WO2004088513A1

WO2004088513A1 - Method and computer system for supporting user using simulation tool

Info

Publication number: WO2004088513A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/004413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hideyuki Sunaga; Toshio Hirosawa; Akitake Makinouchi; Yoshiki Takahashi
Original assignee: Riken
Priority date: 2003-03-31
Filing date: 2004-03-29
Publication date: 2004-10-14
Also published as: JP2004302948A

Abstract

In the field of computer simulation, a user not knowing detailed specification of the tool can perform simulation. A computer includes an application tool (102) for computer simulation, a support rule storage section for storing a rule (302) for converting a selection branch associated with the item defined about the simulation into an instruction for operating the application tool, a user interface (210), and a simulation result storage section (306). The computer receives a processing instruction from the user via the user interface (210), converts the received processing instruction into an instruction of the application tool (102) according to the rule, executes it to operate the tool, and stores the result in the simulation result storage section (306).

Description

Method and method for assisting a user using a simulation tool

Light

Technical field

Rice field

The present invention is based on CAD (Computer A iD e d Des i gn), CAM

(Computer Aided Manufacturing CAT (Computer Aided Testing), a simulation environment on a computer that uses multiple application tools including various simulation programs. The present invention relates to a method for enhancing convenience and a program therefor, and in particular, prepares input data of necessary files, starts an application tool, and executes an application tool according to a request of a user (user) of the application tool. Methods, programs, and conveniences that allow users to use multiple application tools without having to learn complicated settings and procedures related to individual application tools when combining and storing output data. On Tashisutemu.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing various simulations such as CAD, CAM, CAT, and structural simulation on a computer, it is appropriate to meet various purposes. In addition, multiple application tools (hereinafter referred to as “tools”) are used separately. When using these multiple tools, the user had to learn complicated settings and procedures for each tool. However, to master multiple tools, it was necessary to master the operation of each tool, which was a major obstacle to introducing new tools and using multiple tools.

When a tool vendor, such as a tool vendor, provides an interface, the interface must allow the user to use multiple tools, and perform appropriate input / output to multiple tools. It is necessary to develop a user interface for In such an interface, it becomes necessary to incorporate many functions into a single interface as the types of tools and fields of application increase. Therefore, the interface requires a complicated operation, and the operation of the user tends to be more complicated.

Also, in the field of CAD (Computer Aided Design), standards such as formats for input / output files are specified so that they can be used by multiple tools. As such an example, there is a standard called IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification), STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data, ISO 10303)). Even in this case, if many tools are included, the standard will become very large, and it will be difficult to improve individual tools or respond to version-ups.

In the field of computer simulation, the differences between tools are even greater than in the field of CAD. In other words, the field of computer simulation is The functions and operations of the tool itself are complicated, and the changes made to each tool are intense due to version upgrades of the tools and expansions and changes in the range that can be handled, and it is difficult to keep up with them. Therefore, it is necessary to create rules that can withstand changes while responding to complexity, and it is virtually impossible to create a common standard among tools. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-222203 discloses a method and a computer system for performing integrated management in a computer system using a plurality of tools. However, it does not disclose a method or a computer system that assists a user who uses the computer tool to use a tool that requires knowledge for a new and different operation. · Disclosure of the invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to determine at least some of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

This effort is based on the concept of a system agent and information structure space.

The concept of a system agent is a concept on software, and it is a concept that a computer's operation according to the rules provided in the computer is regarded as an operation by an operation entity (system agent) in a virtual real space. The system agent is provided with requirement information by the user through the user interface. The requirement information is information required for operating the simulator, and includes a command for performing a process (process command) and data used as an input in the process (process input data). The action taken by the agent depends on some In the present invention, the power is stored in a support rule storage unit that supports a user's work.

