Bill Of Material Patents (Class 700/107)
  • Patent number: 7047237
    Abstract: A parts management system used for parts management of part of an apparatus is composed of a database system including one or more databases, and a data check computer system. The database stores data on the parts, the data including an electronic parts list describes part numbers of the parts. The data check computer system checks whether the data stored in the at least one database complies with a predetermined rule and produces a warning in response to the check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Suzuki, Masataka Yamamoto, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7043324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of modelling a bill of materials for a configurable product in a managed supply chain and a modeller apparatus for modelling a bill of materials for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method comprises: storing data relating to the product, wherein the data includes at least one product characteristic specifying a plurality of component products of the product and an additional characteristic specifying a selection condition relating to the at least one product characteristic, combining the at least one product characteristic and the additional characteristic to generate a characteristic value combination, using the characteristic value combination to model the bill of materials, and using the bill of materials to control the supply of the product. The invention further relates to a computer system, a user terminal and a program storage device readable by a processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Christian Woehler
  • Patent number: 7035810
    Abstract: A feature centric method of and system for monitoring the development and release process of a product, monitoring the development and release of a product, where the product is characterized by having a plurality of features is described. The method steps, which the system is configured to carry out, include enumerating features to be included in the product, enumerating tasks, task milestones, and task milestone completions identified to the features; enumerating required task approvals and feature approvals and completed task approvals and feature approvals, and enumerating required associated activities and completed associated activities. The enumeration preferably includes information to show linkages, associations, priorities, milestones, and missed milestones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Robins
  • Patent number: 6983187
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and system for automatically generating selection conditions associated with component variants represented in a hierarchical node structure in a product configuration system. The selection conditions relate to a determination of when component variants are to be included in a configurable product. The method and system may involve receiving relationship information for component variants at a first node level of the node structure, and determining what combinations may be formed from the component variants based on the relationship information. The method and system may further involve forming assembly variants corresponding to the combinations, at a second node level higher than the first node level, and forming selection conditions corresponding to the assembly variants based on selection conditions corresponding to the component variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Kern
  • Patent number: 6973358
    Abstract: At a stage before manufacture (product design stage or manufacturing process design stage), influence of defect occurrence in a component or process on other components and processes is estimated, and defect importance is evaluated to support the manufacturing process design. Failure rates of components are previously stored in a database. At a product design stage, an assembly fraction defective is calculated for an assembly process of each component of the product. Component arrangement relations are extracted from product design information. A component fraction defective is calculated based on the assembly fraction defective and the component failure rate. A numerical value indicating an influence degree of each assembly process is calculated by multiplying component fraction defectives by coefficients based on of the component arrangement relations and the component fraction defective, for relating components in each assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Yamamoto, Tatsuya Suzuki, Takayuki Nishi, Toru Wakuta
  • Patent number: 6973362
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for evaluating the environmental impact of various chemical components as a function of their proposed functional use in a chemical product, methods for formulating products based on those evaluations, and databases for assisting in those methods. Consumer products can be environmentally improved using these methods. Environmental criteria are in part developed based on the nature of the ultimate use of the product, and usually vary for a given chemical between types of proposed uses. The environmental classes for components are adjusted by their weight representation in the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Long, Frederick H. Martin, John A. Weeks
  • Patent number: 6965807
    Abstract: An equipment application calculating apparatus comprising a product variation calculating section which determines a product variation table based on variations of a product and specification of each of the product variations, the product variation table correlating each of the product variations and equipments related to the specifications of the product variations, a part applyipg section which determines a part property table for each item from the product variation table based on combinations of selected ones of the equipments to be mounted on the item. The part property table correlates each of the combinations of the selected equipments and a part. The apparatus also comprises a part table calculating section which determines a part table for the item from the product variation table and the part property table to correlate each of the product variations and the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Mito, Hideyuki Tanaka, Naoaki Nonaka, Masataka Yamamoto, Masashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6954874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnosis method which permits continuous monitoring of the available resources in a production process, into which a number of supply links are incorporated in the form of a network and supply a system provider or other supply links with raw materials, semifinished products, components and services. Each supply link has an input buffer, an output buffer and a process stage, on the basis of the design of which the supply link determines an identification number which characterizes the operating state of this supply link. The predicted demands of the system provider and the current reserves in the buffers of each supply link are used as a basis to calculate—using the identification numbers of the supply links—for each supply link whether its reserves satisfy the predicted demands of the system provider, i.e. whether it is capable of supplying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Martin Daferner, Stefan Putzlocher
