1. A computer program product for providing a message-based interface for supply network planning-related requests, the supply network planning-related requests comprising requests associated with managing a long- or mid-term production or distribution plan, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media and operable when executed to:
receive via a first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, the first message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting creation of a new supply network plan that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan create request message entity; and
a supply network plan package comprising a supply network plan entity, where the supply network plan entity includes a supply network plan configuration ID;
process the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and
send a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.
2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the second message includes a second message confirming the request to create the new supply network plan, the second message including a second message package hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan create confirmation message entity;
a supply network plan package and a log package, the supply network plan package comprising a supply network plan entity, the supply network plan entity including an ID, and the log package comprising a log entity.
3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the derived message-based interfaces further include a supply network plan configuration interface and a supply network planning aggregate hierarchy interface.
4. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:
a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for communicating information associated with managing a long- or mid-term production or distribution plan using a request;
a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as:
a supply network plan create request message entity; and
a supply network plan package comprising a supply network plan entity, where the supply network plan entity includes a supply network plan configuration ID; and
a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.
5. The distributed system of claim 4, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.
6. The distributed system of claim 4, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.
7. A computer program product for providing a message-based interface for supply network planning-related requests, the supply network planning-related requests comprising requests associated with managing a long- or mid-term production or distribution plan, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media and operable when executed to:
receive via a message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, the first message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for querying supply network plans by details, the first message including a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan key figure value by elements query message entity; and
a selection package comprising a supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity, where the supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity includes a selection by ID, a selection by supply network planning aggregate hierarchy ID, at least one selection by key figure ID, and at least one selection by time series period ID, where each selection by key figure ID includes an interval boundary type code;
process the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and
send a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.
8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the second message includes a second message responsive to the query of the supply network plans by detail, the second message package including a second message hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan key figure value by elements response message entity; and
a supply network plan package and a log package, where the supply network plan package comprises a supply network plan entity and a key figure value package, where the supply network plan entity includes an ID, and where the key figure value package includes at least one key figure value entity, each key figure value entity including a supply network plan key figure ID, a time series period ID, a supply network planning aggregate hierarchy aggregate instance ID, and a float value, and where the log package comprises a log entity.
9. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:
a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for communicating information associated with querying a set of supply network plans associated with long- or mid-term production or distribution plans using a request;
a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as:
a supply network plan key figure value by elements query message entity; and
a selection package comprising a supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity, where the supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity includes a selection by ID, a selection by supply network planning aggregate hierarchy ID, at least one selection by key figure ID, and at least one selection by time series period ID, where each selection by key figure ID includes an interval boundary type code; and
a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.
10. The distributed system of claim 7, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.
11. The distributed system of claim 7, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An article retrieving apparatus, comprising:
a storage area (11) for storing articles along at least one longitudinal axis;
an article extracting device (14) comprising an air hose (21, 23, 26) including a free end (28) for selectively becoming adhered to for extracting an article from the storage volume via suction in said air hose created by a negative air pressure source (20) coupled to said air hose;
a positioning mechanism (12) coupled to the air hose and responsive to control signals for positioning the free end thereof in alignment with a said longitudinal axis;
a drive mechanism (190) coupled to said air hose for moving the free end thereof in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis in the storage volume; and
control apparatus for initiating an article retrieving operation, and generating control signals which are applied to said positioning mechanism and said drive mechanism for causing controlled movement of the article extracting device so that a selected article is extracted from the storage volume by the free end of said hose and placed in an area for being retrieved;
wherein the free end of said hose includes a product contact sensor, comprising:
a weight having one end attached to said hose, and an air passage formed axially therethrough, said air passage having a diameter which is sufficient for allowing substantially all said suction to be conducted to an other end of said weight, said other end being axially opposed to the one end;
a movable element mounted within the axial air passage formed in the weight, said element being positioned in the passage so as to extend beyond the other end of the weight and contact an article to be retrieved, said contact tending to move said element in an axial direction within the air passage,
a sensor mounted on said weight for generating an electrical signal representative of the sensing of movement of said movable element in response to contact of said movable element with an article to be retrieved, and
a electrical signal conductor coupled to said sensor for conducting said electrical signal from said sensor to said control apparatus, said electrical signal conductor being routed so as to pass through said air hose on its way to said control apparatus.
2. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 1, further including a suction cup mounted to said other end of said weight so as to surround the air passage in the weight and the moveable element, where an article contacting portion of the suction cup extends from the other end of the weight so that movement of the moveable element in response to contact with an article to be retrieved, does not occur until after the article contacting portion of the suction cup has made contact with the article to be retrieved.
3. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 2 wherein said suction cup comprises a cylindrical shape.
4. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 3 wherein said suction cup comprises a flexible material having pleated side walls.
5. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moveable element comprises a metallic blade and the sensor comprises a magnetically operated reed switch.
6. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 5, wherein one end of the metallic blade is adapted to make contact to an article to be retrieved, and an opposed end of the metallic blade is positioned adjacent an operative area of the reed switch, so that upon movement of the metallic blade due to contact with an article to be retrieved, the opposed end of the metallic blade moves within the operative area of the reed switch, thereby causing the generation of said electrical signal.