Processing data

Abstract

A method of processing data is provided, which includes a plurality of processes ( 1602 to 1605 ). A first process 1603 supplies data 1609 of a predetermined type 1901 to a second process 1602, wherein said second process 1602 stores type data 606 identifying the type of data it expects to receive from said first process 1603. Said second process is configured to modify its output 1606 with processing default data 607 if the data 1609 which is received from said first process 1603 differs from said stored data type 1901.

1 . A method of processing data including a plurality of data processing modules equipped with dependencies and a process thread, wherein 
 said process thread causes a first data processing module to supply data of a predetermined type to a second data processing module;    said process thread causes said second data processing module to access type data identifying the type of data it expects to receive from said first data processing module; and    said second data processing module is configured to modify its output data if the data which is received from said first data processing module differs from said accessed data type.    
     
     
         2 . A method of processing data according to  claim 1 , wherein said second data processing module modifies its output data with processing said stored default data if said stored actual data of said first data processing module cannot be processed at said second data processing module.  
     
     
         3 . A method of processing data according to  claim 2 , wherein the output data of each of said data processing modules comprises either processed actual data or processed default data or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A method of processing data according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second data processing modules stores said type data and default values thereof within a data type register.  
     
     
         5 . A method of processing data according to  claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second data processing modules accesses said data type register according to said dependencies by means of said process thread.  
     
     
         6 . A method of processing data according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second data processing modules stores actual data in said data type register by means of said process thread.  
     
     
         7 . A method of processing data according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective functionality of each of said data processing modules is invoked by means of a task processing sequence.  
     
     
         8 . A method of processing data according to  claim 7 , wherein said task processing sequence defines child and parent data processing modules, the output data of said parent data processing modules being dependent upon the output data of their respective children data processing modules.  
     
     
         9 . A method of processing data according to  claim 7 , wherein said sequence is processed by said process thread.  
     
     
         10 . A method of processing data according to  claim 9 , wherein said process thread defines a single processing pipeline to process said data processing modules.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus configured to process data, comprising display means configured to display a plurality of data processing modules equipped with dependencies, storage means configured to store said data processing modules equipped with dependencies and a process thread, and processing means configured by said process thread to perform the processing steps of: 
 at a first of said data processing modules, supplying data of a predetermined type to a second data processing module;    at said second data processing module, accessing type data identifying the type of data it expects to receive from said first data processing module; and    at said second data processing module, modifying its output data if the data which is received from said first data processing module differs from said accessed data type.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said data processing modules equipped with dependencies require initialisation.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein a data type register is generated and stored in said storage means as a result of the initialisation of a first of said data processing modules.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein for each of said first and second data processing modules, said processing means is further configured to store said type data and default values thereof within said data type register.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to claims  13 , wherein for each of said first and second data processing modules, said processing means is further configured by said process thread to access said data type register according to said dependencies.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to claims  13 , wherein for each of said first and second data processing modules, said processing means are further configured by said process thread to store actual data in said data type register.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said processing means are further configured by said process thread to modify the output data of said second data processing module with processing said stored default data if said stored actual data of said first data processing module cannot be processed at said second data processing module.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of data processing modules equipped with dependencies is displayed as a task processing sequence, preferably but not exclusively under the form of a process tree.  
     
     
         19 . A computer system programmed to process data, including a plurality of data processing modules equipped with dependencies and a process thread, programmed to perform the processing steps of: 
 at a first of said data processing modules, supplying data of a predetermined type to a second data processing module;    at said second data processing module, accessing type data identifying the type of data it expects to receive from said first data processing module; and    at said second data processing module, modifying its output data if the data which is received from said first data processing module differs from said accessed data type.    
     
     
         20 . A computer system programmed to process data according to  claim 19 , further programmed to perform the processing step of storing said type data and default values thereof within a data type register for each of said first and second data processing modules.  
     
     
         21 . A computer system programmed to process data according to  claim 20 , further programmed to perform the processing step of accessing said data type register according to said dependencies for each of said first and second data processing modules.  
     
     
         22 . A computer system programmed to process data according to  claim 20 , further programmed to perform the processing step of storing actual data in said data type register for each of said first and second data processing modules.  
     
     
         23 . A computer system programmed to process data according to claims  22 , further programmed to perform the processing step of modifying the output data of said second data processing module with processing said stored default data if said stored actual data of said first data processing module cannot be processed at said second data processing module.  
     
     
         24 . A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions executable by a computer, wherein said instructions configure said computer to perform the steps of: 
 at a first of a plurality of data processing modules equipped with dependencies, supplying data of a predetermined type to a second data processing module;    at said second data processing module, accessing type data identifying the type of data it expects to receive from said first data processing module; and    at said second data processing module, modifying its output data if the data which is received from said first data processing module differs from said accessed data type.    
     
     
         25 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 24 , having instructions executable by a computer, wherein said instructions further configure said computer to perform the steps of: 
 for each of said first and second data processing module, storing said type data and default values thereof within a data type register;    at each of said first and second data processing modules, accessing said data type register according to said dependencies;    at each of said first and second data processing modules, storing actual data in said data type register; and    modifying the output data of said second data processing module with processing said stored default data if said stored actual data of said first data processing module cannot be processed at said second data processing module.