  • Patent number: 6917848
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for printed wiring boards divides printed wiring boards scheduled to be manufactured into non-fractional and fractional groups depending on the content of an order remainder list. The printed wiring boards categorized as non-fractional are panelized having the same shapes while the printed wiring boards categorized as fractional are grouped corresponding to manufacturing conditions thereof. Then, each group of the printed wiring boards are panelized with different shapes in a predetermined manufacturing block. Consequently, the generation of incidental products or the waste of material can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akitaka Nakayama, Akio Ikeda, Kiyoshi Hyodo, Kazuo Uchida
  • Patent number: 6917843
    Abstract: A system for mold production scheduling includes a mold production scheduling server (1), and terminal computers connected to the mold production scheduling server via a network (6). The terminal computers include a supply computer (2), a client computer (3), a maintaining computer (4), and a production line computer (5). The mold production scheduling server includes a basic data maintaining module (10) and a simulation analysis module (20). The basic data maintaining module is for adding, modifying, inquiring of and deleting various basic data. The simulation analysis module dynamically analyzes supply and demand, and generates scheduling results according to basic data provided by the basic data maintaining module. A related mold production scheduling method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pu-Yang Yeh, XuLiang Guo, Zhun Xiao
  • Patent number: 6889107
    Abstract: The specification discloses a support system for parts standardization, a method therefore, a computer program for executing the method and a recording medium storing the computer program capable of being read out by a computer. A support system for parts standardization for selecting standard parts from plural parts, which comprises: a first database storage for storing data representing attributes of the plural parts, a second database storage for storing standardization parameter data that can be criteria on judgment whether the plural parts are standard parts, a nearby range input device for preparing a nearby range data upon inputting of numerals corresponding to a parameter name, and a standard parts judging apparatus for judging whether the plural parts are standard parts, upon the databases, standardization parameter data and nearby range data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Yuda, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6876895
    Abstract: An order assembly production system comprises means for showing an order-entry screen to select a frame of a product to be manufactured and an essential unit, means for generating a main body model number based on items selected on the order-entry screen, means for creating a manufacturing parts list for each main body model number based on a product components list showing a list of units as the selectable essential units of each model and the items selected on the order-entry screen, and means for settling delivery time based on a production schedule formed every model and the manufacturing parts list of each main body model number and instructing to start production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiromi Seimiya, Yukio Kunieda, Tamotsu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6871108
    Abstract: Systems or methods for creating a finite element model from a list of component identifiers. For example, a CAD drawing could be automatically and dynamically created from a bill of material. Manufacturing instructions can be included into the model creation process. The bill of material need not specify the assembly being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignees: QSSolutions, Inc., Purna Global Infotech, Ltd.
    Inventors: Arthur C. Carlucci, Vankatesh Kanneganti, Thomas W. Kelly, Chad Van Geenhoven
  • Patent number: 6823226
    Abstract: A system and method of receiving orders, placing orders in an order matrix, determining potential production periods for an order, rescheduling orders, and generating a bill of materials. The method receives an order having one or more tokens out of a set of possible tokens. Each token is a combination of a characteristic and a value of the characteristic. The orders are placed in an order matrix. An order restriction matrix for the orders is generated based on certain selection conditions. The method then examines the restrictions that apply to the order and derives an order derived production restriction matrix for the order, which is evaluated to determine possible production periods for the order. The order matrix may also be used to generate a bill of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Achim Clemens, Thomas Kern
  • Patent number: 6819967
    Abstract: A system and method for reserving manufacturing capacity to satisfy a customer deliverable order for a product. The system and method uses a relational database tool adapted to receive said customer deliverable order; and a product manager tool operatively connected to said relational database tool, said product manager tool being adapted to obtain a block of part numbers from unallocated part numbers and to supply said block of part number to said relation database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald F. Ballas, Jeanne P. S. Bickford, Thomas R. Maheux, Paul G. McLaughlin, Donald L. Poulin
  • Publication number: 20040193299