The information structure space is a type of information space for managing information such as files related to input and output of each application tool in a hierarchical manner according to a certain meaning. Information about files (data files, setting files) used for input and output of each application tool is stored in association with the subspace of this information structure space. Here, this “meaning” is defined in the information space configuration rules set by the programmer according to its purpose. When a series of jobs are executed on a computer (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “simulation”), the attributes of the simulation object in the real space required for the purpose of actual user simulation and the object It refers to the contents that represent the minimum items that the user should understand for the setting items generally required for simulating an object. Here, in general, when a user performs a simulation, his or her own simulation is drafted in consideration of “meaning” in accordance with the purpose of the simulation. On the other hand, even if it is information other than the original purpose of the user, information that successfully operates a specific application tool, operation instructions specific to the tool (hereinafter referred to as “tool instructions”), and tool-specific human-power data formats (For example, data in this format is referred to as tool input data) is also required. These are necessary for short-term simulations despite their low versatility. In the information structure space, items to be understood by the user are defined in advance according to their meaning. Also, The information that operates the location tool constitutes substantial data in the information structure space. In the following, in the information structure space, the part that holds the former meaning is called the abstract structure layer, and the part that holds the substantive data is called the individual entity layer.

The user inputs or boxes information (requirement information, ie, processing instructions and processing input data) on the user interface. At this time, requirement information corresponding to the item defined in the abstract structure layer is added.

When registering the application tool in this computer system, the support rule storage unit uses the conversion rules between the unique operation procedures and data formats of the application tool and the items defined in the abstract structure layer as rules. Register with. The system agent operates based on the rules of this conversion rule. In other words, requirement information (processing instructions and processing input data) input by the user is represented by tool instructions, or the requirement information is converted into tool input data in accordance with the tool-specific input file, and is converted to the input file. The operation of writing is performed.

More specifically, the system agent expands the requirement information into information necessary for the operation of each application tool according to the rules of the support rule storage unit, performs the necessary processing, and performs multiple processing as necessary. Start each application tool by combining application tools. After the operation of the application tool is completed, the system agent performs necessary termination processing such as storage processing for associating an output file with the information configuration space in accordance with the rules, and outputs the processing result to the user via the user interface. Tell

If the structure of the information structure space has an abstract structure layer having pre-defined items, the operation of the application tool can be abstractly defined by the abstract structure layer. abstract Having a structural layer corresponds to building information that provides a common definition for understanding multiple application tools, and is consistent with human thinking, but this is only that It has no effect. In other words, software development vendors who develop application tools have the advantage of connecting the differences between applications using an abstracted representation. Due to this advantage, it is not necessary to directly convert the detailed configuration of various specifications including the format of data used by each application tool between software between different tools. In other words, the input and data specifications of each application tool remain the same as those of each application tool, and the external command system and the conversion rules between data for associating the tbli with each item of the abstract structure layer are defined by the application tool. Simply by providing the vendor, it is possible to provide users with a common operation method and achieve compatibility at the concept level. For this reason, it is not necessary in principle to adjust the operation plan between application tools, to formulate standards, and to define the input / output file format used by each application tool.

The information structure space is an information space such as a space formed by a single or multiple file lists configured in a normal storage device or recording device of a computer, a directory made up of a set of these lists, and a set of the directories. This is realized in an arbitrary storage device (for example, a hard disk device, a magnetic tape device, an optical disk device, a semiconductor memory, etc.). It is not limited to storage devices and the like in Yomi's computer, but is a collection of storage devices in a plurality of computers connected by a network, a data file of a relational database that holds associations, etc. There may be. The information structure space storage unit may be any unit that can be logically distinguished from the others by an arbitrary software method.

Incorporating a new application tool, changing the application tool, or deleting an application tool means changing the configuration of the individual entity layer. If the information structure space needs to be modified or added in accordance with this incorporation, the information space can be appropriately modified and the like can be handled. In the present invention, the rule in the support rule storage unit is modified in accordance with the modification. This modification includes adding a command system of a new application tool, how to pass parameters to the command, necessary files, etc. to a part of rules according to the existing abstract structure layer, It corresponds to changing and deleting. The user can use the new application tool only with the pre-defined items without being particularly aware of such embedding.

