SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL ASSISTANCE AGENTS IN PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

• US 20110225183A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rezayat, Mohsen
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method, data processing system, and machine-readable storage medium are provided for digital assistance agents in product lifecycle management. The method includes obtaining context information relating to a first user of a product lifecycle management (PLM) system from an interaction between the first user and a second user of the PLM system. The method also includes receiving input information from the first user and one or more other users of the PLM system. The method further includes receiving action information from or sending action information to the PLM system, where the action information is related to the input information and the context information. The method also includes sending output information to at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system, where the output information relating to a result of receiving action information from or sending action information to the PLM system.

Claims

1. A method for use in a data processing system, the method comprising:

obtaining in the data processing system context information relating to a first user of a product lifecycle management (PLM) system from an interaction between the first user and a second user of the PLM system;

receiving in the data processing system input information from the first user and one or more other users of the PLM system; and

performing one of;

receiving action information from and sending action information to the PLM system, the action information related to the input information and the context information; and

sending from the data processing system output information to at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system, the output information relating to a result of the one of receiving action information from and sending action information to the PLM system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising launching an application in the PLM system, where the application is selected based upon the context information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining in the data processing system history information relating to the context information, wherein the action information is further related to the history information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising launching an application in the PLM system, where the application is selected based upon the history information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording in the data processing system a process performed by at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system; and

comparing in the data processing system the recorded process to stored information relating to a previous process performed by one or more users of the PLM system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the stored information is a template created from the previous process, the method further comprising:

creating in the data processing system a template based upon the recorded process; and

storing the template.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the recorded process has a type, the method further comprising selecting the stored information based on the type of the recorded process.

8. A data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

accessible memory,

wherein the data processing system is particularly configured to;

obtain context information relating to a first user of a product lifecycle management (PLM) system from an interaction between the first user and a second user of the PLM system;

receive input information from the first user and one or more other users of the PLM system; and

perform one of;

receive action information from and send action information to the PLM system, the action information related to the input information and the context information; and

send output information to at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system, the output information relating to a result of the one of receiving action information from and sending action information to the PLM system.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the data processing system is further configured to launch an application in the PLM system, where the application is selected based upon the context information.

10. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the data processing system is further configured to obtain history information relating to the context information, wherein the action information is further related to the history information.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the data processing system is further configured to launch an application in the PLM system, where the application is selected based upon the history information.

12. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the data processing system is further configured to:

record a process performed by at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system; and

compare the recorded process to stored information relating to a previous process performed by one or more users of the PLM system.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the stored information is a template created from the previous process and the data processing system is further configured to:

create a template based upon the recorded process; and

store the template.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the recorded process has a type and the data processing system is further configured to select the stored information based on the type of the recorded process.

15. A tangible machine-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the steps of:

obtaining context information relating to a first user of a product lifecycle management (PLM) system from an interaction between the first user and a second user of the PLM system;

receiving input information from the first user and one or more other users of the PLM system; and

performing one of;

receiving action information from and sending action information to the PLM system, the action information related to the input information and the context information; and

sending output information to at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system, the output information relating to a result of the one of receiving action information from and sending action information to the PLM system.

16. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the step of:

launching an application in the PLM system, where the application is selected based upon the context information.

17. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the step of:

obtaining history information relating to the context information, wherein the action information is further related to the history information.

18. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the step of:

launching an application in the PLM system, where the application is selected based upon the history information.

19. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the steps of:

recording a process performed by at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system; and

comparing the recorded process to stored information relating to a previous process performed by one or more users of the PLM system.

20. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the recorded process has a type, the computer-readable storage medium further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the step of:

selecting the stored information based on the type of the recorded process.