US6128626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for minimizing storage requirements for production assembly information and updates
Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-30
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2018-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and database organization for use by a plurality of client systems wherein a database contains a plurality of table structures for storing a product directory index and a minimum number of product related information entries utilized in generating a bill of materials document for a particular user designated customer product. The system also includes a selection menu facility component and a data selection component, both of which operatively couple to the database. The selection menu facility component enables an operator to access the product directory index for obtaining a number of key information values pertaining to a particular printed circuit board assembly. These values are utilized by the data selection component in searching and extracting from the database tables as a function of the states of predefined key values contained in the table entries, all of the pertinent information entries needed to generate/display a bill of materials document based on information generated in response to an operator selection.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Beauchesne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/22; G06F16/2228; G06F16/2272; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A method of organizing a user accessible database for minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in tables contained therein and used for generating bill of materials documents for manufacturing a number of board assembly products, the method comprising the steps of: (a) including as a first table, a product directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that represent all of board assembly products being currently manufactured, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from other tables contained in the database containing information related to a particular board assembly product and for designating points within the database tables where entries were added or deleted; (b) including as the other tables in the database, data table structures for storing data entries containing different assembly board product related information required in generating the bill of materials documents used in manufacturing the board assembly products, each entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized by a particular board assembly product; (c) including a first data retrieval component in the database, the first component for accessing the product index table structure to present the user with all of the entries associated with a particular board product and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user product selection from the entries presented; and, (d) including a second data retrieval component in the database, the second component for accessing data entries contained in the number of other tables of the database, the second component being operative in response the first type of key values to search each of the entries in the other tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each table data entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected board assembly product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
346 words
A method of organizing a user accessible database for minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in tables contained therein and used for generating bill of materials documents for manufacturing a number of board assembly products, the method comprising the steps of: (a) including as a first table, a product directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that represent all of board assembly products being currently manufactured, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from other tables contained in the database containing information related to a particular board assembly product and for designating points within the database tables where entries were added or deleted; (b) including as the other tables in the database, data table structures for storing data entries containing different assembly board product related information required in generating the bill of materials documents used in manufacturing the board assembly products, each entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized by a particular board assembly product; (c) including a first data retrieval component in the database, the first component for accessing the product index table structure to present the user with all of the entries associated with a particular board product and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user product selection from the entries presented; and, (d) including a second data retrieval component in the database, the second component for accessing data entries contained in the number of other tables of the database, the second component being operative in response the first type of key values to search each of the entries in the other tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each table data entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected board assembly product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first type of key values contained in each index entry includes a file key value coded for defining the specific to define a group of data entries specific to a particular board assembly product and a file version value coded to define a point in the group of data entries of the other tables where data was added or deleted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second type of key values contained each data entry includes an ON field value initially set to predetermined value for identifying a version of the board product for which a particular data entry was added to the database and an OFF field value set to a predetermined value for identifying those versions of a board product for which the data entry is not used.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the ON and OFF field values are used in conjunction with the file version value for defining the data selection criteria conditions according to the file version value contained in the selected product index entry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the ON field and OFF field values of a previously entered data entry are modified in a predetermined manner each time a new version of a board product is added to the database that utilizes the data entry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined manner includes maintaining the ON field the same value and setting the OFF field to a value designating a next version of the board product when the previously entered data entry is not being used in the next version.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the ON field s is set to the value designating the next version of the board product and the OFF field is set to a NULL value for each new data entry entered into the database tables.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein all of the entries presented to the user correspond to a list of entries for the selected board product indicating all of the revisions pertaining to the product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the second data retrieval component in extracting data entries executes a predetermined selection algorithm wherein for a board product having a file key value equal to "k" and a file version number value equal to "n", the second data retrieval component only extracts data entries that have file key values equal to "k" and ON field values equal to "n" and OFF field values less than "n" or equal to a NULL value where both "k" and "n" are whole integers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the database is accessible through a number of client systems, each client system being operatively coupled to the database and having a copy of the first and second data retrieval components installed within the client system for generating bill of materials documents for board assembly products.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the product directory index table structure includes index values used by the other table structures and wherein the other table structures include a product table for storing data entries pertaining to the board product, a component description table for storing data entries pertaining to component parts utilized in manufacturing the board products and an approved vendors table for storing data entries pertaining to vendor suppliers of the component parts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