In order to embody the above concept, in the present invention, an arithmetic processing means, a plurality of application tools for computer simulation, and a processing command inputted for an item defined in advance for the simulation are converted. A computer comprising: a support rule storage unit for storing a first rule for generating a tool instruction for operating each of the application tools or a combination thereof; a user interface; and a simulation result storage unit. A method for supporting a user using the application tool, wherein the computer receives the processing command input by the user via the user interface, and the processing is performed based on the first rule. Interpret the directive and Lumpur instruction or the computer combinations thereof Generating a plurality of application tools in accordance with the generated tool instructions or a combination thereof, and a step of storing a result of the operation in a simulation result storage unit. And a method comprising:

Application tools are processing programs such as CAD, CAM CCAT, and structural solution simulation, and simulation programs for simulating real phenomena using numerical methods such as the finite element method and the boundary element method. Alternatively, an application program for visualizing and displaying a simulation result is well known.

Predefined items are items that are defined in advance to reflect the meaning of the information structure space in the abstract structure layer. This item can be concretely configured as a part of the information structure space, for example, in the form of a directory structure in a computer file system or data of some file. When calculating the strength, these items include “material” and physical property values such as the elastic modulus of the material.

The user interface accepts input from a user represented by a CUI (Character User Interface; _s GUI (Graphic User Interface), VR (Virtual Reality) system, etc.), and presents output to the user. Information processing by software is any user interface means that is specifically realized using hardware.With this user interface, a user wants to perform an object of a simulation or an analysis process. The operation and processing can be transmitted to the computer. The processing command is selected and input by the pointing operation. The object to be processed is presented to the user by the computer. In the CUI, the user inputs a command selected from a selectable command group from a keyboard or the like as a processing command.

The user interface is provided with a function for providing requirement information such as processing instructions and processing input data. In this function, instructions for the computer are implemented. Conceptually, this is the action performed by the computer as an action of the system agent, which action may or may not be perceived by the user. The operation of this system agent can be realized by a program that operates in response to a user's instruction, such as an event-driven type program, etc. This program is based on various software concepts, such as software modules and resident programs. It is realized in the form of software and daemon. In addition, it is also preferable that the processing is performed in the background in a multitasking environment, etc. The system agent is used between the user interface and the application tool to operate the tool appropriately for the user's work purpose. In this support, user instructions (processing instructions) that are interested in the purpose of the simulation content are sent to the instructions (tool instructions) necessary for the operation of the application tool. The task of converting to is performed based on the rules.

This rule is stored in the support rule storage unit, for example, in an executable program such as an executable program, a script program, a shell command program, or a source code. It is stored as data such as one-touch. The support rule storage unit is one or a plurality of storage devices or files on a computer that can be logically identified by an arbitrary software method. For example, a file or a group of files containing the above data, and data stored in a computer operating system or shell as environment variables.

When a user makes a work request to the user interface, the computer (system agent) sets input / output files for individual application tools, sets application tools, and sets output files according to the work request data. It stores information and reports output results. In particular, the rule that describes the relationship between processing instructions and tool instructions is called the first rule. The tool instruction may be a warworm, or may be one in which tool instructions are combined to sequentially process individual tool instructions.

Here, the first rule is to convert a processing command into a tool command which is a command format used by the tool. Here, when the user inputs data to the user interface, the processing command is specified for each item. Therefore, the first rule holds a specific procedure for expanding a processing instruction input for a predefined item into a tool instruction depending on an individual application tool. Typically, it includes a processing rule for developing a processing instruction so that it can be re-expressed in combination with a unit instruction as simple as possible, and a processing rule for replacing the unit instruction with each tool instruction. I have. If the processing instruction requires the use of multiple application tools, a rule for switching the application tools can be included. Processing instructions are entered by the user and communicated to the system agent via the user interface. Here, the input of a processing instruction means that the processing instruction is described on the command line, a file in which the processing instruction is described in advance is specified, and the operation of the instruction associated with the processing instruction is specified on the GUI. This is a method of specifying various instructions, such as clicking the mouse with a mouse.

Further, in the present invention, the computer further includes a tool input data storage unit, and the support rule storage unit stores processing input data input in relation to items predefined for the simulation. A second rule for converting and generating tool input data used for the operation of the application tool is further stored, wherein the processing input data input by the user via the user interface is further stored. The computer interprets the processing input data based on the second rule, generates computer input data for operating the application tool, and stores the input data in the tool input data storage unit Further comprising the steps of: Step of operation may be to include a step of reading the tool input data from the tool input data storage unit. In the case where some data is used as input data for simulation (Tounoré input data) in addition to the processing command, the user inputs processing input data that does not depend on Tounore. For this purpose, a second rule for generating tool input data from processing input data input in relation to a predefined item is used.

The second / rail is a tool that converts the process input data into a It is to be converted into the input data. Here, when the user inputs data to the user interface, the processing input data is specified for each item. Therefore, the second rule holds a specific procedure for developing processing input data input for a predefined item into tool input data depending on an individual application tool. Typically, processing input data that is input for predefined items is separated into dividable unit data, which is edited again to suit the application ghoul being used, or is appropriately processed such as interpolating processing. It includes processing rules for performing various arithmetic processing, and processing rules for converting the unit data and their edited data into a format that can be used as input data for each tool. Processing input command and processing input data S If multiple application tools are to be used, the rules can be used to generate tool input data for multiple application tools. Further, in the present invention, the support rule storage section holds predetermined data used in an application tool, and the rule is based on the predetermined data, in which less of a tool instruction or tool input data of the application tool is used. Both may be for generating a part.

Default data means data that does not need to be redefined for each operation of the tool, but is indispensable for using the tool. For example, standard data can perform various simulations for data that defines the rules for generating the mesh used in the finite element method. Can have generation rule data.

In the present invention, the support rule storage unit updates an application tool. And a step of switching at least one of a pull command, a combination of tool commands, or tool input data in any of the above steps.

Also, in the present invention, the support rule storage unit holds a version number corresponding to the update of the application tool, and the computer operates the application to be operated in any of the steps according to the version number. The method may further include a step of switching tools.

For example, when the application tool itself is upgraded, a new application tool is installed, or the use of the application tool that has been used is stopped, the version number is used. And a number for managing subsequent operations, such as character string data. This version number can be stored, for example, as an environment variable of the operating system, or as the content of a special file. The rules change their behavior according to the version number.

If the operation or command system is changed by upgrading the application tool, the operation of the application tool is ultimately determined by the tool instruction, the combination of tool instructions, and the input data of the tool. At least one of these is changed. Also, by installing new application tools, new functions can be used or functions that have been assigned to existing application tools can be reassigned. Input data is changed. If these changes are made only by rewriting rules without managing version numbers, users will not be able to use the changed application tools even if they want to use them, or they will not be able to use them when switching rules. Maintenance effort is increased. The use of a version number as part of the support rule storage unit allows the user to select which version to use, and also allows the user to operate the entire computer system using the method of the present invention. However, maintenance of application tools can be easily performed.

In the present invention, the computer includes a plurality of computers including a first computer, the first computer includes a user interface, and a computer other than the first computer executes any one of the steps, and A method is provided in which the first computer and the other computer can communicate with each other. Since the user interface does not require any special maintenance, for example, the user interface can be operated on a client computer, and the rest can be operated on a server.

In addition to the server-client type, a computer dedicated to calculation processing can perform an engine part for performing calculation processing. A S P (

(Application Service Provider) to provide processing services (services) and provide a user interface by combining general-purpose software such as an Internet browser with a web page created by reflecting the structure of the abstract structure layer You may. Further, the calculation processing may be distributed and the calculation processing may be distributed to various computers by a grid computing technique.

Further, in the present invention, the application tool is a CAD program, a CAM program. Program, CAT program, and various simulation programs. Further, a computer program for causing a computer to execute any of the above methods can be provided.

