US6055541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic report generating system
Assignee: Ansys Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-19
•
Granted: 2000-04-25
•
Expires: 2017-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A system for automatically generating a report from engineering data stored in a database is comprised of a user computer having a browser for requesting an HTML file. A web server generates the requested HTML based on Active Server Pages technology. The ASP file includes script for instantiating a component. The component, a dynamic link library, includes an automation hierarchy. The ASP page includes script for actively generating the report through interaction with the instantiated objects. The HTTP protocol connects the user computer and the web server.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph S. Solecki
- 👤 Thomas Shadle
- 👤 Vince Pajerski
- 👤 Chris Hawkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9558; G06F30/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of generating a report from engineering data representing attributes of physical objects, comprising the steps of automatically: identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of generating a report from engineering data representing attributes of physical objects, comprising the steps of automatically: identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said engineering data is generated using a CAD/CAE program, and wherein objects are stored in the database in a manner that mimics a hierarchy for the objects established by the CAD/CAE program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of initially copying at least a portion of the database into a second database, and wherein the remaining steps of the method are carried out on the second data base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of applying a set of interpretive rules includes the step of applying an artificial intelligence rule set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of applying a set of interpretive rules includes the step of applying an expert system rule set.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of automatically generating a report from a database containing engineering data representing attributes of physical objects, comprising the steps of: requesting a file from a server; accessing the requested file; instantiating a component through a script in said file using said component to read attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; applying a set of interpretive rules to said attributes, said interpretive rules representing a native link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of automatically generating a report from a database containing engineering data representing attributes of physical objects, comprising the steps of: requesting a file from a server; accessing the requested file; instantiating a component through a script in said file using said component to read attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; applying a set of interpretive rules to said attributes, said interpretive rules representing a native link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 6 additionally comprising the step of initially copying at least a portion of said database into a second database after said accessing step, and wherein the remaining steps of said method are carried out with respect to said second database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said engineering data is generated using a CAD/CAE program, and wherein objects are stored in the database in a manner that mimics a hierarchy for the objects established by the CAD/CAE program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of requesting a file includes the step of requesting an HTML file locally with respect to said server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of requesting a file includes the step of requesting an HTML file remotely with respect to said server through a system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said generating step includes the step of generating a report in HTML.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said generating step includes the step of generating a report in VRML.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of generating a report from a database containing engineering data representing attributes of physical objects in response to a request for a file, comprising the steps of automatically: accessing a requested file; creating a software process through a script in said requested file, said software process: identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a native link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of generating a report from a database containing engineering data representing attributes of physical objects in response to a request for a file, comprising the steps of automatically: accessing a requested file; creating a software process through a script in said requested file, said software process: identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a native link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 13 additionally comprising the step of initially copying at least a portion of said database into a second database after said accessing step, and wherein the remaining steps of said method are carried out with respect to said second database.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said engineering data is generated using a CAD/CAE program, and wherein objects are stored in the database in a manner that mimics a hierarchy for the objects established by the CAD/CAE program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said generating step includes the step of generating a report in HTML.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said generating step includes the step of generating a report in VRML.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of generating a report from engineering data representing physical objects, comprising the steps of automatically: instantiating a component; using said component to instantiate objects based on engineering data about said objects found in the database; and generating a natural language report based on the instantiated objects according to a set of interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of generating a report from engineering data representing physical objects, comprising the steps of automatically: instantiating a component; using said component to instantiate objects based on engineering data about said objects found in the database; and generating a natural language report based on the instantiated objects according to a set of interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step of instantiating a component includes the step of instantiating a DLL.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said step of instantiating objects includes the step of instantiating a second DLL.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18 additionally comprising the step of initially copying at least a portion of the database into a second database, and wherein the steps of the method are carried out on the second database.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for automatically generating a report from engineering data representing attributes of physical objects, comprising: means for identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; means for creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; means for applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language text, and for automatically generating a report based on the application of the set of interpretive rules.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for automatically generating a report from engineering data representing attributes of physical objects, comprising: means for identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; means for creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; means for applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language text, and for automatically generating a report based on the application of the set of interpretive rules.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 22 additionally comprising means for storing a second database, said second database storing at least a portion of the same information which is found in said database.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
84 words
A memory device carrying an ordered set of instructions which, when performed, execute a method comprised of the steps of: identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 words
A memory device carrying an ordered set of instructions which, when performed, execute a method comprised of the steps of: identifying attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; creating representations of said physical objects using said attributes; applying a set of interpretive rules to said representations of said physical objects, said interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language text; and generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for automatically generating a report from engineering data representing physical objects, comprising: means for instantiating a component; means for using said component to instantiate objects based on engineering data about said objects found in the database; and means for generating a natural language report based on the instantiated objects according to a set of interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for automatically generating a report from engineering data representing physical objects, comprising: means for instantiating a component; means for using said component to instantiate objects based on engineering data about said objects found in the database; and means for generating a natural language report based on the instantiated objects according to a set of interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
A memory device carrying an ordered set of instructions which, when performed, execute a method on engineering data representing physical objects, said method comprised of the steps of: instantiating a component; using said component to instantiate objects based on engineering data about said objects found in the database; and generating a natural language report based on the instantiated objects according to a set of interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
76 words
A memory device carrying an ordered set of instructions which, when performed, execute a method on engineering data representing physical objects, said method comprised of the steps of: instantiating a component; using said component to instantiate objects based on engineering data about said objects found in the database; and generating a natural language report based on the instantiated objects according to a set of interpretive rules representing a link between said engineering data and natural language.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
113 words
A system, comprising: a first computer having means for requesting a file from a server; and a server, comprising: means for storing the requested file; means for accessing the requested file; means for instantiating a component to read attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; and means for applying a set of interpretive rules to said attributes, said interpretive rules representing a native link between said engineering data and natural language text, and for generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules; said means for requesting a file also receiving said generated report; and a system connecting said computer and said server.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
113 words
A system, comprising: a first computer having means for requesting a file from a server; and a server, comprising: means for storing the requested file; means for accessing the requested file; means for instantiating a component to read attributes of physical objects stored in a database as engineering data; and means for applying a set of interpretive rules to said attributes, said interpretive rules representing a native link between said engineering data and natural language text, and for generating a report containing natural language text based on the application of the interpretive rules; said means for requesting a file also receiving said generated report; and a system connecting said computer and said server.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said means for requesting and for receiving includes a web browser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4370707A
Cited
US4315309A
Cited
US4454576A
Cited
US4860203A
Cited
US5038316A
Cited
US5398183A
Cited
US5619635A
Cited
US5457792A
Cited
US5732221A
Cited
US5539903A
Cited
US5423033A
Cited
US5444843A
Cited
US5748973A
Cited
US5603025A
Cited
US5809266A
Cited
US5787416A
Cited
US5787278A
Cited
US5694608A
Cited
US5710918A
Cited
US5721903A
Cited
US5832496A
Cited
US5870746A
Cited
US5802352A
Cited
US5852819A
Cited
US5978787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-25 | 2003-10-25 | 2004-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-25 | 2007-10-25 | 2008-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-25 | 2011-10-25 | 2012-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |