Method for managing manufacturing data
First Claim
1. A method for building a product data tracking history of the manufacture of a product of the type which has a processing means, said method utilizing a central computer device operably connected to a communications network, comprising the steps of:
- installing a diagnostic tool on the product, said tool being of the type which is capable of providing specification data about the product;
assigning a unique product identity code to the product;
connecting the product to the communications network;
remotely operating said diagnostic tool over the communications network from the central computer device to provide said product specification data to the central computer device, said product specification data comprising at least said unique product identity code; and
, building the product tracking data history using said product specification data with the central computer device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for building a product tracking data history has steps that include installing a remotely operable diagnostic tool on the product which may be remotely operated during the product manufacture process to report certain product specification data. The method also has steps of placing product assembly specifications and performance testing protocols on a central data repository for remote access by the product assembler, thereby reducing data transfer associated costs and efforts and eliminating uncertainties regarding which assembly specifications and performance test protocols are being used by an assembler.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for building a product data tracking history of the manufacture of a product of the type which has a processing means, said method utilizing a central computer device operably connected to a communications network, comprising the steps of:
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installing a diagnostic tool on the product, said tool being of the type which is capable of providing specification data about the product;
assigning a unique product identity code to the product;
connecting the product to the communications network;
remotely operating said diagnostic tool over the communications network from the central computer device to provide said product specification data to the central computer device, said product specification data comprising at least said unique product identity code; and
,building the product tracking data history using said product specification data with the central computer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29)
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13. A method for building a product tracking data history for a product manufactured for a product owner by at least an external contractor, a communications network connecting the product owner with each of the at least an external contractors, a central computer device controlled by the product owner connected to the communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing a diagnostic tool on the product, said diagnostic tool being of the type which is capable of reporting specification data about the product;
assigning a unique product identity code to the product;
connecting the product to the communications network when the product is at the at least an external contractor;
remotely operating said diagnostic tool over the communications network with the central computer device to report product specification data to a central data repository connected to the central computer device, said product specification data comprising at least said unique product identity code; and
,building the product tracking data history from said central data depository using said product specification data.
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25. A method for building a product tracking data history for a product being manufactured for a product owner by at least an external contractor, the product owner and at least an external contractor connected to a communications network, the product owner controlling a central computer device connected to the communications network, each of the at least an external contractors having an operator computer device connected to the communications network for use in at least a portion of the product manufacture, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing a diagnostic tool on the product;
said diagnostic tool being of the type which is capable of providing specification data about the product;
said diagnostic tool comprising at least computer executable instructions;
assigning a unique product identity code to the product, said unique product identity code accessible by said diagnostic tool;
assigning a unique contractor code to each of the at least an external contractor;
providing at least a set of product assembly specifications;
assigning each of said at least a set of product assembly specifications a unique identity code;
placing said at least a set of product assembly specifications on the central computer device;
providing at least a product performance test protocol;
assigning each of said at least a product performance test protocol a unique test identity code, each of said at least a product performance test protocol having a pass or fail outcome;
placing said at least a product performance test protocol on the central computer device;
connecting the product to the communications network when the product is at the at least an external contractor;
transmitting said at least a set of product assembly specifications over the communications network to the operator computer device at the external contractor when the product is connected to said communications device;
remotely operating said diagnostic tool over the communications network to report product specification data to the central computer device, said product specification data comprising at least said unique product identity code, an inventory of components installed on the product, said unique product assembly code corresponding to said at least a set of product assembly specifications transmitted over the communications network, said unique contractor identity code corresponding to the external contractor said set of product assembly specifications are transmitted;
remotely operating said diagnostic tool to execute said at least a performance test protocol to produce performance test results, remotely prompting said diagnostic tool to report said performance test results over the communications network to the central computer device;
building the product data history with the central computer device;
assigning said unique product identity code to the product data history, the product data history comprising at least, said inventory of components installed on the product, said unique contractor code corresponding to the contractor the product is, said product assembly specifications identity code corresponding to said at least a set of product assembly specifications being transmitted over the communications network to the operator computer device, said performance test identity code for each of said at least a performance test protocol executed by said diagnostic tool with corresponding of said performance test results; and
,creating a product defect tracking history with the central computer device upon a fail result after execution of any of said at least a product performance test protocols, said product defect history comprising at least said test identity code for said at least a product performance test protocol resulting in said fail result.
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27. A computer program product for causing a computer to create a product tracking data history file for a product, the product comprising processor means and having a unique product identity code, the product having a diagnostic tool installed therein, the diagnostic tool of the type capable of reporting product specification data, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer usable medium on a central computer that is connected to a communications network, the computer program product when executed causing the central computer to:
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remotely operate said diagnostic tool over the communications network when the product is connected to the communications network to report product specification data to a central data repository connected to the central computer device, said product specification data comprising at least said unique product identity code; and
,build the product tracking data history from said central data depository using said product specification data.
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30. A computer program product for causing a computer to create a product tracking data history file for a product, the product comprising processor means and having a unique product identity code, the product having a diagnostic tool installed thereon, the diagnostic tool of the type capable of reporting product specification data, the product being manufactured for a product owner by an external contractor, a unique contractor code assigned to the external contractor, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer usable medium on a central computer that is connected to a communications network, the product connected to the communications network at the external manufacturer, the computer program product when executed causing the central computer to:
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transmit a set of product assembly specifications stored on the central computer over the communications network to an operator computer device at the external contractor, the operator computer device for use in at least a portion of the product manufacture, the set of product assembly specifications having a specification identity code;
remotely operate the diagnostic tool over the communications network to execute a product performance test protocol stored on the central computer, said product performance test protocol having a test identity code;
remotely operate the diagnostic tool over the communications network to report product specification data to the central computer device;
said product specification data comprising at least the unique product identity code, the unique contractor code, an inventory of components installed on the product, said unique product specification code corresponding to said set of product assembly specifications transmitted over the communications network, performance test results resulting from executing said product performance test protocol, said test identity code corresponding to said product performance test protocol executed;
build the product data history;
assign the unique product identity code to the product data history, the product data history comprising said inventory of components installed on the product, the unique contractor code corresponding to the external contractor the product, said product assembly specifications identity code corresponding to said set of product assembly specifications being transmitted over the communications network to said operator computer device, said test identity code for said performance test protocol executed by said diagnostic tool with corresponding of said performance test results; and
,create a product defect tracking history with the central computer device upon a fail result for any of said at least a product performance test protocols, said product defect history comprising at least the unique product identity code and said test identity code for said at least a product performance test protocol resulting in said fail result.
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Specification