In the present invention, an arithmetic processing unit, a plurality of application tools for computer simulation, and a processing command input for an item defined in advance for simulation are converted into tool instructions for operating the application tool or a tool instruction for operating the application tool. A computer system for supporting a user using the application tool, comprising: a support rule storage unit for storing a first rule for converting into a combination; a user interface; and a simulation result storage unit. Interpreting the processing command based on the first rule, generating the tool command or a combination thereof by the computer, and executing the plurality of applications in accordance with the generated tool command or a combination thereof. A computer system that causes the computer to sequentially operate the tools and stores the result of the operation in a simulation result storage unit.

In the present invention, more preferably, the computer system further includes a tool input data storage unit, and the support rule storage unit stores a process input in association with an item defined in advance for the simulation. A second rule for converting input data to generate the tool input data used for the operation of the application tool is further stored, and the second rule input by the user via the user interface is further stored. The computer receives the processing input data, interprets the processing input data based on the second rule, and The computer generates tool input data for operating the tool, stores the tool input data in the tool input data storage unit, reads the tool input data from the tool input data storage unit, and sequentially operates the tfff application tool. Is done.

According to the present invention, a common definition for understanding a plurality of application tools can be provided, and a simulation environment adapted to human thinking can be provided. For software development vendors who develop application tools, there is no need to directly convert the detailed structure of various rules including the format of data used by each application tool between software between different tools. This has the effect.

The application tool input and data tt «remain the same as before, and only the application tool vendor prepares the relationship between the specifications and each item of the extraction structure layer, and the common operation method for the user is used. Level of compatibility. For this reason, adjusting the operation specifications between application tools, formulating standards, and defining input / output file formats used by each application tool have the effect of becoming unnecessary in principle.

In addition, if the information configuration space needs to be modified or added in accordance with the incorporation of the application tool, the user is particularly conscious of such incorporation by modifying the rules in the support rule storage unit. Without having to be aware of only the predefined items, new application tools can be used. In other words, in the present invention, since the computer assists the user by learning the differences in the usage of each application and the knowledge associated with the update, the user can use multiple tools. Even if you do not know how to use, you can use multiple tools by learning the concepts common to those tools.

If these changes are made only by rewriting rules without managing version numbers, users will no longer be able to use the changed application tools even if they wish to use the previous ones. The maintenance effort for the equipment increases. The use of a version number as part of the support / rail storage allows the user to select which version to use, while still running the entire computer system using the method of the present invention. However, maintenance of application tools can be easily performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the concept of a method for supporting a user by a system agent which is the basis of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the information configuration space that is the basis of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a program list showing a program example showing how a task is developed in the MAC function according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a program list showing a program example in a task example according to the embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of a method and a computer system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a simulation computer 100 for performing a simulation, a client computer 200 for providing a user interface to a user, and a server 300 for performing operation management of the entire system are connected to each other by a network 2. Computer system 1 is shown.

The simulation computer 100 includes a strength calculation simulator 1002 for performing a numerical calculation simulation of the structural strength of the object 202 to be simulated, and a clarity tool for clarifying the strength calculation result. 104 and a fluid calculation simulator 106 that performs fluid calculations around the object are installed (hereinafter, when these are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as application tools).

The user who operates the client computer 200 tries to perform a specific calculation on the object 202 or to perform clarity. Users in conjunction with calculation Ya angle浙you want to do to select the object 2 0 2 to select a target function Potan display 2 1 2 user interface ₂ 1 0, 2 1 4 like. At this time, you can also type an appropriate command from the keyboard or enter a command (command) to read a setting file that specifies conditions such as the corresponding command data. As a result, the object to be operated on the user interface 210 or the function to be selected is transmitted to the computer system 1 as information of the request selection. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a computer system 1 as a whole, illustrating the concept of the present invention when viewed as a whole. In the present invention, it is possible to recall the system agent 400 existing in the virtual space realized by the computer system 1, and the user and the application tool 102, 104, 10 Support between 6 mag can be provided.

