Related parts identification and sales tool

• US 20090248545A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gashaw, Kent A., Wirth, Brian J., Reeb, Rollin G., Bumgarner, Kelly R., Robinson, Gary A., Wiggers, David W., England, Bobby L., Joseph, Elango G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method of identifying related parts is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a product, receiving a selection of at least one part of a product, and identifying at least one related part structurally associated with the selected at least one part. The method further includes generating a parts list containing the selected at least one part and the identified at least one related part, and presenting the parts list.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of identifying related parts, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a product;

receiving a selection of at least one part of the product;

identifying at least one related part structurally associated with the selected at least one part;

generating a parts list containing the selected at least one part and the identified at least one related part; and

presenting the parts list.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further includes:

identifying a parts manual for the product;

determining whether the identified at least one related part is included in the parts manual; and

removing from the parts list the identified at least one related part when it is determined that the identified at least one related part is not included in the parts manual.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the identifying includes determining at least one repair involving the selected at least one part, and the at least one related part is identified based on the repair.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further includes:

determining a repair level associated with the selected at least one part;

determining a repair level associated with the identified at least one related part; and

removing from the parts list the identified at least one related part when the repair level of the identified at least one related part is greater than the repair level of the selected at least one part, wherein;

the repair level includes one of a first repair level indicating parts required to replace a group of structurally-related parts including the at selected at least one part, and a second repair level indicating parts required to recondition a group of structurally-related parts including the selected at least one part, and

the first repair level is greater than the second repair level.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further includes:

determining a parentage of the selected at least one part;

determining a parentage of the identified at least one related part; and

removing from the parts list the identified at least one related part if the parentage of the identified at least one related part is not the same as the parentage of the selected at least one part.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein:

the parentage of the selected at least one part includes at least one part hierarchically above the selected at least one part within a structure of the product, and

the parentage of the identified at least one related part includes at least one part hierarchically above the identified at least one part within the structure of the product.

7. A method of identifying related parts, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a product;

receiving a selection of at least one part of the product;

identifying at least one related part structurally associated with the selected at least one part;

generating a parts list containing the selected at least one part and the identified at least one related part; and

presenting the parts list.

8. The method of claim 7, further including:

identifying a parts manual for the product;

determining whether the identified at least one related part is included in the parts manual; and

removing from the parts list the identified at least one related part when it is determined that the identified at least one related part is not included in the parts manual.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the identifying includes determining at least one repair involving the selected at least one part, and the at least one related part is identified based on the repair.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further includes:

determining a repair level associated with the selected at least one part;

determining a repair level associated with the identified at least one related part; and

removing from the parts list the identified at least one related part when the repair level of the identified at least one related part is greater than the repair level of the selected at least one part.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the repair level includes one of a first repair level indicating parts required to replace a group of structurally-related parts including the at selected at least one part, and a second repair level indicating parts required to recondition a group of structurally-related parts including the selected at least one part, and

the first repair level is greater than the second repair level.

12. The method of claim 7, further including:

determining a parentage of the selected at least one part;

determining a parentage of the identified at least one related part; and

removing from the parts list the identified at least one related part if the parentage of the identified at least one related part is not the same as the parentage of the selected at least one part.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the parentage of the selected at least one part includes at least one part hierarchically above the selected at least one part within a structure of the product, and

the parentage of the identified at least one related part includes at least one part hierarchically above the identified at least one part within the structure of the product.

14. The method of claim 7, further including ordering, by the user, parts listed in the parts list.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a memory;

at least one input device; and

a processor in communication with the memory and the at least one input device, wherein the processor;

receives, via the input device, a selection of a product;

receives, via the input device, a selection of at least one part of the product;

identifies at least one related part structurally associated with the selected at least one part;

generates a parts list containing the selected at least one part and the identified at least one related part; and

presents the parts list.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the processor further:

identifies a parts manual for the product;

determines whether the identified at least one related part is included in the parts manual; and

removes from the parts list the identified at least one related part when it is determined that the identified at least one related part is not included in the parts manual.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein:

the identifying includes determining at least one repair involving the selected at least one part, and

the at least one related part is identified based on the repair.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the processor further:

determines a repair level associated with the selected at least one part;

determines a repair level associated with the identified at least one related part; and

removes from the parts list the identified at least one related part when the repair level of the identified at least one related part is greater than the repair level of the selected at least one part, wherein;

the repair level includes one of a first repair level indicating parts required to replace a group of structurally-related parts including the at selected at least one part, and a second repair level indicating parts required to recondition a group of structurally-related parts including the selected at least one part, and

the first repair level is greater than the second repair level.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the processor further:

determines a parentage of the selected at least one part;

determines a parentage of the identified at least one related part; and

removes from the parts list the identified at least one related part if the parentage of the identified at least one related part is not the same as the parentage of the selected at least one part.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein:

the parentage of the selected at least one part includes at least one part hierarchically above the selected at least one part within a structure of the product, and

the parentage of the identified at least one related part includes at least one part hierarchically above the identified at least one part within the structure of the product.