    Abstract: A system for mold production scheduling includes a mold production scheduling server (1), and terminal computers connected to the mold production scheduling server via a network (6). The terminal computers include a supply computer (2), a client computer (3), a maintaining computer (4), and a production line computer (5). The mold production scheduling server includes a basic data maintaining module (10) and a simulation analysis module (20). The basic data maintaining module is for adding, modifying, inquiring of and deleting various basic data. The simulation analysis module dynamically analyzes supply and demand, and generates scheduling results according to basic data provided by the basic data maintaining module. A related mold production scheduling method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Pu-Yang Yeh, XuLiang Guo, Zhun Xiao
  • Patent number: 6785582
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated tracking system and method for providing a company and its customers with information about part and repair status. The tracking system broadly comprises a central processing unit for receiving data about a plurality of parts to be tracked. The central processing unit includes a staging table module for receiving and gathering the inputted data, a master table module for receiving the inputted data from the staging table module and for analyzing, organizing, and standardizing the inputted parts data, and a temporary table module for aggregating transactional records about the parts, which transactional records contain performance metrics on the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Juan A. Araujo
  • Publication number: 20040162627
    Abstract: A method and a system are adapted for easily finding out parts having compatibility to desired parts. The system stores product construction and classification of parts for reading out product construction data and displaying a list of parts forming a product or a partial assembly input by an operator, and reading out information relating to classification of the parts, displaying tree form according to hierarchy of classification and displaying a list of parts of the same classification of as designated parts or partial assembly by displaying tree form in hierarchy of classification. A display data including a switching command for switching to a part classification display screen image including individual parts together with the list of parts is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minami, Tomotoshi Ishida, Shinya Yuda
  • Patent number: 6772103
    Abstract: A method for selecting a parts kit detail for the installation of a pressure transducer on a container such as a pipeline or a vessel, the container for containing a fluid material, the method including two steps. The first step is to establish at least two different installation categories, each such different installation category being defined by the properties of the fluid material. The second step is to establish at least two different parts kit details, at least two of such different parts kit details being applicable to the different installation categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: David W. King
  • Patent number: 6701201
    Abstract: A method and system for efficient allocation of limited manufacturing resources over time to meet customer demand. At the enterprise planning level this typically requires determination of a feasible production schedule for an extended supply chain. The method and system utilizes a new and unique type of systematic decomposition based on both product and process considerations. This approach simultaneously reduces the model size (and therefore computation time) and increases modeling flexibility from strictly linear programming based decision making to include more general nonlinear programming characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjay R. Hegde, Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell, Mahesh C. Pati, Shivakumar P. Patil
  • Patent number: 6687557
    Abstract: This invention is related to electronic product description transfer between a trading partner that designs a product and a trading partner that manufactures the product and more particularly to the organization and use of a catalog of component information used in the generation of process documents and programs to adapt an assembly process to assemble the product as specified in the electronic product description. In the present invention, a consolidated component catalog provides the information for a component used in the assembly of a product in two sections: an assembly process independent section and an assembly process dependent section. The assembly process independent information is used to correct and validate the product description information. The assembly process dependent information is used to generate the programs and documents to adapt an assembly process to assemble the product described in the product description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Norman Ken Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20040019604
    Abstract: A system and method for reserving manufacturing capacity to satisfy a customer deliverable order for a product. The system and method uses a relational database tool adapted to receive said customer deliverable order; and a product manager tool operatively connected to said relational database tool, said product manager tool being adapted to obtain a block of part numbers from unallocated part numbers and to supply said block of part number to said relation database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald F. Ballas, Jeanne P.S. Bickford, Thomas R. Maheux, Paul G. McLaughlin, Donald L. Poulin
  • Patent number: 6681141
    Abstract: A method and structure for using a materials requirements planning (MRP) tool is disclosed. The invention runs a simulation using a MRP tool for at least one preselected component to produce simulated order levels for a preselected component. The invention then identifies deviations of the simulated order levels from the historical order levels for the preselected component. Next, the invention analyzes the MRP tool to determine whether the deviations are appropriate or are errors. The invention corrects the MRP tool to correct for errors and runs the MRP tool after correcting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony V. Ferreri, Barun Gupta, George W. Reiche
  • Patent number: 6650954
