Method and system for generating a real time bill of materials and evaluating network performance

• US 20030050878A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wireless Valley Communications Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rappaport, Theodore S., Skidmore, Roger R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

An automated method for quickly generating a complete bill of materials and total cost information in real time. Components for a desired system are specified and/or replaced by substitute components, while continuously predicting the wireless system performance. A design engineer builds a model of the desired wireless communications system and specifies each component necessary to provide sufficient or optimal system performance. A parts list is maintained, in real time, that contains a definition of each system component and its associated performance and cost parameters. As the user changes wireless system designs through a series of “what-if” scenarios, components are replaced with substitute components, cable lengths are modified, antenna systems and base station parameters are re-designed and moved to alternate locations, etc. The bill of materials is automatically updated and component costs and total system costs are immediately available to the design engineer. The designer may choose to swap components for less expensive components or may investigate several alternate radio frequency distribution and antenna schemes, etc. The performance characteristics of the system are automatically updated as is the system cost as the designer to assesses the trade-offs between performance and cost at the same time.

Claims

1. An automated method for generating a bill of materials for a wireless communication environment, said method comprising the steps:

(a) inputting data defining an environment in which a system of components is to be built;

(b) inputting data defining a plurality of system components, each said system component associated with performance and cost data;

(c) running prediction models using said data defining an environment and said data defining a plurality of system components to predict performance characteristics of said system of components; and

(d) generating a bill of materials containing cost information based on cost data associated with said system components.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of inputting data defining an environment is performed using an input device to point and click on a screen display of a three-dimensional representation of said environment in which a system of components is to be built.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of inputting data defining a plurality of system components is performed using an input device to point and click on a screen display of a three-dimensional representation of said environment in which a system of components is to be built.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said cost information is generated for components, sub-systems and an overall system.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating step generates a bill of materials wherein each said component in said bill of materials is associated with performance characteristics.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of inputting data defining a plurality of system components, further comprises the step of selecting a plurality of system components from a pre-defined list of system components, wherein each said system component in said pre-defined list is associated with performance and cost data.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the step of selecting a plurality of system components from a pre-defined list of system components further comprises the steps:

selecting at least one category of system components;

selecting a range of acceptable performance criteria for each said at least one category of system components; and

selecting at least one system component in said at least one category of system components from a pre-defined list of system components, wherein system components not meeting said range of acceptable performance criteria are automatically removed from said pre-defined list of system components, thereby allowing selection only of system components which meet said range of acceptable performance criteria.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the step of selecting a plurality of system components further comprises the step of storing said data defining a plurality of system components in a database, wherein each said system component is associated with a location in a three-dimensional representation of said environment.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying said data defining a plurality system components, and updating said bill of materials generated in step (d).

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said step of updating said bill of materials is performed automatically when modifying said data defining a plurality system components.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step of modifying a set of data includes repositioning at least one said system component in said environment, reorienting at least one said system component in said environment, or substituting at least one said system component for a similar component with different cost or performance characteristics.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein repositioning at least one said system component is performed using an input device to point and click on a screen display of a three-dimensional representation of said environment in which a system of components is to be built in order to quickly assess the changed performance characteristics of said system of components.

13. An apparatus for generating a bill of materials for a wireless environment, comprising:

means for representing and inputting data defining an environment in which a system of components is to be built;

means for representing and inputting data defining system components, each said system component associated with performance and cost data;

means for predicting performance characteristics of said system of components using said data defining an environment and said data defining system components; and

means for automatically generating a bill of materials containing cost information based on cost data associated with system components.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising a means for modifying said data defining system components, and updating said bill of materials generated by said generating means.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for representing and inputting data defining a plurality of system components, further comprises a means for selecting a plurality of system components from a pre-defined list of system components, wherein each said system component in said pre-defined list is associated with performance and cost data.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for representing and inputting data defining a plurality of system components, further comprises a means for storing said data defining a plurality of system components in a database, wherein each said system component is associated with a location in a three-dimensional representation of said environment.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for selecting a plurality of system components from a pre-defined list of system components selects at least one system component in at least one category of system components from a pre-defined list of system components, wherein system components not meeting a desired range of acceptable performance criteria are automatically removed from said pre-defined list of system components, thereby allowing selection only of system components which meet said range of acceptable performance criteria.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for modifying a set of data repositions at least one said system component, reorients at least one said system component, or substitutes at least one said system component for a similar component with different cost or performance characteristics.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for modifying a set of data repositions at least one said system component by utilizing an input device, to point and click on a screen display of a three-dimensional representation of said environment in which a system of components is to be built.