pre-validated template structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms application descriptions into mobile applications by automatically adjusting and mapping parameters between different representation formats. The system changes parameters from the application description format to the mobile application development format, enabling automatic generation while maintaining precision through parameter transformation rules.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual generation of mobile applications is used, then application quality can be ensured, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses templates as reusable copies that can be instantiated multiple times to generate mobile applications. Instead of manually creating each application from scratch, the system copies and adapts pre-defined template structures, significantly reducing the cost of application generation while maintaining quality through the proven template designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal templates that can serve multiple purposes and be adapted to different mobile application requirements. A single template system can generate various types of mobile applications by configuring different parameters, reducing the need for multiple specialized development resources and lowering overall generation costs.
3Extent of automation
If existing application generators are used, then automation is achieved, but they cannot generate mobile applications from automation device application descriptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an application description as an intermediary format that bridges automation device applications and mobile application generation. The system first converts the automation device application into a standardized description format, which then serves as input for template-based mobile application generation, enabling automation while maintaining compatibility through the intermediate representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the application generation process into distinct transformation steps: first transforming the automation device application into an application description, then transforming the application description into a mobile application using templates. This segmentation allows each transformation to be handled separately and automatically, achieving both automation and compatibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a system for generating an operating program in the form of a mobile application (MAPP) executable on a mobile device (MD) for interaction, such as operation, monitoring, configuration, and/or diagnostics, with an application program (DA) of an automation device (D) for controlling and/or monitoring a machine (M) or plant. To enable cost- and time-efficient generation of a mobile application for operating, controlling, and diagnosing an automation device, without requiring special knowledge of the automation device or of mobile application development, the mobile application (MAPP) is generated from an application description (DAD) of the application program (DA) of the automation device.