Patent ID: 6223094
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A computer based system for displaying components and processes associated with configurable product classes, comprising a display, a memory, a central processor and a user interface, wherein said memory has a data structure, said data structure comprises:a) a product layer comprising at least one product, wherein each product is represented by a product class;b) a node structure layer comprisingat least one component node, wherein each of said at least one component node represents a component, and wherein said each of said at least one component node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in which said component is used, andat least one process node, wherein each of said at. least one process node represents a process, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in whose manufacture said process is used, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is also linked to the respective one of said at least one component node representing a component used in said process represented by said each of said at least one process node;c) a variant layer comprisingat least one component variant, wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with one of said at least one component node, and wherein said each of said at least one component variant represents a concrete item that is used in a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one component node associated with said each of said at least one component variant is linked;at least one process variant, wherein each of said at least one process variant is associated with one of said at least one process node, and wherein said each of said at least one process variant represents actual production steps used in the manufacture of a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one process node associated with said each of said at least one process variant is linked;d) an application view layer comprisingat least one application view node, wherein each of said at least one application view node is linked to a product class, and wherein said each of said at least one application view node comprises at least one ofa collection of all component nodes that are linked to the product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked, anda collection of all process nodes that are linked to said product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked; andwherein said user interface is used to receive a selection of one of said at least one application view node, and wherein said central processor converts said selected application view node into a graphical representation for visual display on said display.