Spreadsheet tool manager for collaborative modeling

• US 10,175,955 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Woods, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivera, Anibal
• Application Number:
  US14/995,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20170199728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/35 model driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools is described. The method may include receiving, via a processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to operate in a spreadsheet application, determining, via an inventory manager, whether a tool record exists matching the modeling tool request, building, via a tool creation module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist, and updating, via the inventory manager, a tool record in an inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools comprising:

receiving, via a processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to perform operations in a spreadsheet application and to solve an engineering problem;

determining, via an inventory manager, that a tool record matching the modeling tool request does not exist;

building, via a tool creation module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist;

updating, via the inventory manager, the inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request to include the new modelling tool;

prompting, via a processor, a user for information regarding an attribute of the new modeling tool, wherein the attribute comprises an engineering calculation;

receiving, via a processor, user input indicative of the attribute;

categorizing, via a taxonomy manager, the new modeling tool into a category of modeling tools having the attribute in common with the new modeling tool, wherein the taxonomy manager is configured to determine a taxonomy data structure that includes one or more categories of unit converters; and

saving, in the inventory database, the new modeling tool, wherein the new modeling tool is accessible by at least one other user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a tool record exists comprises:

receiving, from a user, at least one attribute;

determining, via a taxonomy manager, whether the at least one attribute exists in a tool record;

outputting, via an output device, a selectable list of at least one tool record having the at least one attribute; and

retrieving a modeling tool based on a user input indicative of a tool selection.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the processor, an existing modeling tool based on the modeling tool request responsive to determining that the tool record exists in the inventory database.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the existing modeling tool is installable on a remote device.

5. A system for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools comprising a processor configured to:

receive, via the processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to perform operations in a spreadsheet application;

determine, via an inventory manager, determining, via an inventory manager, that a tool record matching the modeling tool request does not exist;

build, via a tool creation module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that the tool record does not exist;

update, via the inventory manager, the inventory database to include the new modelling tool if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request;

prompt a user for information regarding an attribute of the new modeling tool, wherein the attribute comprises an engineering calculation;

receive user input indicative of the attribute;

categorize, via a taxonomy manager, the modeling tool into a category of modeling tools having the attribute in common with the modeling tool, wherein the taxonomy manager is configured to determine a taxonomy data structure that includes one or more categories of unit converters; and

save, in the inventory database, the modeling tool, wherein the modeling tool is accessible by at least one other user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a tool record exists comprises:

receive at least one attribute;

determine, via a taxonomy manager, whether the at least one attribute exists in a tool record;

output, via an output device, a selectable list of at least one tool record having the at least one attribute; and

retrieve a modeling tool based on a user input indicative of a tool selection.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive an existing modeling tool based on the modeling tool request responsive to determining that the tool record exists in the inventory database.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the existing modeling tool is installable on a remote device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that are executable by a processor that, when executed, perform a method for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools, the method comprising:

receiving, via the processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to perform operations in a spreadsheet application;

determining, via an inventory manager, that a tool record matching the modeling tool request does not exist;

building, via a tool building module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist;

updating, via the inventory manager, the inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request to include the new modelling tool;

prompting, via a processor, a user for information regarding an attribute of the new modeling tool, wherein the attribute comprises an engineering calculation;

receiving, via a processor, user input indicative of the attribute;

categorizing, via a taxonomy manager, the modeling tool into a category of modeling tools having the attribute in common with the modeling tool, wherein the taxonomy manager is configured to determine a taxonomy data structure that includes one or more categories of unit converters; and

saving, in the inventory database, the modeling tool, wherein the modeling tool is accessible by at least one other user.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein determining whether a tool record exists comprises:

receiving, from a user, at least one attribute;

determining, via a taxonomy manager, whether the at least one attribute exists in a tool record;

outputting, via an output device, a selectable list of at least one tool record having the at least one attribute; and

retrieving a modeling tool based on a user input indicative of a tool selection.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, via the processor, an existing modeling tool based on the modeling tool request responsive to determining that the tool record exists in the inventory database.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the existing modeling tool is installable on a remote device.