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for facilitating a preferred parts plan for an enterprise over a computer network utilizing a parts review process tool. The method comprises: receiving a bill of material from a client system that includes a non-preferred part; storing the bill of material in a bill of material review database; periodically searching and extracting non-preferred parts records from the bill of material review database; importing the non-preferred parts records into a deviation database; evaluating risk factors associated with non-preferred parts usage; developing an action plan to mitigate risks in using the non-preferred parts; developing a preferred parts strategy for use in minimizing requests to use non-preferred parts; and communicating the preferred parts strategy over a computer network to enterprise client systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Zulpa, William H. Cochran, Karen J. Gilsdorf, Gary A. Tressler
  • Publication number: 20030187534
    Abstract: A part management system used for part management of parts of an apparatus. The part management system is composed of a database system including one or more databases, and a data check computer system. The databases stores data on the parts, the data including an electronic parts list describing part numbers of the parts. The data check computer system checks whether the data stored in the at least one database complies with a predetermined rule and to produce a warning in response to the check.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Suzuki, Masataka Yamamoto, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6584370
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling sequential capacity allocation through modification of traditional low level codes (LLC). The method and system of the present invention employs a systematic set of decision rules for interactively adjusting LLCs so that they are consistent with interdependencies of resources among parts due to resource sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian T. Denton, Sanjay R. Hegde, Robert A. Orzell
  • Publication number: 20030114949
    Abstract: Diagnostic data, such as a time increment corresponding to how long a thread waits to access a shared resource, is stored within a predetermined location in a data structure, such as a hash bucket in a hash table. The location is preferably correlated to the resource such that a display of the diagnostic data may be tailored to reflect a user-specified relationship between the data and resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Joseph Armstrong, Ryan Harvey Bishop, Michael Brian Brutman, Chris Francois, Richard Karl Kirkman, Jay Paul Kurtz, Henry Joseph May, Naresh Nayar, Dennis A. Towne
  • Publication number: 20030065415
    Abstract: A method and system for efficient allocation of limited manufacturing resources over time to meet customer demand. At the enterprise planning level this typically requires determination of a feasible production schedule for an extended supply chain. The method and system utilizes a new and unique type of systematic decomposition based on both product and process considerations. This approach simultaneously reduces the model size (and therefore computation time) and increases modeling flexibility from strictly linear programming based decision making to include more general nonlinear programming characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjay R. Hegde, Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell, Mahesh C. Pati, Shivakumar P. Patil
  • Publication number: 20030004595
    Abstract: An order assembly production system comprises means for showing an order-entry screen to select a frame of a product to be manufactured and an essential unit, means for generating a main body model number based on items selected on the order-entry screen, means for creating a manufacturing parts list for each main body model number based on a product components list showing a list of units as the selectable essential units of each model and the items selected on the order-entry screen, and means for settling delivery time based on a production schedule formed every model and the manufacturing parts list of each main body model number and instructing to start production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiromi Seimiya, Yukio Kunieda, Tamotsu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030004597
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for facilitating a preferred parts plan for an enterprise over a computer network utilizing a parts review process tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Zulpa, William H. Cochran, Karen J. Gilsdorf, Gary A. Tressler
  • Publication number: 20020198619
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling sequential capacity allocation through modification of traditional low level codes (LLC). The method and system of the present invention employs a systematic set of decision rules for interactively adjusting LLCs so that they are consistent with interdependencies of resources among parts due to resource sharing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Brian T. Denton, Sanjay R. Hegde, Robert A. Orzell
  • Patent number: 6470228
    Abstract: A material management system and method (10) includes a data storage device (20) containing order information (24) for a product, product information (26) for a product, work center information (28) for fabricating the product, and inventory information (30) for fabricating the product. The system (10) also includes a processor (12) coupled to the data storage device (20). The system (10) further includes a nesting application (22) operable for execution by the processor (12). The nesting application (22) is operable to determine a fabrication nest for the product using the order information (24), the product information (26), the work center information (28), or the inventory information (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg A. Turner, Douglas K. Wolfe, Patrick S. Porowski, William Bruce Webster
  • Publication number: 20020107601
    Abstract: A method of providing dynamic production material replenishment information via an internet includes the steps of tracking real-time usage of material used for a product, maintaining the tracked real-time material usage within a computer database on a local computer network and replicating the tracked real-time material usage on a global business network in communication with the local communication network. The method also includes the steps of providing a user internet access to a material usage information web site, identifying if a user has permission to access the material usage information web site and selecting a predetermined attribute of the tracked real-time material usage by the user. The method further includes the steps of providing the tracked real-time material usage on the material usage information web site based on the selected attributes and using the tracked real-time material usage by the user in replenishing the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Mike Robert Burnard, Lawton Chen, Richard Thomas DeMuro
