System and method for implementing revision management of linked data entities and user dependent terminology

• US 6,243,717 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Camstar Systems, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Preston, David Ralph, Henry, Lee Sean, Gordon, Brian Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US09/156,325
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 707/203, 707/202, 707/201, 707/200, 707/204, 707/205, 707/1, 707/2, 707/511
• US Class Current: 707/695
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/219 Managing data history or versioning querying versioned data G06F16/2474; querying temporal data G06F16/2477
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A system and method for implementing revision management of linked data entities and user dependent terminology. The present invention provides a novel method to implement revision management so that when a referenced data record is revised, no manual updating of any referencing data record is required to reflect the corresponding change. When defining a referencing data record, a user designates a choice of version of the referenced data record to be used with the referencing data record thereafter. Specifically, the user can either specify a particular version, in which case that particular version of the referenced data record will be used when the referencing data record is subsequently accessed, or the user can elect to use the “revision of record”, in which case the version of the referenced data record currently identified as the “revision of record” will be used. The present invention also provides a method to implement user dependent terminology in a computer implemented system without requiring any user programming. Specifically, when a user logs in, the system determines the appropriate language and values of customizable terms for the user by checking the associated language and terminology set previously defined for the user. Thereafter, the system displays the custom value of the customizable term if it is defined within the terminology set associated with this user; otherwise, if it is defined within the language set associated with this user the system displays the corresponding representation of that customizable term in the user'"'"'s chosen language; otherwise, the system displays the default value for the customizable term.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method for managing a plurality of modeling entities, said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing a first version of a revisionable modeling entity in a retrievable storage, said revisionable modeling entity being one of said plurality of modeling entities;

b) storing a general modeling entity in said retrievable storage, wherein said general modeling entity is one of said plurality of modeling entities and references said revisionable modeling entity wherein said step b) comprises the step of setting an indicator representing a choice of version of said revisionable modeling entity to be selected upon retrieval of said general modeling entity; and

c) dynamically retrieving said general modeling entity from said retrievable storage, said step c) comprising the steps of;

c1) examining said indicator to determine said choice of version of said revisionable modeling entity to be selected in conjunction with said general modeling entity;

c2) selecting a predetermined version of said revisionable modeling entity for said general modeling entity provided that said indicator specifies said predetermined version of said revisionable modeling entity; and

c3) selecting a designated version of said revisionable modeling entity for said general modeling entity provided that said indicator specifies said designated version of said revisionable modeling entity.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said retrievable storage is a relational database.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of storing a second version of said revisionable modeling entity in said retrievable storage.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said general modeling entity is a second revisionable modeling entity.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said general modeling entity is a product family.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said general modeling entity is a workflow step.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a workflow.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a product definition.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a process specification.

10. In a computer system, a method of managing a plurality of modeling entities, said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing a plurality of versions of a revisionable modeling entity into a computer readable medium, said revisionable modeling entity being one of said plurality of modeling entities;

b) appointing a first appointed version of said plurality of versions of said revisionable modeling entity as a revision of record for said plurality of versions;

c) generating a general modeling entity, based in part on user originated information, wherein said general modeling entity is linked to a selected version of said plurality of versions of said revisionable modeling entity to receive information therefrom, said step c) comprising the steps of;

c1) generating a user interface on said computer system for a user to select said selected version, said user interface comprising;

a first field for receiving a particular version number, wherein said selected version is said particular version number; and

a second field for receiving an indicator set or reset, wherein if set, said indicator indicates that said selected version is said revision of record regardless of said first field; and

c2) storing said general modeling entity in said computer readable medium.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

d) appointing a second appointed version of said plurality of versions as said revision of record for said plurality of versions, said second appointed version being different from said first appointed version; and

e) responsive to step d), automatically linking to said second appointed version, any general modeling entity having selected said revision of record, said step e) being performed without requiring any modification to said any general modeling entity so selected.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said computer readable medium is managed by a relational database.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a process specification.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a set of work instructions.

15. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said general modeling entity is a workflow step for describing a step of a manufacturing workflow and wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a process specification having said plurality of versions.

16. A computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory unit coupled to said bus, said memory unit having stored therein instructions that when executed implement a method for managing a plurality of modeling entities, said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing a plurality of versions of a revisionable modeling entity into a computer readable medium, said revisionable modeling entity being one of said plurality of modeling entities;

b) appointing a first appointed version of said plurality of versions of said revisionable modeling entity as a revision of record for said plurality of versions;

c) generating a general modeling entity, based in part on user originated information, wherein said general modeling entity is linked to a selected version of said plurality of versions of said revisionable modeling entity to receive information therefrom, said step c) comprising the steps of;

c1) generating a user interface on said computer system for a user to select said selected version, said user interface comprising;

a first field for receiving a particular version number, wherein said selected version is said particular version number; and

a second field for receiving an indicator set or reset, wherein if set, said indicator indicates that said selected version is said revision of record regardless of said first field; and

c2) storing said general modeling entity in said computer readable medium.

17. The computer system as recited in claim 16 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

d) appointing a second appointed version of said plurality of versions as said revision of record for said plurality of versions, said second appointed version being different from said first appointed version; and

e) responsive to step d), automatically linking to said second appointed version, any general modeling entity having selected said revision of record, said step e) being performed without requiring any modification to said any general modeling entity so selected.

18. The computer system as recited in claim 16 wherein said computer readable medium is managed by a relational database.

19. The computer system as recited in claim 16 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a process specification.

20. The computer system as recited in claim 16 wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a set of work instructions.

21. The computer system as recited in claim 16 wherein said general modeling entity is a workflow step for describing a step of a manufacturing workflow and wherein said revisionable modeling entity is a process specification having said plurality of versions.