US4807108A
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US
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Product realization method
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1987-08-10
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Granted: 1989-02-21
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Expires: 2007-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A method for controlling a process of realizing a product. The method defines activities of the process, their precedence relationships and the flow of information among the interconnected activities required to create the product. Resources are allocated and the defined activities are scheduled to complete the process. The method monitors the allocated resources and outputs of the interconnected activities and controls the process by dynamically reconfiguring the activities in accordance with time-variant criterion and selectively modifying the activities in accordance with monitored outputs of the activities to maintain optimal design, fabrication and assembly of the product.
Inventors
- 👤 David Ben-Arieh
- 👤 Charles A. Fritsch
- 👤 Kostia Mandel
- 👤 Albert F. Starzinski
- 👤 Raghunath Venugopal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/41865; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/32; G05B2219/32019; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for managing a process of realizing a product comprising the steps of defining activities and information flow among interconnected ones of the activities, and controlling the process by monitoring each of the defined activities and deriving solutions in response to operation of the activities for dynamically reconfiguring the activities in accordance with user entered and time-varient criteria by selectively modifying the monitored activities to maintain continuous optimal design and manufacture of the product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for managing a process of realizing a product comprising the steps of defining activities and information flow among interconnected ones of the activities, and controlling the process by monitoring each of the defined activities and deriving solutions in response to operation of the activities for dynamically reconfiguring the activities in accordance with user entered and time-varient criteria by selectively modifying the monitored activities to maintain continuous optimal design and manufacture of the product.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for managing a process of realizing a product comprising the steps of defining the activities and information flow among interconnected ones of the activities, allocating resources to and scheduling the defined activities, monitoring the allocated resources and outputs of each of the interconnected activities, and controlling the process by deriving solutions in response to operation of the monitored activities and dynamically reconfiguring the activities in accordance with the derived solutions and with both user entered and time-variant criteria by selectively modifying the activities in accordance with the monitored activity outputs to maintain continuous optimal design and manufacture of the product.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for managing a process of realizing a product comprising the steps of defining the activities and information flow among interconnected ones of the activities, allocating resources to and scheduling the defined activities, monitoring the allocated resources and outputs of each of the interconnected activities, and controlling the process by deriving solutions in response to operation of the monitored activities and dynamically reconfiguring the activities in accordance with the derived solutions and with both user entered and time-variant criteria by selectively modifying the activities in accordance with the monitored activity outputs to maintain continuous optimal design and manufacture of the product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 2 wherein said defining step comprises the steps of generating data flows defining functions comprising each activity, and simulating operation of the generated data flows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 3 wherein said resource allocating and activity scheduling step comprises the steps of determining status of each activity, and estimating time required to perform each activity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 4 wherein said resource and output monitoring step comprises the step of receiving status of each activity and of the allocation of the resources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 5 wherein said controlling and modifying step comprises the steps of deriving solutions in response to operation of the activities for enabling reconfiguration of the process and assigning classification codes to each derived solution identifying resulting design and manufacture changes of the product, selecting ones of the derived solutions in accordance with the assigned classification codes, and modifying ones of the activities in accordance with the selected solution to maintain optimal design and manufacture of the product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 6 wherein said solution deriving step comprises the steps of detecting messages generated by each activity, generating causes of an activity failure upon detecting one of said messages identifying a failure occurring in an activity, identifying ones of the activities that may be sources of the one activity failure, listing ones of the activities that may be affected by said identified source activities, and checking for other ones of the activities that may be sources of said one activity failure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 7 wherein said solution selecting step comprises the steps of evaluating solutions for correcting said activities identified as possible sources of said one activity failure, classifying each of said evaluated solutions, choosing one of said evaluated solutions, and appraising classification of said chosen solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 8 wherein said activity modifying step comprises the steps of accepting said chosen solution, and reconfiguring said activities in accordance with said accepted solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 8 comprising the step of enabling a user terminal access to said product managing method.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The product realization method set forth in claim 10 wherein said solution selecting step comprises the step of changing criteria defining said classification codes at various user defined times.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for managing a process of realizing a product comprising the steps of: generating directed data flows defining activities interconnected in a precedence relationship to form the product realization process, simulating operation of the generated activity directed data flows, allocating resources to and scheduling the defined activities of each activity, determining status of each activity, estimating time required to perform each activity, receiving status of an initiation and completion of activities and of the allocation of the resources, deriving solutions in response to operation of the activities for enabling reconfiguration of the product realization process and assigning classification codes to each derived solution identifying resulting design and manufacture changes of the product, selecting ones of the derived solutions in accordance with the assigned classification codes, and modifying ones of the activities in accordance with the selected solutions to maintain optimal design and manufacture of the product.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for managing a process of realizing a product comprising the steps of: generating directed data flows defining activities interconnected in a precedence relationship to form the product realization process, simulating operation of the generated activity directed data flows, allocating resources to and scheduling the defined activities of each activity, determining status of each activity, estimating time required to perform each activity, receiving status of an initiation and completion of activities and of the allocation of the resources, deriving solutions in response to operation of the activities for enabling reconfiguration of the product realization process and assigning classification codes to each derived solution identifying resulting design and manufacture changes of the product, selecting ones of the derived solutions in accordance with the assigned classification codes, and modifying ones of the activities in accordance with the selected solutions to maintain optimal design and manufacture of the product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-21 | 1992-08-22 | 1993-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-21 | 1996-08-22 | 1997-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-21 | 2000-08-22 | 2001-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |