Product data management method and system

• US 20060173953A1
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hans Salzsauler
• Original Assignee: Hans Salzsauler
• Inventors: Salzsauler, Hans
• Application Number:
  US11/048,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173953A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A PDM method and system is described, wherein documents associated with products are stored in at least one PDM server (2) and data exchange (4, 6, 8, 14, 16) between the at least one PDM server (2) and clients (20, 22, 24, 26) of divisions via at least one interface (46, 47, 48, 49) per division is provided. Tasks are defined (21, 23, 25) for managing product data using a descriptive language. These task definitions are automatically translated (40) into corresponding process execution instructions for clients (20, 22, 24, 26) of the divisions which are concerned by the defined tasks and the interfaces (46, 47, 48, 49) belonging to divisions which are concerned by the defined tasks are automatically configured (42) for according to the defined task necessary data exchange (4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 18) between clients (20, 22, 24, 26) of concerned divisions and the at least one PDM server (2). The PDM system according to the invention provides a configuration engine (140) which is provided for automatically translating the task definitions into corresponding process execution instructions for the clients (120, 122, 124, 126) and automatically configuring the interfaces (146, 147, 148, 149) concerned with the task definition for according to these defined tasks necessary data exchange between clients (120, 122, 124, 126) of the divisions and the PDM server. As descriptive language XML is used preferably. The method as well as the system according to the invention can also be used to provide a PLM or a PDM/PLM method and system.

Claims

1. Product data management (PDM) method comprising the steps of:

Storing at least one document associated with a product in at least one PDM server (2);

exchanging data (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) between the at least one PDM server (2) and clients (20, 22, 24, 26) of divisions via at least one interface (46, 47, 48, 49) per division;

defining tasks (21, 23, 25) for managing product data using a descriptive language;

automatically translating (40) defined tasks into corresponsing process execution instructions for clients (20, 22, 24, 26) of the divisions concerned by at least one defined task;

automatically configuring (42) interfaces (46, 47, 48, 49) belonging to devisions concerned by at least one defined task for according to this at least one 20 defined task necessary data exchange (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) between clients (20, 22, 24, 26) of these concerned divisions and the at least one PDM server (2).

2. PDM method according to claim 1 further comprising defining of tasks (21, 23, 25) using an extended markup language (XML) as descriptive language.

3. PDM method according to claim 1 further comprising automatically generating according to defined tasks user interfaces (43), in particular graphical user interfaces, for the entering of data within at least one interface (46, 47, 48, 49).

4. PDM method according to claim 3 further comprising storing of data (45) entered in at least one user interface and displaying this data as preselection values when this at least one user interface is invoked the next time.

5. PDM method according to claim 1 further comprising managing of product related life cycles (PLM) and corresponding data in the same way as documents associated with this product.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration engine (140) is capable of receiving task definitions given in extended markup language (XML) as a particular descriptive language.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration engine (140) is capable of automatically generating according to defined tasks user interfaces, particularly graphical user interfaces, for the entering of data within at least one interface (146, 147, 148, 149).

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the data entered in at least one user interface is stored and displayed as preselected data the next time this at least one user interface is invoked.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a product life cycle management (PLM) server being bi-directionally connected to the at least one PDM server (170) or integrated in the at least one PDM server (170).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein task definitions can be made in at least one client (120, 122, 124, 126) of at least one division.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the interfaces (146, 147, 148, 149) is integrated into the at least one PDM server (102).

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration engine (140, 141) is integrated into the at least one PDM server (102).

14. The-system of claim 1,-wherein at least a part of the interfaces (146, 147, 148, 149) is formed by web-servers (173) which are connected to the at least one PDM server (170).

6. Product data management (PDM) system comprising:

a PDM server (102);

clients (120, 122, 124, 126) of divisions;

at least one interface (146, 147, 148, 149) per division connecting the at least one PDM server (102) with at least a part of the clients (120, 122, 124, 126) of the divisions;

a configuration engine (140) connected to at least a part of the interfaces (146, 147, 148, 149) and at least a part of the clients (120, 122, 124, 126) of the divisions;

whereas the configuration engine is provided for;

receiving tasks definitions given in a descriptive language,

automatically translating received task definitions into corresponding process execution instructions for at least a part of the clients (120, 122, 124, 126) concerned with at least one received task definition,

automatically configuring at least a part of the interfaces (146, 147, 148, 149) concerned with at least one received task definition for according to these defined task necessary data exchange between clients (120, 122, 124, 126) connected to the concerned interfaces (146, 147, 148, 149) and the PDM server.