Patent ID: 8589125
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A product design support system comprising a computer system having an input device for data input operation, an output device for data display and printout, a data hold device having a program hold unit for holding a program library and a data storage unit for holding data, and a computer main body for getting data inputted with the input device and data held in the data hold device, invoking a necessary program from the program library held in the data hold device, and executing the invoked program, the system further includes: a parameter set and register unit to receive a plurality of design target values necessary for designing a design object, a plurality of design parameters and a plurality of set ranges each for the respective design parameters of the design object inputted with the input device and register the design target values, the design parameters and the set ranges of design parameters into the data hold device; a prototype simulation execution unit to invoke a simulation program for prototyping the design object from the data hold device, define respective design points for each of the design parameters within the respective set ranges of design parameters, get a large predetermined number of combinations of the design points, and execute the simulation program for prototyping plural times by using the large predetermined number of combinations of the design points in order to produce a large predetermined number of virtual prototypes that each of which can achieve the design target values, and register the large predetermined number of virtual prototypes as a group of design solutions into the data hold unit; an evaluation index operation unit to invoke and execute an evaluation index operation program from the data hold device for the design object, compute evaluation values for evaluation for each of the large predetermined number of virtual prototypes in the group of design solutions, and register the evaluation values of the evaluation indexes with the large predetermined number of virtual prototypes in the data hold unit, respectively; a filtering unit to receive an operation command that specifies plural kinds of evaluation index limit values, invoke and execute a filtering program from the data hold device to extract a virtual prototype group as a maximum likelihood design solution candidate group out of the design solution group in the data hold device, each virtual prototype in the virtual prototype group satisfies the specified plural kinds of evaluation index limit values, and register the maximum likelihood design solution candidate group into the data hold device; a parameter comprehension level register unit to display on the output device a setting screen for setting user's comprehension levels about the design parameters to be used by the simulation program for prototyping, receive the user's comprehension levels set and inputted on the setting screen, and register the inputted user's comprehension levels into a risk database held in the data hold device; a parameter influence level register unit to display on the output device a setting screen for setting influence levels of ambiguity in the design parameters to be used by the simulation program for prototyping on design solutions of the design object, receive the influence levels on design solutions of the design object set and inputted on the setting screen, and register the inputted influence levels into the risk database held in the data hold device: a risk level operation unit to compute risk levels of design solutions of the design object with the use of the user's comprehension level and influence level of each design parameter; and a risk database management unit to make a list of names of the design parameters, the set and registered user's comprehension levels and the influence levels on design solutions of the design object, and the computed risk levels and output and display the list on the output device.