US6230066B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simultaneous manufacturing and product engineering integrated with knowledge networking
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1998-09-08
•
Granted: 2001-05-08
•
Expires: 2018-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Method of simultaneously carrying out manufacturing and product engineering integrated with knowledge networking. The method comprises: (a) creating a logic modeller by (i) identifying elements of an engineering project and syntactically arranging such elements in a logic sequence based on engineering functions, (ii) ascertaining uniform meaning for such elements and engineering functions to allow for interdisciplinary communication, (iii) gathering existing knowledge pertinent to such elements and engineering functions, and encoding such gathered knowledge into terms according to uniform meanings, and (iv) programming a computer memory template with such logic sequence and with attached data bases of such encoded existing knowledge; and (b) operating said logic modeller through a direct engineer that: (i) requests review of initial input specifications of an inchoate design that results in an analysis by the modeller to indicate rule or constraint violations of the gathered knowledge, and (ii) interacts with the analysis in response to such indications to converge on acceptable or improved engineering design functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Richard Sferro
- 👤 Gregory John Burek
- 👤 Sean Bogue O'Reilly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/20; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/4097; G05B19/418; G05B19/41865; G06F2111/00; G06F2111/04; G06F2119/00; G06F2119/20; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
Method of simultaneously carrying out manufacturing and product engineering integrated with knowledge networking comprising: (a) creating a logic modeller by (i) identifying elements of an engineering project and syntactically arranging such elements in a logic sequence based on engineering functions; (ii) ascertaining uniform meaning for such elements and engineering functions to allow for interdisciplinary communication; (iii) gathering existing knowledge pertinent to such elements and engineering functions and encoding such gathered knowledge into terms according to uniform meanings; and (iv) programming a computer memory template with said logic sequence and with attached data bases of said encoded existing knowledge; (b) operating said logic modeller through a direct engineer that: (i) requests review of initial input specifications of an inchoate design that results in an analysis by said modeller to indicate rule or constraint violations of the gathered knowledge; and (ii) interacts with the analysis in response to said indications to converge on acceptable and improved definitions of engineering design functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
Method of simultaneously carrying out manufacturing and product engineering integrated with knowledge networking comprising: (a) creating a logic modeller by (i) identifying elements of an engineering project and syntactically arranging such elements in a logic sequence based on engineering functions; (ii) ascertaining uniform meaning for such elements and engineering functions to allow for interdisciplinary communication; (iii) gathering existing knowledge pertinent to such elements and engineering functions and encoding such gathered knowledge into terms according to uniform meanings; and (iv) programming a computer memory template with said logic sequence and with attached data bases of said encoded existing knowledge; (b) operating said logic modeller through a direct engineer that: (i) requests review of initial input specifications of an inchoate design that results in an analysis by said modeller to indicate rule or constraint violations of the gathered knowledge; and (ii) interacts with the analysis in response to said indications to converge on acceptable and improved definitions of engineering design functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(iii), the knowledge includes scientific and engineering rules, business information and prior engineering design history.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(iii), the gathering of knowledge is effective to capture a total engineering environment for the project to present a collective intellect of the related user and engineering community.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(i), identification is carried out by heuristic dialog between members of differing engineering and business disciplines allowing for reoriented conventional thinking and the introduction of innovative elements or engineering functions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(i), the logic sequence may include consideration of backward scheduling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(iii), encoding is carried out to the lowest level understood by production plant personnel and allow for uniform capture of logic and information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(iii), the gathering of existing knowledge includes associativity knowledge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (a)(iii), the gathered knowledge is taken from remote sources, such as suppliers, assembly plants, dealerships and repair shops.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (b)(i), the direct engineer inputs the initial specifications which may be routing points centerline, along with element on the centerline, or other elemental solids outline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (b)(i), the analysis presents alternatives or suggested ways to overcome rule or constraint violations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (b)(i), the analysis provides for reuse of prior designs and reuse of knowledge unique to the plant of an organization to thereby eliminate errors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (b(ii), the interaction may result in a definition that further includes visual display of manufacturing sequence, capacity or gauging.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (b)(ii), the direct engineer can overcome default selections by the modeller based upon the knowledge of the direct engineer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which, in step (b)(ii), the definition of the engineering design function may further include virtual testing of the engineering design functions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as in claim 1 , in which the method further comprises a step (c), wherein reports are automatically created from the design definition which may include materials, lists, costs, labor and design or rule violations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5257363A
Cited
US5208765A
Cited
US5355317A
Cited
US5357440A
Cited
US5307261A
Cited
US5640337A
Cited
US5752000A
Cited
US5748943A
Cited
US6088689A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-07 | 2004-11-06 | 2005-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-07 | 2008-11-06 | 2009-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-07 | 2012-11-06 | 2013-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |