Patent ID: 6944832

Claim:
A method for structuring knowledge to thereby facilitate designing large-scale systems wherein the design is comprised of a large plurality of distinct product views which distinct product views are comprised of a plurality of design elements that define at least some aspect of a function of at least one of a part and an assembly of parts, comprising: defining a plurality of part roles that each define a function of a part wherein at least some of the part roles each represent a plurality of common design elements as shared by a family of product artifacts and wherein each part role includes: a part role name that is at least partially a first generic description of corresponding design elements that are common with a family of the product artifacts; a role description comprising a short textual definition that corresponds to the part role; a type indicator that is a second generic description of the corresponding design elements, which second generic description is more generic than the first generic description; and a reference designator comprising an alphanumeric string unique to the corresponding part role; such that a resultant single source of product definition is substantially achieved.