Expert configurator
First Claim
1. A multi-level system for constructing a first custom work order for an end item and a plurality of second custom work orders for a plurality of configurable lower-level items necessary for manufacturing the end item, the system comprising:
- a) order entry configuration means for enabling a customer desiring a particular product to specify features and options corresponding to the product, the product comprising the end item and the configurable lower-level items, the order entry configuration means comprising;
i) questioning means for presenting a plurality of sets of questions to a user, the sets of questions relating to the features and options of the product; and
ii) input means for inputting a plurality of sets of answers to the questions, the sets of answers specifying the features and options for the end item and the configurable lower-level items;
b) options storage means for storing the plurality of sets of answers, the options storage means comprising;
i) end item data structure means for storing the features and options needed to generate work order requirements to construct the end item; and
ii) lower-level item data structure means for storing the features and options needed to generate work order requirements to construct the configurable lower-level items; and
c) manufacturing configuration means for automatically generating the first custom work order to construct the end item and the plurality of second custom work orders to construct the configurable lower-level items, the manufacturing configuration means comprising;
i) means for accessing the end item data structure means and the lower-level item data structure means in order to retrieve the sets of answers; and
ii) means for translating the retrieved sets of answers into manufacturing requirements and for generating from the manufacturing requirements the first custom work order and the plurality of second custom work orders for construction of the product, including the end item and the configurable lower-level items, meeting the features and options specified by the customer, the first custom work order corresponding to construction of the end item and the plurality of second custom work orders corresponding to construction of the configurable lower-level items.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-level system generates multiple custom work orders for the manufacture of an end item and lower-level configurable items comprising the end item. The system includes an order entry configuration for obtaining option values that define specifications for the end item and lower-level configurable items. An options storage within the system stores the option values and parameters for generating work order requirements for the end item and lower-level configurable items. The system further includes a manufacturing configuration which, after the order entry configuration processes the option values, generates the multiple custom work orders by interactively accessing the options storage.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A multi-level system for constructing a first custom work order for an end item and a plurality of second custom work orders for a plurality of configurable lower-level items necessary for manufacturing the end item, the system comprising:
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a) order entry configuration means for enabling a customer desiring a particular product to specify features and options corresponding to the product, the product comprising the end item and the configurable lower-level items, the order entry configuration means comprising; i) questioning means for presenting a plurality of sets of questions to a user, the sets of questions relating to the features and options of the product; and ii) input means for inputting a plurality of sets of answers to the questions, the sets of answers specifying the features and options for the end item and the configurable lower-level items; b) options storage means for storing the plurality of sets of answers, the options storage means comprising; i) end item data structure means for storing the features and options needed to generate work order requirements to construct the end item; and ii) lower-level item data structure means for storing the features and options needed to generate work order requirements to construct the configurable lower-level items; and c) manufacturing configuration means for automatically generating the first custom work order to construct the end item and the plurality of second custom work orders to construct the configurable lower-level items, the manufacturing configuration means comprising; i) means for accessing the end item data structure means and the lower-level item data structure means in order to retrieve the sets of answers; and ii) means for translating the retrieved sets of answers into manufacturing requirements and for generating from the manufacturing requirements the first custom work order and the plurality of second custom work orders for construction of the product, including the end item and the configurable lower-level items, meeting the features and options specified by the customer, the first custom work order corresponding to construction of the end item and the plurality of second custom work orders corresponding to construction of the configurable lower-level items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A process for dynamically constructing a plurality of custom work orders for an end item and for a plurality of lower-level configurable items necessary for manufacturing the end item, the process comprising:
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a) processing a first set of option values for the end item and the lower-level items comprising the end item; b) executing a recursive process of gathering a second set of option values for each lower-level configurable item identified while processing the first and second sets of option values until processing of the second sets of option values for all the lower-level configurable items is complete, the recursive processing comprising the steps of; 1) suspending processing of a parent set of option values for a parent configurable item when a lower-level configurable item is identified; 2) transferring control to a processing of a lower-level set of option values for the identified lower-level configurable item; 3) processing the lower-level set of option values for the identified lower-level configurable item; and 4) returning to the processing of the parent set of option values for the parent configurable item; and c) generating a plurality of custom work orders for the end item and the lower-level configurable items based upon data available to the process which includes the sets of option values. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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Specification