Shared repository of simulation models

Abstract

A system simulates a process entity. Software instructions stored on a memory device and executable by a processor create a plurality of entity type objects that generically represents a type of process entity. Instructions store the plurality of entity type objects in a shared repository. Additionally, instructions enable a plurality of users to access the plurality of entity type objects in the shared repository simultaneously.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for simulating a process entity comprising:
 a processor;   a memory device coupled to the processor;   software instructions stored on the memory device and executable by the processor, said instructions comprising:
 instructions for creating a plurality of entity type objects, said entity type objects generically representing a type of process entity; 
 instructions for storing the plurality of entity type objects in a shared repository; and 
 instructions for enabling a plurality of users to access the plurality of entity type objects in the shared repository simultaneously. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the users are enabled to access the entity type objects from a plurality of locations. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for storing changes made to the entity type objects by any of the plurality of users in the shared repository for use by another of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein storing the plurality of entity type objects comprises importing an externally created entity type object into the shared repository. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for storing simulations in the shared repository, said simulations comprising flowsheets and instances of a plurality of entity type objects. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising instructions for saving a snapshot of a simulation stored in the shared repository, said snapshot representing an archive of a simulation. 
     
     
         7 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, perform a method of simulating a process entity comprising:
 creating a plurality of entity type objects, said entity type objects generically representing a type of process entity;   storing the plurality of entity type objects in a shared repository; and   enabling a plurality of users to access the plurality of entity type objects in the shared repository simultaneously.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the users are enabled to access the entity type objects from a plurality of locations. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises storing changes made to the entity type objects by any of the plurality of users in the shared repository for use by another of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein storing the plurality of entity type objects comprises importing an externally created entity type object into the shared repository. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable media of  claim 7 , further comprising storing simulations in the shared repository, said simulations comprising flowsheets and instances of a plurality of entity type objects. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises saving a snapshot of a simulation stored in the shared repository, said snapshot representing an archive of a simulation. 
     
     
         13 . A processor executable method of simulating a process entity comprising:
 creating a plurality of entity type objects, said entity type objects generically representing a type of process entity;   storing the plurality of entity type objects in a shared repository; and   enabling a plurality of users to access the plurality of entity type objects in the shared repository simultaneously.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the users are enabled to access the entity type objects from a plurality of locations. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing changes made to the entity type objects by any of the plurality of users in the shared repository for use by another of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein storing the plurality of entity type objects comprises importing an externally created entity type object into the shared repository. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing simulations in the shared repository, said simulations comprising flowsheets and instances of a plurality of entity type objects. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising saving a snapshot of a simulation stored in the shared repository, said snapshot representing an archive of a simulation.