Method and apparatus for publishing part datasheets
First Claim
1. A method for publishing part datasheets comprising the steps of:
- creating a parts classification database;
ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database;
creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts;
linking each part to the identifying characteristics of each part, said linking comprising associating each part with one or more part groups that each part belongs to;
creating a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts; and
providing a presentation table database linked to the technical characterization and part groups which provides context to the technical characteristics and part group accessing the database tree through a part'"'"'s technical characterization.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for publishing part datasheets. A part characterization database is created, and the technical characteristics of parts in the database are ascertained. In addition to parts, part groups are created based on common technical characteristics of parts, and a database tree is created based on the technical characteristics of parts and part groups. A publishing interface coupled to the part characterization database is provided for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database. A computer program product also is provided for publishing part datasheets. The computer program product comprises means for creating the part characterization database, means for ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database and means for creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts. The computer readable medium also comprises means for creating a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts and part groups and means for providing a publishing interface for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method for publishing part datasheets comprising the steps of:
-
creating a parts classification database;
ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database;
creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts;
linking each part to the identifying characteristics of each part, said linking comprising associating each part with one or more part groups that each part belongs to;
creating a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts; and
providing a presentation table database linked to the technical characterization and part groups which provides context to the technical characteristics and part group accessing the database tree through a part'"'"'s technical characterization. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A method for publishing part datasheets comprising the steps of:
-
creating a part characterization database;
ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database;
creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts;
linking each part to the identifying characteristics of each part, said linking comprising associating each part with one or more part groups that each part belongs to;
creating a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts; and
providing a publishing interface coupled to the part characterization database, the publishing interface for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
providing a publishing tool; coupling the publishing tool to the part characterization database with the publishing interface; and
generating a part datasheet employing the publishing tool, the publishing interface and the part characterization database.
-
-
13. The method of claim 12 wherein generating a part datasheet comprises:
-
opening an existing part datasheet with the publishing tool;
connecting to the part characterization database with the publishing interface; and
updating at least one presentation table within the part datasheet with technical characteristics from the part characterization database.
-
-
14. The method of claim 12 wherein generating a part datasheet comprises:
-
generating a new part datasheet with the publishing tool;
connecting to the part characterization database with the publishing interface;
accessing part information stored within the part characterization database;
transferring part information from the part characterization database to the publishing tool; and
employing at least one presentation table of the publishing interface to format the retrieved part information within the part datasheet.
-
-
15. The method of claim 14 wherein accessing part information stored within the part characterization database comprises;
-
selecting a part characterized within the part characterization database;
retrieving characteristics for the selected part;
determining all part groups of which the part is a member; and
retrieving characteristics from each part group of which the part is a member.
-
-
16. The method of claim 3, wherein creating a database tree comprises creating the database tree such that nodes of the database tree are organized according to parent-child hierarchical relationships between the technical characterizations and such that identifying characteristics of a child tree node include the identifying characteristics of a parent tree node.
-
17. A computer program product for use in publishing part datasheets comprising:
-
a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;
means for creating a part characterization database;
means for ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database;
means for creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts;
means for linking each part to the identifying characteristic of each part, said linking comprising associating each part with one or more part groups that each part belongs to;
means for creating a database tree based on the technical characterization of parts; and
means for providing a publishing interface coupled to the part characterization database, the publishing interface for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
means for developing a list of all possible identifying characteristics for the part group;
means for determining which identifying characteristics for the part group actually have values;
means for developing a list of values for the part group'"'"'s identifying characteristics;
means for developing a list of identifying characteristics for the part;
means for developing a list of values for the part'"'"'s identifying characteristics; and
means for comparing the two lists of values to determine if the qualifies for membership in the group.
-
-
23. The method of claim 17, wherein creating a database tree comprises creating the database tree such that nodes of the database tree are organized according to parent-child hierarchical relationships between the technical characterizations and such that identifying characteristics of a child tree node include the identifying characteristics of a parent tree node.
-
24. A method of storing characteristics associated with data item within a database comprising:
-
defining a data item group within the database by a set of identifying characteristics;
providing the data item group with one or more non-identifying characteristics;
defining the data item within the database by a set of identifying characteristics;
assigning the data item as a member of the data item group if the data item has identifying characteristics that match the identifying characteristics of the data item group;
linking each data item to the identifying characteristics of each data item, said linking comprising associating each data item with one or more data item groups that each data item belongs to; and
associating one or more non-identifying characteristics of the data item group with the data item if the data item is a member of the data item group. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
developing a list of all possible identifying characteristics for the data item group;
determining which identifying characteristics for the data item group actually have values;
developing a list of values for the data item group'"'"'s identifying characteristics;
developing a list of identifying characteristics for the data item;
developing a list of values for the data item'"'"'s identifying characteristics; and
comparing the two lists of values to determine if the data item qualifies for membership in the group.
-
-
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the data item comprises a part and wherein the data item group comprises a part group.
-
27. A computer program product for use in storing characteristics associated with a data item within a database comprising:
-
a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;
means for defining a data item group within the database by a set of identifying characteristics;
means for providing the data item group with one or more non-identifying characteristics;
means for defining the data item within the database by a set of identifying characteristic;
means for assigning the data item as a member of the data item group of the data item has identifying characteristics that match the identifying characteristics of the data item group;
means for linking each data to the identifying characteristics of each data item, said linking comprising associating data item with one or more data item groups that each data item belongs to; and
means for associating one or more non-identifying characteristics of the data item group with the data item if the data item is a member of the data item group. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
-
-
30. An apparatus adapted to publish part datasheets comprising:
-
a part characterization database adapted to store technical characteristics of parts, adapted to facilitate creation of part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts, adapted to link each part to the identifying characteristics of each part by associating each part with one or more part groups that each part belongs to, and adapted to facilitate creation of a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts; and
a publishing interface coupled to the part characterization database and adapted to couple a publishing tool to the part characterization database so sa to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
-
Specification