3-D spatial GUI querying and manipulating an RDMS for order-entry applications

• US 5,847,971 A
• Filed: 01/05/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Branc, Joseph R., Ladner, Francis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTS, ANDREW S
• Application Number:
  US08/583,471
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 395/119, 395/919, 395/921, 395/961-968, 364/479.04, 364/225.4, 364/226.3, 364/282.1, 364/512, 364/578
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

A furniture specification system, designed for relatively large scale office furniture projects, having three basic components: 1) means for generating a furniture specification which contains data specifying a plurality of the available furniture products; 2) means for generating a visual display of the furniture products specified by the furniture specification on a display device; and 3) means for generating a cost specification based upon the furniture specification. Since both the visual display of the furniture products and the cost specification are generated from the same furniture specification, the possibility of discrepancies between the visual display and the cost specification is eliminated. The means for generating the furniture specification allows the user to add or delete individual products and to add product clusters to the furniture specification. After the products are selected, the user may select product finishes, such as wood grain finishes, furniture options, product keying information, and destination tags. After the project is specified, a quotation or purchase order may be automatically generated from the furniture specification.

Claims

1. A furniture specification system, comprising:

means for storing a first set of data representing a plurality of available furniture products, a second set of data representing a plurality of product clusters, each of said product clusters including a plurality of different types of furniture products, and a third set of data representing a stored value for each of a plurality of furniture attributes for each of said product clusters;

means for generating a furniture specification which specifies a plurality of said available furniture products, said means for generating a furniture specification comprising;

means for prompting a user to input an upper value and a lower value for one of said furniture attributes;

means for searching said storing means to locate each of said product clusters for which said stored value for said one furniture attribute input by the user is within a range defined by said upper and lower values for said one furniture attribute input by the user; and

means for generating a visual display to the user which identifies each of said product clusters located by said searching means;

means for generating a visual display of said furniture products specified by said furniture specification on a display device; and

means for generating a cost specification based upon said furniture specification.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said product clusters includes a desk, a desk chair, and a credenza.

3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said office space comprises a single substantially enclosed office.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said product clusters includes a conference table and at least one conference table chair.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said product clusters includes at least one desk unit and at least one storage unit.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said prompting means comprises means for prompting the user to input cost information and a value specifying a number of primary occupants for an office.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said prompting means comprises means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of furniture attributes.

8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating a visual display to the user which identifies each of said product clusters located by said searching means comprises means for displaying cost information for each of said product clusters located by said searching means.

9. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating a visual display to the user which identifies each of said product clusters located by said searching means comprises means for displaying a visual representation of each of said product clusters located by said searching means.

10. A system as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising:

means for allowing the user to select one of said product clusters located by said selecting means; and

means for allowing the user to delete one of said products of said product cluster selected by the user.

11. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating a furniture specification comprises means for generating a furniture specification for a plurality of offices, said furniture specification specifying at least one furniture item for each of said offices.

12. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said furniture specification includes, for each of said furniture products, a data record comprising:

data specifying a furniture item type for said furniture item;

data specifying a plurality of characteristics of said furniture item; and

data specifying the cost of said furniture item.

13. A furniture specification system, comprising:

means for generating a furniture specification which specifies a plurality of furniture products, said generating means comprising;

means for allowing a user to select a plurality of furniture products specified by said furniture specification;

means for allowing a user to select a furniture option for said plurality of furniture products selected by the user; and

means for automatically assigning said furniture option to said plurality of furniture products selected by the user so that said furniture option is included in said furniture specification;

means for generating a visual display of said furniture products specified by said furniture specification on a display device; and

means for generating a cost specification based upon said furniture specification.

14. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for allowing a user to select a plurality of furniture products comprises means for allowing the user to generate a boundary around a plurality of furniture products displayed on said display device.

15. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for generating a furniture specification comprises means for generating a furniture specification for a plurality of offices, said furniture specification specifying at least one furniture item for each of said offices.

16. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for generating a visual display of said furniture products generates a visual display of said furniture option for each of said products for which said furniture option was assigned.