Schema Mapping and Object Matching: A STEP-Based Approach to Engineering Data Management in Open Integration Environments

ABSTRACT: The interoperability of different engineering data models and the product data exchange between heterogeneous design tools are among the most fundamental research problems related to the development of open integrated environments for CAE/CIC. The successful solution of these problems is of primary importance for the acceptance and the wide implementation of product data technology on the basis of ISO 10303 (STEP). This paper presents a flexible, non proprietary, STEP-based approach to design tool integration that has been developed in the EU project COMBI. It focuses on the interoperability methods and tools for product data management realised in the COMBI system: (1) a descriptive schema mapping language which complements the EXPRESS specifications of the implemented product data models, (2) an active object-matching mechanism which serves for providing the consistency of the modelling objects across disciplines, time and design domains, and (3) a communication management module which uses enabling World Wide Web CGI technology to allow for remote and concurrent information exchange via the Internet. Along with a critical discussion of the described integration concept, important future research topics targeting the development of a concurrent engineering environment, which will be pursued in the COMBI follow-up project ToCEE, are also briefly outlined