Automated instructional system for performing mechanical procedures
First Claim
1. A method for performing a mechanical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a computer system that includes a relational data base, the data base comprisingat least one unit operation file containing data associated with the performance of a single unit operation including data identifying one or more specific parts and references to generic instructions and a pointer to any prior unit operation and an indication of any subsequent unit operation that must be completed to perform the mechanical procedure, anda generic instruction file containing a plurality of generic instructions;
arranging a sequence of unit operations that must be performed to complete the mechanical procedure based upon the pointers provided by the at least one unit operation file as to any prior unit operations and any subsequent unit operations; and
generating a series of instructions for performing the mechanical procedure in the sequence of unit operations established by said arranging step, the step of generating including a step of creating a series of task-specific instructions for each of the unit operations by integrating the data provided by each unit operation file including the data relating to one or more specific parts with generic instructions from the generic instruction file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical procedure is performed using a sequence of instructions generated from a relational data base. The data base includes at least one unit operation file containing data associated with the performance of a single unit operation, indications of prior operations that must be performed, and any support files that are required by each unit operation file. There is a generic instruction file containing a plurality of generic instructions. A sequence of unit operations to perform the mechanical procedure is first defined, using the information in the unit operation files. After this arranging of the unit operations, a series of task-specific instructions is generated for each of the unit operations by selecting and completing a series of generic instructions using information in each pertinent unit operation file.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for performing a mechanical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer system that includes a relational data base, the data base comprising at least one unit operation file containing data associated with the performance of a single unit operation including data identifying one or more specific parts and references to generic instructions and a pointer to any prior unit operation and an indication of any subsequent unit operation that must be completed to perform the mechanical procedure, and a generic instruction file containing a plurality of generic instructions; arranging a sequence of unit operations that must be performed to complete the mechanical procedure based upon the pointers provided by the at least one unit operation file as to any prior unit operations and any subsequent unit operations; and generating a series of instructions for performing the mechanical procedure in the sequence of unit operations established by said arranging step, the step of generating including a step of creating a series of task-specific instructions for each of the unit operations by integrating the data provided by each unit operation file including the data relating to one or more specific parts with generic instructions from the generic instruction file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for performing a mechanical procedure comprised of at least one unit operation, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of generic instructions; providing a computer system that includes a data base comprising a unit operation file containing data associated with the performance of a single unit operation including data identifying one or more specific parts and references to the generic instructions; and automatically generating a series of task-specific instructions for performing the unit operation by selecting and completing a series of generic instructions based upon the data provided by the data base including data identifying one or more specific parts.
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15. Apparatus for providing instructions during the performance of a mechanical procedure, comprising:
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a display screen; a memory containing a relational data base, the data base comprising at least one unit operation file containing data associated with the performance of a single unit operation including data identifying one or more specific parts and references to generic instructions and a pointer to any prior unit operation that must be completed to perform the mechanical procedure, and a generic instruction file containing a plurality of generic instructions; means for arranging a sequence of unit operations that must be performed to complete the mechanical procedure based upon the pointers provided by the at least one unit operation file as to any prior unit operations that must be completed to perform the mechanical procedure; means, responsive to said arranging means, for generating a series of instructions for performing the mechanical procedure in the sequence of unit operations established by said arranging means, the means for generating including means for creating a series of task-specific instructions for each of the unit operations by integrating the data provided by each unit operation file including the data relating to one or more specific parts with generic instructions from the generic instruction file; and means for sequentially displaying the series of task-specific instructions on the display screen.
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Specification