At this time, the rule 302 describes the specific support contents of the system agent 400. In FIG. 1, the server 302 is provided in the server 300, and the storage device 304 of the server 300 functions as a support rule storage unit. Further, the server 300 is also provided with a simulation result file 306, which also functions as a simulation result storage unit. By setting and operating each application tool in accordance with Rule 302, the user's desired calculation ゃ When the clarity is executed, the output file created by each application tool / ^ As a result, the end signal is output. Received by system agent 400. At this time, the results of each application tool are replaced with items that are “significant” to the user in accordance with Rule 302, and are written back to a file on any computer. Displayed in 10 The user obtains the desired calculation results based on the contents of the file and the displayed information.

FIG. 2 shows two specific examples of processing according to the above processing flow. One is the case where the object is divided into meshes. The other is that the angle between two points on the object (the inclination angle of the straight line between the two points in the spherical coordinate system) is clarified. Is performed. In order to perform mesh division, the user interface 210 acquires an identification ID of the object and issues a mesh division request command in response to a request from a user who wishes to divide the object into meshes. Upon receiving this command, the system agent 400 selects a tool suitable for mesh division according to the rules, for example, a strength calculation tool 102. An application tool for performing mesh division is described in advance in rule 302. In this description, it is directly or indirectly implied that the shape of the object should be expressed in the format of IGES (Initial Graphical Exchange System), and that mesh generation condition data should also be specified. Objet data directly operated by the user is defined as an input ttt slave of the user interface 210, and its format is arbitrary. For mesh generation, the function to request mesh generation is provided, but there is no function to set the conditions for force generation. Rule 302 further describes, as a setting step, the rules for converting the object data in the user interface 210 into the IGES format required by the tool, and the default data used for the mesh generation conditions. Is described. Furthermore, as an execution step, rule 302 describes a step of activating a tool for performing mesh division. The tool generates an output file in the format of the tool as an execution result and issues an execution completion notification. Rule 302 can read the data format of the tool in order to read the obtained mesh data into the user interface as a step to obtain the execution result after generating the output file and notifying the completion of execution. Is described. This allows the user interface to display mesh data Becomes possible.

As another example, when examining an angle, the user interface 210 obtains the object's identification ID, selects two points on the object 202, and responds to the user's request for the angle. Issue the request command. Upon receiving this command, the system agent 400 selects a tool suitable for determining an angle according to A ^ //, for example, a continuous tool 104. In the user interface 210, when you select the button display for the function that determines the angle, the mouse cursor changes to a cross, prompting the user to specify two points. When the position of two points is received from the user, the user interface outputs the position information. The system agent 400 rewrites the data into an input format to be passed to the corner Iff tool 104 in accordance with the data 320. Then, a command for directly starting the horn 角) is issued, and the lucid tool 104 is started. The launched tool ツール) f receives the location information in its own format and outputs the result, issues an execution completion notification, and issues a user completion message via the user interface 210 as in the case of mesh division. Present the results to

Returning to FIG. 1, the operation of the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the user will be described. The user interacts with the object 202 in a user interface 210 provided by a pointing device の such as a mouse provided in each client computer 202 and a window graphic system associated therewith. I can do it. If the user wants to divide the object 202 into a mesh, the user specifies the object 202 through the user interface 210, and furthermore, Then, the user selects the button display 2 1 2 (related to the calculation instruction) indicating the operations that can be performed on the object, and transmits the request selected by the user to the client computer 200.

When the button display 212 of the user interface 202 is selected by the user, the client computer 200 transmits the selected information to the server 300. The server 300 activates the script program 302 associated with the button display 212 according to the selection request.

The script program 302 can be a script program such as Java Script (registered trademark) or VBS Cript (registered trademark).

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the information configuration space 440 on which the present invention is based. In the abstract structure layer 450, which is part of this, various attributes of the object are represented by each item according to the meaning. For each attribute, an attribute obtained by further subdividing the content related to the processing is shown in a ruffle structure. The file structure is, for example, a tree structure of a file system in a computer, and each item is a directory. The object has a shape 4 52, a position 4 5 4 and a material condition 4 5 6 as a genus, and the conditions for the calculation include the constraint condition 4 58, the load condition 4 60, the calculation grid condition. 4 6 2 and so on. In addition, the result of clarity with respect to the object is defined as the result of the horn loaf (a part of the simulation result storage unit).

