Modification planning arrangement

• US 20050160354A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmet Technologies OY
• Original Assignee: Metso Paper Incorporated (Neles Oyj)
• Inventors: Leino, Jorma, Airaksinen, Laura, Tahkapaa, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/200
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/00 Other accessories for paper-making machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A modification planning arrangement and method for a paper, board, finishing, or pulp machine, which includes as parties, a customer (10), a main supplier (11) and at least one sub-supplier (12), as well as a server linked to them over a telecommunications network. Each party has terminal equipment and software for viewing an image stored in the server and for communication in a data network. The image-viewing software has a mark-up function for attaching a mark-up to an image and for storing the mark-up in the server as its own mark-up file in connection with the image. The main supplier has a high-level CAD system to make and process an original drawing. The arrangement includes conversion and management software for the original drawings (CAD), for storing the drawings in concept form (HPGL, PDF) in a server (EDMS), and includes a mark-up data updating system, for distributing automatically to all parties.

Claims

1. A modification planning arrangement for a paper, board, finishing, or pulp machine, which includes

as parties to the arrangement, a customer (10), a main supplier (11) and at least one sub-supplier (12), as well as a server linked to them over a telecommunications network,

each one of which parties being equipped with terminal equipment and software for viewing an image stored in the server and for communication taking place in a data network, the image-viewing software including a mark-up function for attaching a mark-up to an image and for storing the mark-up in the server as its own mark-up file in connection with the image, and

in which the main supplier has at its disposal a high-level computer-aided design (CAD) system, in order to make and process an original drawing,

characterized in that the arrangement includes conversion and management software for the original drawings (CAD), for storing the necessary drawings in concept form (HPGL, PDF) in a selected server (EDMS), and that the arrangement includes a mark-up data updating system, that is as such known, for distributing it automatically to all the parties.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the data-network connections (13.1, 13.2) are mainly the Internet.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the data-network connections (13.1, 13.2) are secure.

4. An arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the viewing program and the updating function are JAVA®

applications, which are arranged to operate in connection with a browser.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the updating function includes the following components:

an update-data register located in the server, for storing an update notification, and

an agent application for each party, which is arranged to check the said register in the server at regular intervals and to trigger the mark-up data retrieval function of the viewing program accordingly.

6. An arrangement according to claims 2-5, characterized in that at least the main supplier has an application for distributing automatically to the parties a new concept image formed from a corrected CAD image.

7. An arrangement according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that at least one party in addition to the main supplier has at its disposal the main supplier'"'"'s (11) product data system, in addition to the image viewing program.

8. An arrangement according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that in this arrangement the customer'"'"'s (10) terminal equipment comprises the main supplier'"'"'s (11) representative'"'"'s (11′

) laptop computer, in which data security means, such as software and encryption parameters are pre-installed.

9. An arrangement according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the arrangement includes means, by which the customer (10) is connected, separately relative to the other parties (11, 12), to its own subcontractor (12′

).

10. A method in the modification planning of paper, board, finishing, or pulp machine, which includes as parties the customer (10), the main supplier (11), and at least one sub-supplier (12), and in which the planning takes place interactively as a simultaneous session between the parties, in such a way that the parties have at their disposal software and terminal equipments suitable for viewing and marking-up concept images and also for sending conversational/text messages, characterized in that the parties transmit information to each other with the aid of this mark-up function and communications arrangement, in such a way that the main supplier assembles a final plan at the end of the session, with the aid of the exchange of information.

11. A method according to claim 10, in which at least the customer has at its disposal a product database created beforehand by the main supplier and concerning the subject of the modification.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, in which, at least for the customer'"'"'s planning use, there is terminal equipment, in the possession of the main supplier'"'"'s representative, with pre-installed security means and/or concept images.

13. A method according to claim 10, in which at least one concept image is created from a high-level CAD drawing, so that, with the aid of the mark-ups and information exchange made during the session, the main supplier creates a new concept image by making changes in the original drawing and converting into a new concept image.