A method of configuring a complex composite product from a partial composite product and an enumeration of unsatisfied requirements of the complex composite product. Said complex composite product being subject to rules, comprising the steps of ordering the enumeration of unsatifsied requirements, choosing an item in the ordered list of unsatisfied requirements, determining if there is a list of subordinate list of unsatisfied requirements, if no subordinate lists of unsatisfied requirements exists, matching components currently unsatisfied requirement to create a list of components, ordering the list of components, changing the quantity of components ordered to satisfy the unsatisfied requirement for the component, and returning to step of ordering the enumeration of unsatisfied requirements if there are remaining unsatisfied requirements.

Method, and system for product configuration

The present invention employs a generative approach for configuring systems such that a system may be configured based on component or resource requests, or input in the form of need. The present invention provides a constraint-based configuration system using a structural model hierarchy. The structural aspects of the model provide the ability to define a model element as being contained in, or by, another model element. In addition, the structural model provides the ability to identify logical datatype and physical interconnections between elements and establish connections between elements. To configure a system, the present invention accepts input in the form of requests (e.g., component or resource) or needs, such as an expression of a need for a desktop computer system to be used in a CAD (i.e., computer-aided design) environment. Using this information, the present invention configures a system by identifying the resource and component needs, constraints imposed on or by the resources or components identified, and the structural aspects of the system.

Method and apparatus for configuring systems

An intelligent product catalog system provides for electronic creation, management and viewing of product information using a multimedia display system. A central database repository stores the product information and provides for an unlimited number of product attributes and dynamic reconfiguration of the product information. The central database repository comprises a meta data system, a scheme system and an object model system. A plurality of applications access the central database repository, the applications being automatically adaptive to the dynamic reconfiguration of the product information. A user interface provides display, sorting and filtering of the product information including the unlimited number of product attributes.

Intelligent multimedia e-catalog

A computer implemented method of generating a user product configuration program module from a development environment. The user product configuration program module includes user controls that allow user input of information for use in configuration computations. Methods are disclosed for creating and maintaining the logic for a configuration program module in the form of configuration parameters; creating and maintaining the visual controls and user interface; and linking created visual controls with underlying structure represented by the parameters. Parameters assume values and are indicated as valid or invalid through operation of constraints and queries. Further methods include display of parameter creation and selection windows, and query creation and selection windows for creating SQL queries to access data in external tables. Parameters, queries, and constraints can be displayed in expandable and collapsible hierarchies, and quickly utilized in formulas, queries, and logical expressions by clicking in an expanded hierarchical display. Dependencies occurring in the underlying configuration logic are evaluated in both the forward and reverse direction so as to provide for very fast execution of the resultant configuration program module when a user provides new data via a user control.

Methods and systems for user interfaces and constraint handling in configuration software

A system and method for design, tracking, measurement, prediction and optimization of data communications networks includes a site specific model of the physical environment, and performs a wide variety of different calculations for predicting network performance using a combination of prediction modes and measurement data based on the components used in the communications networks, the physical environment, and radio propagation characteristics.

System and method for design, tracking, measurement, prediction and optimization of data communication networks

The invention creates a number of End Item Configuration lists, each End Item Configuration list including a listing of those custom components and variations of standard components which are utilized for a selected configuration of a complex product. A basic bill of materials is also created including a listing of those standard components utilized for all configurations of the complex product. Thereafter, a relationship is established between a particular End Item Configuration list and a customer contract for the manufacture of a selected configuration of a complex product. Based upon the established relationship, a selected one of the End Item Configuration lists is retrieved and combined with a basic bill of materials to create a complete bill of material utilizing both the End Item Configuration list and the basic bill of materials, which may then be utilized in the manufacture of a particular configuration of a complex product. A unique End Item Configuration identifier is established for each configuration of the complex product and is then utilized to maintain an engineering change history associated with each unique End Item Configuration independent of engineering change histories associated with other configurations for the complex product. In this manner, the configuration data utilized to create a bill of material explosion may be stored in a nonredundant manner independently of the configuration which utilizes that data. In this manner, the End Item Configuration list feature may be added to existing bill of material systems without requiring a redesign of such systems.

Method and system for product configuration management in a computer based manufacturing system

In an Object Oriented Programming System, a Communications Interface Packet (CIP) enables processing in either a remote system or in a batch environment. A CIP is an object in an Object Oriented Programming System, and like any other object, the CIP object contains data or attributes surrounded by or encapsulated by methods or actions for those data or attributes. Unique to a CIP, however, are attributes which contain an action, an object and parameters. An Application Programming Interface (API) method enables remote processing. An IPA method, which is the reverse of the API method, creates the CIP object which is to be executed in a remote or batch system through the application programming interface. After a CIP object has been created, it must be flattened or formatted prior to submission to the batch system or prior to sending the CIP object to a remote system. Flattening or formatting puts the CIP object into a flat sequential file known as a product data interface (PDIF) file for use by either the remote or batch system. The PDIF file includes three major sections known as the administrative header section, the data dictionary section, and the object data section.

Remote and batch processing in an object oriented programming system

A method and system in a data processing system for the establishment of relationships between reference objects in an object oriented environment and an associated data object residing outside an object oriented environment. A data object within an application outside an object oriented environment is identified. Multiple reference objects within an oriented environment are then established. Each reference object has a unique identifier and is associated with one of multiple users. Each reference object is associated with the identified data object so that multiple users may concurrently access the data object utilizing an associated reference object. The associated data object may then be modified in response to a modification of any reference object. Similarly, the reference objects may be modified in response to a modification of the associated data object.

Method and system in a data processing system for the enhancement of relationships between reference objects in an object oriented environment and a data object outside an object oriented environment

April D. E. Stiles

Papers

Method and system for product configuration management in a computer based manufacturing system

Remote and batch processing in an object oriented programming system

Method and system in a data processing system for the enhancement of relationships between reference objects in an object oriented environment and a data object outside an object oriented environment

Traitement par lots et à distance dans un système de programmation objet orienté

Fern- und Stapelverarbeitung in einem objektorientierten Programmiersystem