141 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the index values of the product directory index table structure are included within a product table index section, a component index section and an approved vendors index section, each of the index entries of the component index section containing a first predetermined file key value for isolating the component index entries from the entries of the product table index section, each of the index entries of the approved vendors index section containing a second predetermined file key value for isolating the vendor index entries from all other index entries and each of the index entries of the component and approved vendors index sections further including a customer code value for use as a primary key by the second data retrieval component in accessing all of the data entries contained in the component and vendor tables.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the second data retrieval component extracts predetermined data from a group of data entries of the component description table defined by a component version number value contained in the user selected component table index entry utilizing a selection criteria wherein each data entry contains a customer code that equals a customer prefix value selected by the user and the component data entry ON field value equals or is less than the selected component version number value and the component data entry OFF field equals a NULL value or is less than the selected component version number value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the second data retrieval component extracts predetermined data from a group of data entries of the approved vendors table defined by an approved vendors list version number value contained in the user selected approved vendors list table index entry utilizing a selection criteria wherein each data entry contains a customer code that equals a customer prefix value selected by the user and the approved vendors data entry ON field value equals or is less than the selected approved vendors list version number value and the approved vendors list data entry OFF field equals a NULL value or is less than the selected approved vendors list version number value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
338 words
A database system organized for minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in tables contained in a database and for generating bill of materials documents in response to user requests used in manufacturing a number of board assembly products, the database system comprising: (a) a product directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that represent all of board assembly products being currently manufactured, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from the database containing information related to a particular board assembly product and for designating points within the database tables where data entries were added or deleted; (b) a number of data table structures for storing data entries containing different assembly board items of the information required in generating the bill of materials documents used in manufacturing the board assembly products, each data entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized for generating the bill of materials document for a particular board assembly product; (c) a first data retrieval component for accessing the product index table structure to present the user with all of the entries associated with a particular board product and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user product selection from the entries presented; and, (d) a second data retrieval component operatively coupled to the first data retrieval component and to the number of data table structures, the second component being operative in response the first type of key values applied by the first data retrieval component to search each of the entries in the data tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each data table entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected board assembly product.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
338 words
A database system organized for minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in tables contained in a database and for generating bill of materials documents in response to user requests used in manufacturing a number of board assembly products, the database system comprising: (a) a product directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that represent all of board assembly products being currently manufactured, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from the database containing information related to a particular board assembly product and for designating points within the database tables where data entries were added or deleted; (b) a number of data table structures for storing data entries containing different assembly board items of the information required in generating the bill of materials documents used in manufacturing the board assembly products, each data entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized for generating the bill of materials document for a particular board assembly product; (c) a first data retrieval component for accessing the product index table structure to present the user with all of the entries associated with a particular board product and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user product selection from the entries presented; and, (d) a second data retrieval component operatively coupled to the first data retrieval component and to the number of data table structures, the second component being operative in response the first type of key values applied by the first data retrieval component to search each of the entries in the data tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each data table entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected board assembly product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the first type of key values contained in each index entry includes a file key value coded for defining the specific to define a group of data entries specific to a particular board assembly product and a file version value coded to define a point in the group of data entries of the data tables where data has been added or deleted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the second data retrieval component in extracting data entries executes a predetermined selection algorithm wherein for a board product having a file key value equal to "k" and a file version number value equal to "n", the second data retrieval component only extracts data entries that have file key values equal to "k" and ON field values equal to "n" and OFF field values less than "n" or equal to a NULL value where both "k" and "n" are whole integers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the second type of key values contained each data entry includes an ON field value initially set to predetermined value for identifying a version of the board product for which a particular data entry was added to the database and an OFF field value set to a predetermined value for identifying those versions of a board product for which the data entry is not used.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the ON and OFF field values are used in conjunction with the file version value for defining the data selection criteria conditions according to the file version value contained in the selected product index entry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the ON field and OFF field values of a previously entered data entry are modified in a predetermined manner each time a new version of a board product is added to the database that utilizes the data entry.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the predetermined manner includes maintaining the ON field the same value and setting the OFF field to a value designating a next version of the board product when the previously entered data entry is not being used in the next version.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the ON field s is set to the value designating the next version of the board product and the OFF field is set to a NULL value for each new data entry entered into the database data tables.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 15 wherein all of the entries presented to the user correspond to a list of entries for the selected board product indicating all of the revisions pertaining to the board product.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the database system further includes a number of client systems, each client system being operatively coupled to the database and having a copy of the first and second data retrieval components installed within the client system for generating bill of materials documents for board assembly products in response to user requests.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the product directory index table structure includes a number of sections for storing index values pertaining to the number of data tables and wherein the data table structures include a product table for storing data entries containing items pertaining to the board product, a component description table for storing data entries containing items pertaining to component parts utilized in manufacturing the board products and an approved vendors list table for storing data entries containing items pertaining to vendor suppliers of the component parts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
The system of claim 25 wherein the sections of the product directory index table structure include a product table index section, a component index section and an approved vendors index section, each of the index entries of the component index section containing a first predetermined file key value for isolating the component index entries from the entries of the product table index section, each of the index entries of the approved vendors list index section containing a second predetermined file key value for isolating the vendor index entries from all other index entries and each of the index entries of the component and approved vendors list index sections further including a customer code value for use as a primary key by the second data retrieval component in accessing all of the data entries contained in the component and vendor tables.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
