Implementing the CAM-I Application Interface Specification With UNIX Interprocess Communication

The CAM-I Application Interface Specification (AIS) allows applications to access a geometric modeler for model analysis using a standardized interface. This is accomplished by linking the source or object codes of the application and modeler together at compile time along with the AIS implementation for the modeler. This methodology requires at least the object code of both programs and results in a single, large executable program dedicated to the use of the specific application and modeler only. By using interprocess communication (IPC) with the AIS, the two programs can remain separate and be used with other modelers and applications rather than only with each other. The approach used in defining the AIS/IPC adaptation issues and developing and testing concepts to address those issues resulted in successfully implementing AIS using the messaging routines of IPC. This allowed an independent application to invoke and interface with an independent geometric modeler and perform analyses on representative models. The implications of the approach used and the implementation of AIS with IPC in engineering are broad. Using a modified form of the AIS/IPC, an application could theoretically interface with a modeler on a remote system far from the host.