Patent ID: 6249714
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: G05B,G06F,G06Q,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A virtual design module for a computer having a graphical user interface connected to a distributed network by a software bus, the module comprising:client services means for establishing communications with remotely located database modules across the software bus;module services means for controlling communications with the remotely located database modules across the software bus;at least one virtual design object comprising:agent means for generating a product design, generating queries for the remotely located database modules to obtain real-time manufacturing resource data and parts and supplier data for each component of the product design, and evaluating the manufacturing resource data and parts and supplier data in near real-time and using a genetic algorithm to produce an optimized product design based on a pre-determined set of optimization rules; anddisplay means for displaying the optimized product design to a user on the graphical user interface.