The individual entity layer 480 is also a part of the information configuration space 440 in the computer file system, and data 482, 490 of each application tool is stored. Hold. In Fig. 3, in tool A input data 482, the shape 452 and position 454 of the object are given by a, the CAD data format 484 of CAD, and the material condition 4 56, constraint condition 4 58 and load condition 4 60 are stored in fi 1 e 1 (4 86). On the other hand, in the input data 49 0 of another tool B, the shape 45 2, the position 45 4, and the material 45 56 of the object are represented by b—CAD data format 49 2 of CAD. Given, the constraint conditions 4 58 and load conditions 4 60 for the object are stored in fi 1 e 5 (4 94). Such a correspondence shown in FIG. 3 is a correspondence obtained as a result of the operation of the system agent 400 in accordance with the rule 302, not held by the information structure space itself. Note that default data is set for any of the items in the abstract structure layer, and the default data can be used in accordance with the Lunole 302, unless otherwise specified by the user. . As an example, known data is stored in the computation grid condition 4 62. For example, tool A is associated with file 2 (4 88) in tool A. The result of clarity is obtained as fi 1 e 4 (489) for tool A and fi 1 e 7 (495) for tool B as files of the processing results. Angle ¾) f The result is converted by the agent into 106 and stored.

The tools A and B need not be tools in fields similar to each other, but may be tools for completely different purposes related to simulation. For example, Tool A can be a strength calculation tool and Tool B can be a fluid calculation tool.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a part of a rule 302 that defines an operation of adding a constraint condition to a surface in an object having a certain surface. In this part of the rule, the global Procedures PickNodeNumber, GetCoord, GetSurface, GetNodeNumersFromGeom, GetNodeNumbersFromFem,

A macro function that realizes the function of "adding a constraint condition to nodes related to the surface by finally specifying the position and adding the constraint condition" by AddRestraingCondition acting sequentially.

Fig. 14 shows how AddResraintCondtionFromPickedCoord is configured. This macro function is associated with, for example, one of the button displays of the user interface 210 in FIG. 1, and is activated when the user selects one of the button displays. The macro function itself is not executable by the application tool, and the above functions are not themselves executable by the application tool. Here, “Object Z. Mesh” means that when the object to be simulated is Object Z, an operation is performed on a property “Mesh” that is predefined for this object Z. This corresponds to, for example, scanning the calculation grid condition 462 in FIG. As described above, the operations of the corner procedure are performed for each item of the abstract structure layer.

Fig. 5 shows an example in which the GetNodeNumber function used first among the above functions is described in the Starlite language. The command GetNodeNumberfromTool_Al in line 504 is a command to get the node number by tool A1. This command is prepared in advance by the vendor of the tool A1 as an external command to use the function of the tool A1, and is a tool instruction in the present invention. Similarly, lines 506 and 508 contain commands for using tools A2 and A3. It is listed. Which command of the tools A1 to A3 is used is controlled by an if statement depending on the value of the variable input_data_type. Whether this variable is tool_Al to too or A3 depends on the original

Depending on the criteria such as whether or not each corresponding to other functions other than GetNodeNumber used in AddResraintCondtionFromPickedCoord is prepared,

It is determined as a global variable before the GetNodeNuraber function is called. Therefore, the tool selected by GetNodeNumber may be different depending on whether it is called from AddResraintCondtionFromPickedCoord or from another MAC function. In the example of FIG. 5, it is also possible to use a combination of a plurality of tool instructions that describe a tool instruction as a single command.

Figure 5 shows the case of a tool instruction, but the data requested by the tool (tool input data) can be directly described by a script, or the path where the tool input data exists can be displayed. The rules can be set in the same way. In this case, the user can directly input the data through the user interface or specify the path to convert the most input data (processing input data) into tool input data. Can be described.