110 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the second data retrieval component includes a first function for extracting predetermined data items from a group of data entries of the component description table defined by a component version number value contained in the user selected component table index entry utilizing a selection criteria wherein each data entry selected contains a customer code that equals a customer prefix value selected by the user and the component data entry ON field value equals or is less than the selected component version number value and the component data entry OFF field equals a NULL value or is less than the selected component version number value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
123 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the second data retrieval component further includes a second function for extracting predetermined data items from a group of data entries of the approved vendors list table defined by an approved vendors list version number value contained in the user selected approved vendors list table index entry utilizing a selection criteria wherein each data entry selected contains a customer code that equals a customer prefix value selected by the user and the approved vendors data entry ON field value equals or is less than the selected approved vendors list version number value and the approved vendors list data entry OFF field equals a NULL value or is less than the selected approved vendors list version number value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
345 words
A software database system comprising data retrieval software and a database stored on a storage medium for use in minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in the database and for generating bill of materials documents in response to user requests used in manufacturing a number of board assembly products, the database system comprising: (a) a product directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that represent all of board assembly products being currently manufactured, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from the database containing information related to a particular board assembly product and for designating points within the database tables where data entries were added or deleted; (b) a number of data table structures included in the database for storing data entries containing different assembly board items of the information required in generating the bill of materials documents used in manufacturing the board assembly products, each data entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized for generating the bill of materials document for a particular board assembly product; (c) a menu selection component included in the data retrieval software for accessing the product index table structure to present the user with a display containing all of the entries associated with a particular board product and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user product selection from the displayed entries; and, (d) a data selection component included in the data retrieval software operative in response the first type of key values applied by the menu selection component to search each of the entries in the data tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each data table entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected board assembly product.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
345 words
A software database system comprising data retrieval software and a database stored on a storage medium for use in minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in the database and for generating bill of materials documents in response to user requests used in manufacturing a number of board assembly products, the database system comprising: (a) a product directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that represent all of board assembly products being currently manufactured, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from the database containing information related to a particular board assembly product and for designating points within the database tables where data entries were added or deleted; (b) a number of data table structures included in the database for storing data entries containing different assembly board items of the information required in generating the bill of materials documents used in manufacturing the board assembly products, each data entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized for generating the bill of materials document for a particular board assembly product; (c) a menu selection component included in the data retrieval software for accessing the product index table structure to present the user with a display containing all of the entries associated with a particular board product and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user product selection from the displayed entries; and, (d) a data selection component included in the data retrieval software operative in response the first type of key values applied by the menu selection component to search each of the entries in the data tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each data table entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected board assembly product.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
326 words
A method of organizing a user accessible database for minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in tables contained therein, and used for generating documents pertaining for a number of different objects, the method comprising the steps of: (a) including as a first table, a directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that all of the objects currently being managed, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from other tables contained in the database containing information related to a particular object and for designating points within the database tables where entries were added or deleted; (b) including as the other tables in the database, data table structures for storing data entries containing different object related information required in generating the documents used in managing the board assembly object, each entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized by a particular object; (c) including a first data retrieval component in the database, the first component for accessing the directory index table structure to present the user with all of the entries associated with a particular object and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user selection from the entries presented; and, (d) including a second data retrieval component in the database, the second component for accessing data entries contained in the number of other tables of the database, the second component being operative in response the first type of key values to search each of the entries in the other tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each table data entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected object.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
326 words
A method of organizing a user accessible database for minimizing the amount of duplicate information stored in tables contained therein, and used for generating documents pertaining for a number of different objects, the method comprising the steps of: (a) including as a first table, a directory index table structure for storing a number of index value entries coded in a predetermined manner that all of the objects currently being managed, each index value entry containing a first type of key values to be used as a filtering mechanism in extracting data entries from other tables contained in the database containing information related to a particular object and for designating points within the database tables where entries were added or deleted; (b) including as the other tables in the database, data table structures for storing data entries containing different object related information required in generating the documents used in managing the board assembly object, each entry containing a second type of key values for defining data selection criteria conditions to be used in extracting entries utilized by a particular object; (c) including a first data retrieval component in the database, the first component for accessing the directory index table structure to present the user with all of the entries associated with a particular object and for generating the first type of key values in response to a user selection from the entries presented; and, (d) including a second data retrieval component in the database, the second component for accessing data entries contained in the number of other tables of the database, the second component being operative in response the first type of key values to search each of the entries in the other tables for extracting as a function of criteria conditions defined by the second type of key values contained in each table data entry, only those data entries identified as being required for the generation of a bill of materials document for the selected object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |