Patent ID: 7467122
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A product configuration design aiding system for aiding a configuration designing operation in which a plurality of basic items as to a specification of a product which constitutes a base of a design are defined as respective specification items, one or more specification values which are selectable for the respective specification item is previously set-up as a selectable option by a product designer, and where specification values are user-selectable by a product configuration designer for the respective specification items of a product in the design of a configuration within a range where the set specification value and a restriction condition are satisfied, so as to complete the product designing operation, comprising: a memory unit containing a specification configuration information database in which each data of a specification item, a specification value, a restriction condition and a product to which the restriction condition is applied is constituted in a list form, and the restriction condition is a limitation where one specific specification item and another specific specification item has a restriction relationship such that, in order that the one specific specification item has a specific value corresponding to the product to which the restriction condition is applied, then the another specific specification item must have a predetermined specific value; and specification managing means for holding and updating such a status that a configuration designer selects both a specification item and a specification value of a product to be designed; wherein: said specification managing means seeks a data record having a list form described in said specification configuration information database based upon both said specification item and said specification value which have already been selected, and defines other specification items and other specification values which are not user-selected and which can satisfy said restriction condition, as a candidate to be indicated to the configuration designer; and wherein: said product configuration design aiding system is further comprised of: screen producing means for producing a configuration designing screen which displays both said defined specification item and said defined specification value to the configuration designer, and prompts the configuration designer to select an available standard specification which can satisfy the restriction condition; where the memory unit further containing a specification selecting rule information database which records a rule for setting a default value or a specification value for a specification item in case that the configuration designer omits a selection, by the system, in correspondence with the specification time and the specification value; and automatic setting means for retrieving said specification selecting rule information database, and setting the specification value automatically in accordance with the corresponding default value or rule information, in case that the configuration designer omits selecting the specification value of the specification item, and the specification value is entrusted to the system on said configuration designing screen.