Tight Integration and Synchronization of Distributed Graphical Applications
Abstract Most engineering tasks are highly data intensive coping with the increasing complexity of systems. Gigabytes of heterogeneous engineering data have to be managed consistently by a huge array of tools. This necessitates sophisticated integration techniques based on a common database management system in order to decrease the amount of data that have to be exchanged between these tools. In this paper we present a new approach to distributed design frameworks, integrating graphical as well as text processing tools. Tools may online share the same graphical and logical data synchronized by the event mechanism of an object management system. The synchronization concept is based on a tight integration into an object-oriented object management system and provides means to keep the graphical views of multiple agents consistent. We outline these concepts by the example of an integrated EXPRESS modeling workbench.