Component based framework for developing process simulation web use interfaces

In this paper. requirements for web based process simulation user interfaces are analysed and one possible development framework architecture is presented. The solution is based on two main hypotheses. Firstly, process simulators, simulation models and distributed control systems provide their data through standard OPC (OLE for Process Control) interfaces in the Windows NT environment. This assumption may well be made because the automation domain is moving more and more towards PC and Windows NT based systems and the support for the OPC standard is rapidly growing. Secondly, web user interface developers use Java programming language and JavaBeans technology. This too is a reasonable assumption because Java provides much better portability over operating systems and web browsers, than for example ActiveX controls. Furthermore, Java IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) are very extensive, user friendly, and they support reuse through JavaBeans