Serial Number Control Visualization System

• US 20140365943A1
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Senesac, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,416,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for visualizing a group of parts in an aircraft. A volume in the aircraft is identified. The group of parts that are serial number controlled within the volume are also identified. The group of parts within the volume are displayed on a display system to form a visualization. The visualization enables locating the group of parts within the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing a group of parts in an aircraft, the method comprising:

identifying a volume in the aircraft;

identifying the group of parts that are serial number controlled within the volume; and

displaying the group of parts within the volume on a display system to form a visualization, wherein the visualization enables locating the group of parts within the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on the display system, wherein the sections correspond to the sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft, and wherein the sections are selectable; and

wherein identifying the volume in the aircraft comprises;

identifying the volume in a model of the aircraft corresponding to a section selected from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume is defined by coordinates in a model of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the group of parts that are serial number controlled within the volume comprises:

identifying parts in the model that are located within the volume defined by the coordinates; and

identifying the group of parts from the parts identified as being within the volume.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the group of parts within the volume on the display system to form the visualization comprises:

generating graphical representations of the group of parts from the model; and

displaying the group of parts on the display system by displaying the graphical representations of the group of parts in a graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step comprises:

displaying the group of parts within the volume on the display system in context with other parts in the volume.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step comprises:

displaying the group of parts within the volume on the display system without a context with other parts in the volume.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a set of graphical indicators in association with the group of parts.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates at least one of a presence of a part that is serial number controlled or whether a serial number for the part that is serial number controlled has been verified.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of graphical indicators is selected from at least one of a color, cross hatching, an icon, highlighting, or animation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the volume in the aircraft comprises:

receiving a user input selecting a portion of the aircraft from sections of the aircraft displayed on a graphical user interface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the volume in the aircraft comprises:

receiving a user input selecting the group of parts from a list of parts.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a group of shop order instances for the group of parts that are serial number controlled.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

displaying a set of graphical indicators in association with the group of parts displayed on the display system, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates a status of shop order instances for at least one of an assembly or a number of assemblies in which the group of parts is located.

15. A method for visualizing a group of parts in an object, the method comprising:

identifying a volume in the object;

identifying the group of parts that are serial number controlled within the volume; and

displaying the group of parts within the volume on a display system to form a visualization of the group of parts, wherein the visualization enables locating the group of parts within the object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the object is selected from one of a vehicle, a submarine, a personnel carrier, a tank, a train, an automobile, a bus, a spacecraft, a surface ship, a satellite, a rocket, an engine, a computer, harvesters, construction cranes, bulldozers, and mining equipment.

17. An aircraft management system comprising:

an object manager that identifies a volume in an aircraft;

identifies a group of parts that are serial number controlled within the volume; and

displays the group of parts within the volume on a display system to form a visualization of the group of parts, wherein the visualization enables locating the group of parts within the aircraft.

18. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein the displaying step comprises:

displaying the group of parts within the volume on the display system in context with other parts in the volume.

19. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein in displaying the group of parts within the volume on the display system, the object manager displays the group of parts within the volume on the display system without a context with other parts in the volume.

20. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein the object manager displays a set of graphical indicators in association with the group of parts.

21. The aircraft management system of claim 20, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates at least one of a presence of a part that is serial number controlled or whether a serial number for the part that is serial number controlled has been verified.

22. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein in identifying the volume in the aircraft, the object manager receives a user input selecting a portion of the aircraft from sections of the aircraft displayed on a graphical user interface.

23. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein in identifying the volume in the aircraft, the object manager receives a user input selecting the group of parts from a list of parts.

24. The aircraft management system of claim 21, wherein the set of graphical indicators is selected from at least one of a color, cross hatching, an icon, highlighting, or animation.