Also, the default data of the application tool can be retained by rule 302 or specified by rule 302. This default data is stored in the server 300 (FIG. 1) together with the rule 302 as a part of the support rule storage unit.

In addition, the server 300 shall store the version number (version number) of the update of the rule 302 in one of the environment variables of the operating system. Can also be. If it is described in rule 302 that the operation of agent 400 is changed by reading the version number, the operation of rule 302 can be switched only by updating the environment variables. Therefore, when a new application tool is installed or updated, maintenance of rule 302 becomes easy. Thus, several exemplary embodiments have been described in detail in connection with the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications can be made to these embodiments without substantially departing from the novel disclosure and advantages of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such improvements should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. An arithmetic processing means, a plurality of application tools for computer simulation 3, and a processing command input for an item predefined for the simulation are converted to operate each of the application tools. The application tool is used by using a computer including a support rule storage unit that stores a first rule for generating a tool instruction or a combination thereof, a user interface, and a simulation result storage unit. A way to help the user,

The computer receiving the processing instruction input by the user via the user interface;

Interpreting the processing instruction based on the first rule and generating the tool instructions or a combination thereof by the computer;

A method comprising: causing the computer to sequentially operate the plurality of application tools according to the generated tool instructions or a combination thereof; and storing a result of the operation in a simulation result storage unit.

2. The computer further includes a tool input data storage unit,

The support rule storage unit is configured to convert processing input data input in association with items defined in advance for the simulation and generate second tool input data for use in the operation of the application tool. To remember the rules of

The processing input entered by the user via the user interface Receiving force data by the computer;

Interpreting the processing input data based on the second rule, generating the tool 'input data for operating the application tool by the computer, and storing the input data in the tool input data storage unit.

Further comprising

The method of claim 1, wherein sequentially operating the application tool comprises reading tool input data from the tool input data storage.

3. The support rule storage unit stores default data used in the application tool.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the rules are for generating at least a portion of tool instructions or tool input data of the application tool based on the predetermined data.

4. The support storage unit holds a version number corresponding to the update of the publication tool.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: switching at least one of a combination of a tool instruction, a tool instruction, or tool input data in the step.

5. The support rule storage unit holds a version number corresponding to the update of the application tool,

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: a computer switching an application tool to be operated in said one of said steps according to said version number. Or the method described in 2.

6. The computer comprises a plurality of computers including a first computer, the first computer having a user interface,

A computer other than the first computer executes any of the above steps

And

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first computer and the other computer are able to communicate with each other.

7. The application tool described in claim 1 has an Aided Sign (プログラム 01111) 11 and a 6 (Aided Sign) program, a CAM (Computer Aided Manu facturing) program, a CAT (Computer Aided 3. The method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of various simulation programs including a T esting) program.

8. A computer program for causing a computer to execute any one of the methods according to claims 1 to 7.

9. arithmetic processing means;

A plurality of application tools for computer simulation, and a first command for converting processing instructions input for items predefined for the simulation into a tool instruction for operating the application tool or a combination thereof. A support rule storage unit for storing rules, a user interface, Simulation result storage unit

A computer system for supporting a user using the application tool, comprising:

Interpreting the processing instruction based on the first rule, the computer generating the tool instruction or a combination thereof,

The computer sequentially operates the plurality of application tools in accordance with the generated "tool" instructions or a combination thereof,

A computer system for storing a result of the operation in a simulation result storage unit.

10. The computer system further includes a tool input data storage unit, and the support storage unit converts processing input data input in association with items defined in advance for the simulation, and It further memorizes a second rule for generating tool input data used for the operation of the application tool,

The computer receives the processing input data input by the user via the user interface,

Interpreting the processing input data based on the second rule, the computer generating tool input data for operating the application tool, storing the tool input data in the tool input data storage unit,

10. The computer system according to claim 9, wherein the computer tool reads tool input data from the tool input data storage unit and sequentially operates the application tools.