  • Patent number: 6412031
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing several applications to share a single video overlay resource via multiplexing are disclosed. The multiplexing is accomplished from the application end through a multiplexing abstraction layer provided to the developers of end applications as an application program interface. Through the application program interface, each application may, at any time, request, release, or modify the attributes of the video overlay device such as picture quality, tuning, source, etc. The application program interface provides all basic functionality of the hardware as accessible through other means including normal operating system support and device driver services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon A. Grooters
  • Publication number: 20020052666
    Abstract: An environmental information system arranged to effectively provide environmental information. The information system has a product constitution information storage section for storing product constitution information including information on parts and/or raw materials constituting each of products, an environmental information storage section for storing environmental information about each product, the parts and/or the raw materials, and an integrated environmental information forming subsystem for forming integrated environmental information with respect to each product on the basis of the product constitution information and the environmental information. The formation system provides a user with environmental information about the products according to information on user's attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fukatsu, Fusayoshi Kondo, Masao Ueki
  • Patent number: 6345281
    Abstract: A recovery method for a resource management system having a message handler for communicating orders from a plurality of disparate hosts to an order processing system for assignment to remote resources includes shutting down the order processing system and the message handler. A restored order processing system is generated by replacing a current version of the order processing system with a previously saved version. The restored order processing system is restarted, as is the message handler. Each order in the restored processing system is set to pending. Orders in the restored order processing system that were closed subsequent to a time of the previously saved version are identified and deleted from the restored order processing system. Orders in the message handler that were transmitted from the message handler to the order processing system subsequent to the time of the previously saved version are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher P. Kardos, Bin Xiong, Russell A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 6343285
    Abstract: An estimation and designing supporting apparatus has a component model's cost database which is used for calculating costs from the types and sizes of components, and a 3D-CAD assembly model database which is used for drawing three dimensional external appearance based on the types and sizes of the components and so on. The apparatus is installed with an estimation and designing supporting program for, when a specification is inputted, determining the types and sizes of components required for manufacturing an installation meeting a specification and calculating the external appearance plan to be displayed and the costs of the apparatus using each database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Tanaka, Tadahide Fujita
  • Patent number: 6272389
    Abstract: A method suitable for producing a production plan that is feasible with respect to capacity availability. The method includes the steps of reading an end product demand and capacity availability information; selecting a specific demand derived from the end product demand and comprising an end product, a time period, and a quantity; determining whether the quantity can be produced in the time periods using the available capacity and surplus capacity from earlier periods; and, recording the amount of capacity used in each time period to produce this quantity; thereby enabling realization of end product demand when an imbalance of demand and capacity exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Brenda Lynn Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6256549
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computerized database comprising a first table representing a list of part numbers. The database provides computerized links between individual part numbers and associated manufacturing process data for different process steps for that part number. Rather than correlate data by hand, a user may click on a process step for a particular part number to instantly and accurately retrieve that data. Manufacturing process data may include, for example, backgrind process data, wire binding data, either in numerical or graphical form, testing parameters, packaging data, and labeling data. The database system of the present invention may be used to automatically program various process equipment in an assembly facility with appropriate process data to automatically process finished semiconductor wafers into packaged semiconductor circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernadette P. Romero, Carl H. Fong
  • Patent number: 6223094
    Abstract: A computer based system is provided that is capable of displaying component and process structures for configurable product classes stored in a data structure. Product classes in the data structure are represented by product nodes. Components, which are abstractions of concrete items used in the product, are represented by component nodes. Component nodes are mapped to each product class with which the component is associated, and are associated with one or more component variants, which are concrete items used in the manufacture of a particular product variant. Process nodes, which are abstractions of actual steps required to produce a product variant, known as process variants, are represented by process nodes. The computer based system can display several alternative views of the data structure. For example, upon receiving a selection for a particular product class, the computer based system converts and can graphically display all component and process nodes associated with that product class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Muehleck, Adam Polly
