Patent ID: 8060458
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of an engineering design, comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a plurality of knowledge components, wherein each knowledge component comprises one or more universal modules, each universal module comprising at least operations, procedures, rules and flows of a corresponding engineering design process, wherein each knowledge component is constructed to have: (b) defining a data relation and an execution relation of the plurality of knowledge components so as to correlate the plurality of the knowledge components to each other to form a design process model dynamically and concurrently with the design process without programming, wherein when defining the data relation of the plurality of knowledge components, a data mapping relation between the input and output ports of the plurality of knowledge components is automatically established, wherein the execution relation of the plurality of knowledge components comprises logical relations, data driving relations, time characteristics, message triggering mechanisms and any combination thereof, and wherein data of the design process model is automatically modifiable by a computer that is operatively associated with the plurality of knowledge components, in accordance with the rules adapted for defining the design process model; (c) integrating a variety of software platforms via an uniform environment so as to call the plurality of knowledge components of the design process model to perform an engineering design; and (d) packing two or more knowledge components and the data relation and the execution relation thereof into a parent knowledge component without programming, such that the output ports of the data interface and the control interface of any one but the last knowledge component are respectively connected to the input ports of the data interface and the control interface of the immediate next knowledge component, wherein the parent knowledge component comprises: wherein in operation, modifying the data of the design process model triggers the design process model to be partially or fully executed dynamically and concurrently with the design process, whereby both the definition and execution of the design process model occurs concurrently.