Method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management and system thereof

• US 20050171910A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Wang, Chao-Hung, Yuan, Chii-Yah, Kuo, Jen-Yau, Cheng, Sung-Ping, Duh, Der-Lind, Wu, Chuan-Yu
• Application Number:
  US10/768,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in the product lifecycle management (PLM) and a system thereof are proposed. The system comprises at least a message server, at least a web server, a system engineering service platform server, at least a PLM application system server and an enterprise portal server. The system can build a system integration environment between customers, central manufacturers, and providers and offer a collaborative platform between enterprises. Information can thus be interchanged in real time in this system integration environment in the whole PLM from idea through specification requirement, design, development, manufacturing to termination, thereby providing a system integration method and environment for collaborative management, development, manufacturing and marketing between enterprises, providers and customers.

Claims

1. A method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management, a system engineering service platform being provided for integrating information systems inside enterprise, said method comprising the steps of:

a. compiling collaborative operating data generated by said information systems inside enterprise into a collaborative definition expression;

b. transferring said collaborative definition expression to a collaborative virtual machine for syntax check, packaging and data encryption;

c. transferring said collaborative definition expression to a system engineering service platform kernel and then to a collaborative operating services component after interpretation;

d. sending information processed by said collaborative operating services component to said collaborative virtual machine; and

e. calling said information systems inside enterprise after checking said collaborative definition expression and interpreting and decrypting data.

2. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product lifecycle management includes the full product lifecycle from idea through requirement, design, development, manufacturing, planning and management, service after sale to termination.

3. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information systems inside enterprise comprise information systems of a central manufacturer and at least a provider.

4. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of finishing preparations of said information systems inside enterprise before said Step (a).

5. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collaborative operation data in said Step (a) include collaborative operation types, action times, formats, and objects and media or file data.

6. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collaborative virtual machine in said Step (b) expresses collaborative operation actions through predefined collaborative operation dialog descriptions in accordance with different application systems of said client.

7. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system engineering service platform kernel in said Step (c) is a basis of said system engineering service platform, and is used as a basic information processing kernel for basic logic operations.

8. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collaborative operating services component in said Step (c) provides basic collaborative operation services on said system engineering service platform, and can fast select appropriate modes and tools according to necessity to offer a quick and modular system integration environment.

9. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein information are temporarily stored in a message queue of a routing service when said collaborative operating services component can'"'"'t process them in real time, and are then sent to said collaborative virtual machine after processing in said Step (d).

10. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information systems inside enterprise are called in said Step (e) to carry out subsequent operations.

11. A method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management, a system engineering service platform being provided for integrating information systems outside enterprise, said method comprising the steps of:

a. a client making a request to a CService;

b. said CService querying a service list or interface data and sending out data required for the request or upload;

c. compiling said data required for the request or upload into a collaborative definition expression and then sending to a system engineering service platform kernel after packaging and encryption;

d. said system engineering service platform kernel interpreting said collaborative definition expression and then sending to a collaborative operation services component for processing according to the transmitted message; and

e. packaging the processed result into a response of a service interface sent back to said client via said CService.

12. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11, wherein said product lifecycle management includes the full product lifecycle from idea through requirement, design, development, manufacturing, planning and management, service to termination.

13. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11, wherein said information systems outside enterprise comprise information systems of a plurality of clients or other enterprise platforms outside the collaborative operation system.

14. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the step of registering the service provided by a collaborative operation services component in a service list or interface data of said CService before said Step (a).

15. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11, wherein said CService in said Step (a) is a foreign window providing a collaborative operation environment for the whole system, and provides an interface or a window for global customers of the collaborative operation system or providers not joining in the system yet or information providers of other systems.

16. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11, wherein said client makes a request to said CService via a portal information system in said Step (a).

17. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11, wherein said system engineering service platform kernel in said Step (c) is a basis of said system engineering service platform, and is used as a basic information processing kernel for basic logic operations.

18. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11, wherein said collaborative operating services component in said Step (d) provides basic collaborative operation services on said system engineering service platform, and can fast select appropriate modes and tools according to necessity to offer a quick and modular system integration environment.

