Interactive electronic reference systems and methods

• US 20030187751A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DRS C3 & Aviation Co. (Michigan) (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: DRS C3 & Aviation Co. (Michigan) (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Watson, Mike, Tricomi, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/285,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20030187751A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/117 Tagging; Marking up details of markup languages G06F40/143; Designating a block; Setting of attributes style sheets, e.g. eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation [XSLT], G06F40/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/12 Use of codes for handling textual entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/157 using dictionaries or tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Described herein, amongst other things, are electronically available interactive reference materials that can preferably be accessed by using a network, such as the World Wide Web or Internet, to eliminate the need to create and transport paper. There are further described systems, methods, and means for generating, storing, and providing to a user these interactive reference materials. There are also disclosed, system, methods, and means for generating, storing, and providing to a user interactive electronic systems for use with the interactive reference materials.

Claims

1. A method for requisitioning an item for a device via a network comprising:

receiving, on a client an interactive reference document, said interactive reference document including a pictorial representation of said device;

indicating on said pictorial representation said item which is desired to be requisitioned;

receiving on said client a parts list showing the entry for said item;

indicating the intent to requisition said item in said entry;

obtaining a requisition form related to said item, said requisition form being specific to said item; and

sending said requisition form to requisition said item.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of indicating, said requisition form is sent directly to the item manufacturer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said requisition form comprises an electronic requisition form compatible with an electronic government legacy system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending, said requisition for is sent to an electronic government legacy system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a military device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said client comprises a computer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said client receives information from a server via a network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said client receives information from storage media local to said client.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending, said requisition form is printed in a hardcopy format.

10. An interactive reference system comprising:

computer files representing at least two interactive reference documents in a browser readable format, said files residing on a computer;

computer files representing a requisitioning system and residing on said computer;

wherein;

said first interactive document comprises an interactive manual including a first piece of reference text related to a part;

said second interactive document comprises an interactive parts list including a second piece of reference text and a requisition link related to said part; and

said interactive manual is linked to said interactive parts list which is in turn linked to said requisitioning system such that a user can click on said first piece of reference text and be taken to said second piece of reference text and can click on said requisitioning link and be taken to said requisitioning system where a virtual requisition is already populated with information about said part.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said information about said part is obtained from said interactive manual and said interactive parts list.

12. An interactive parts list comprising:

a parts list displayable on a computer screen;

a figure displayable on a computer screen;

wherein when a user of a computer clicks on an index number associated with a part shown in said figure on said computer screen, an entry in said parts list corresponding to said part is displayed on said computer screen.

13. A method for requisitioning an item comprising;

accessing an electronic manual on a computer;

utilizing said electronic manual in a procedure, during which time it is determined that an item needs to be requisitioned;

accessing, from within said electronic manual, an interactive item list;

locating said item in said interactive item list;

accessing, from within said interactive item list, a virtual requisition form pre-populated with information about said item;

completing said virtual requisition; and

transferring a requisition for said item to another computer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said another computer is a government electronic legacy computer.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said another computer belongs to said item'"'"'s manufacturer.