  • Patent number: 6163732
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products determine compliance of a chemical product to be manufactured to government regulations that govern the manufactured product. According to the invention, the chemical compositions that are present in the chemical product to be manufactured are ascertained. The chemical compositions so ascertained are compared to a stored set of government regulatory standards related to the chemical compositions to determine compliance. Accordingly, compliance with complex government regulations governing chemical products can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Frederick David Petke, D. Russell Hickman, William D. Graham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6122560
    Abstract: A method or device for computing material requirements which calculates various parts and materials necessary for products to be produced when a production plan is input, in order to reduce the processing time for a material requirements computation. In order to establish the object, the method or device of computing material requirements is provided, which can perform a parallel process without using conventional low level codes. Parts computing means are respectively assigned to items. When the lower parts computing means receives the computation result of the upper parts computing means, it independently executes the computing process if the computation result is sufficient for the parts computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsukishima, Hideaki Matoba, Mitsuhiro Enomoto, Mitsuharu Hayakawa, Masahiro Sato, Tetsushi Tomizawa, Yoshinao Arai
  • Patent number: 6088625
    Abstract: A method and system for transferring assembly data between a computer aided design computer system and a manufacturing computer system are provided. The system includes (1) first networking circuitry in the computer aided design computer system, (2) second networking circuitry in the manufacturing computer system and (3) communication circuitry for transferring assembly data from the first networking circuitry to the second networking circuitry. An execution of an interface application residing in the computer aided design computer system causes the communication circuitry to perform the transfer of the assembly data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Gary E. Kellstrom, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6064982
    Abstract: A tool for smart system configuration assists in needs assessment, product/options selection, pricing, and distribution. The tool recommends a system configuration that most nearly meets a customer's needs, based upon the results of an interactive customer product selection session in which the customer progresses through a dialog that is implemented in a series of cascading style sheets. The tool is customizable to meet customer-specific requirements. A proposal template is provided to collect customer input and merge customer responses during the product selection session into fields within a proposal template. The tool is written in client-side JavaScript and Dynamic HTML. Product pricing information provided by the tool is readily updated, for example using push technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Netscape Communication Corporation
    Inventor: Deepak Puri
  • Patent number: 6041267
    Abstract: A computer implemented decision support tool serves as a vehicle to enable a user to execute within a common work environment, from common production information files, and at the discretion of the user one of three types of matching between existing assets and demands across multiple manufacturing facilities within boundaries established by manufacturing specifications and process flows and business policies. The tool provides an environment which permits the user to easily gain the advantages of a synergistic relationship between the three types of matching. The tool directly supports three types of matching: (1) material requirements planning (MRP) type of matching, (2) best can do (BCD) type of matching, and (3) projected supply planning (PSP) type of matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Geetaram S. Dangat, Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell
  • Patent number: 6041268
    Abstract: In a programmed computer system with a display device for preparing a working plan for inserting a plurality of materials into a printed circuit board, a method for transforming an original bill-of-material made by a material supplier into a standard bill-of-material is disclosed. In the method, the original bill-of-material is stored in a first storage area of the programmed computer system, and then field configuration information of the original bill-of-material is registered. Next, a bill-of-material transforming command is inputted, and then in response to the bill-of-material transforming command, material information of the original bill-of-material stored in the first storage area is transformed into the standard bill-of-material. Finally, the transformed material information is stored in a second storage area assigned as a standard bill-of-material area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hun Jin
  • Patent number: 6037945
    Abstract: A method and system for modeling rooms or chambers in a structure for intuitive and accurate estimation of process parameters (e.g., material and labor costs for performing the process) associated with the rooms. A graphical user interface to an estimation program enables an estimator to insert a model of a room and thereafter morph and mold the model to approximate the room undergoing estimation. The model is represented as a polyhedron having a plurality of planes that may be assigned attributes such as floors, walls and ceilings. During the morphing process, the modified and other affected planes of the polyhedron are continually revised to maintain the integrity of the closed volume represented by the polyhedron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Xactware, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Loveland