19. The method for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the step of feeding back a response information of said service interface to said information systems outside enterprise or feeding back data to the request sender by completely imitating the template page after said Step (e).

20. A system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management, a system engineering service platform being provided for integrating information systems of a central manufacturer, at least a supply manufacturer, a plurality of clients or at least another enterprise platform, said system comprising:

at least a message server for providing message oriented transmission service on said system engineering service platform;

at least a web server for providing web service on said system engineering service platform;

a system engineering service platform server connected with said message server and said web server and used for processing collaborative operations on said system engineering service platform;

at least a product lifecycle management application system server installed at said central manufacturer or said supply manufacturer so that said central manufacturer or said supply manufacturer can connect said message server or said web server to carry out collaborative operations on said system engineering service platform; and

an enterprise portal server installed outside said system engineering service platform so that said client or another enterprise platform can connect said message server or said web server to carry out collaborative operations on said system engineering service platform.

21. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 20, wherein said product lifecycle management includes the full product lifecycle from idea through requirement, design, development, manufacturing, planning and management, service to termination.

22. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 20, wherein said system engineering service platform can be installed at said central manufacturer or information service providers having public credibility.

23. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 20, wherein relevant collaborative operation information processed by said system engineering service platform server can be stored in said system engineering service platform server or another database server in file format.

24. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 20, wherein said product lifecycle management application system server is connected to users of said central manufacturer and said supply manufacturer via an intranet and is connected to said message server or said web server through a firewall and the Internet.

25. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 20, wherein said system engineering service platform comprises:

a system engineering service platform kernel used as a basis of said system engineering service platform and a basic information processing kernel for basic logic operations;

a plurality of collaborative virtual machines used to express collaborative operation actions through predefined collaborative operation dialog descriptions in accordance with different application systems of said client;

a plurality of collaborative operating services components for providing basic collaborative operations services on said system engineering service platform and fast selecting appropriate modes and tools according to necessity to offer a quick and modular system integration environment;

a CService for providing a foreign window of collaborative operation environment for the whole system and an interface or a window for global customers of the collaborative operation system or providers not joining in the system yet or information providers of other systems;

a CGate for providing a communication gate between different collaborative operation systems or other platforms including system engineering service platforms of another collaborative operation systems, a message oriented middleware or public databases; and

a CInterface for providing a standard interface providing the function of self-defined configurations to meet requirements of different collaborative operation systems so that new operation components or enterprise expert systems can be developed according to the interface standard for different requirements.

26. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 25, wherein said system engineering service platform kernel further comprises:

a directory service including all service directories in collaboration operations, directory contents including manufacturers'"'"' public key database, product classification, product serial numbers or manufacturers'"'"' serial numbers;

a routing service sending messages to correct manufacturers or message receivers according to message transmission commands and performing subsequent processing to messages using the queue technique if the messages can'"'"'t be promptly processed;

a registry service providing registry service of product or manufacturer contents and message subscription service;

a repository service responsible for recording message transmission course, relevant message relationships and template definition of collaborative operation procedure;

a transaction service responsible for management of long-time transaction; and

an authorization service for authorization of the environment system in said system engineering service platform and identity validation.

27. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 25, wherein said collaborative virtual machine further comprises:

a packaging service responsible for packaging message packages and reading message packages;

a transferring service responsible for transmission of message packages;

an encryption service responsible for encryption/decryption of message packages; and

a validation service responsible for interpreting and checking the syntax and meaning of message packages in said collaborative definition expression.

28. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 25, wherein said collaborative operating services component further comprises:

a message sending operation, which is a basic function of a message-oriented middleware for sending a packaged message from one terminal to another;

a query operation for performing a query action of a demanding terminal to another information provider;

a subscription/publication operation for subscription of information not issued yet or published periodically;

a collaborative procedure operation for integrating and expanding different procedures in enterprise into trans-enterprise procedures; and

a real-time synchronous operation for providing real-time synchronous operation of basic messages, videos or audios and also integrating application systems inside enterprise into real-time synchronous operation.

29. The system for integrating enterprise collaborative operations in product lifecycle management as claimed in claim 25, wherein said CService is used to build a web service interface corresponding to a collaborative virtual machine and used for providing the function of external messages in collaborative operations of the enterprise system.