Method and apparatus for classifying equipment in asset management database

• US 6,650,346 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Cooper, Thomas G., Dorman, Peggy J., Jones, Michael C., Jaeger, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): DETWILER, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/620,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 345/968, 345/764, 345/765, 345/780, 345/781, 707/102, 707/1, 707/3, 707/100, 705/28
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Method and apparatus inputting information identifying and classifying an article in an asset management database. A graphical user interface has a first screen showing a search field and a display window. A reference database has records, each record containing manufacturer, model and article type information for a respective class of articles. In response to the input of a manufacturer query in the search field, a list of entries is displayed in the display window. Each entry includes the same manufacturer identifier, a different model number, and one of multiple article types derived from the reference database. In response to selection of one of the list entries, a second screen appears having an empty data field for entry of an article identifier identifying an article made by a manufacturer identified by the manufacturer identifier and having the model number for the selected entry, and filled data fields containing the manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for said selected entry. The manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for the selected entry are stored in an asset management database in association with the article identifier in response to activation by the data entry person.

Claims

1. A system for inputting information identifying and classifying an article in a database, comprising

a graphical user interface comprising a first screen, said first screen comprising a search field and a display window;

a reference database comprising a first multiplicity of records, each record of said reference database containing manufacturer, model and article type information for a respective class of articles and not containing article identifiers that uniquely identify any particular article belonging to any class of articles;

an asset management database comprising a second multiplicity of records, each record of said asset management database containing manufacturer, model, article type, and article identifier information for a respective article, each article identifier uniquely identifying each article in an inventory;

means for inputting a search word comprising a sequence of alphanumeric characters uniquely identifying a particular manufacturer in said search field on said first screen;

means for displaying a list of entries in said display window on said first screen in response to input of said search word, each of said entries comprising a manufacturer identifier identifying said particular manufacturer, a different model number representing respective models of equipment manufactured by said particular manufacturer, and a respective designation identifying one of a multiplicity of article types by which said respective model of equipment is classified, all of said information being retrieved from said reference database; and

means for selecting one of said entries listed in said display window,

wherein said graphical user interface changes from said first screen to a second screen in response to said selection of said one of said entries, said second screen comprising an empty data field for entry of an article identifier uniquely identifying an article made by said particular manufacturer and having the model number for said selected entry, filled data fields containing the manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for said selected entry, and an activation area that is selectable by said selecting means, and

wherein said system further comprises means for creating a new record containing the information appearing in said fields on said second screen at the time when said activation area is selected after entry of said article identifier and storing said new record in said asset management database.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second screen comprises other empty data fields for entry of other article information for said article identified by said article identifier, said other article information being stored in said asset management database in association with said article identifier in response to selection of said activation area via said selecting means.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said activation area comprises a virtual button.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises a movable visual indicator, and said selecting means comprise an input device for controlling the position of said visual indicator on said first screen.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said input device comprises a mouse.

6. A system comprising:

a display monitor;

software for displaying a graphical user interface on said display screen, said graphical user interface comprising a first screen comprising a search field and a display window;

an operator input interface;

a reference database comprising a first multiplicity of records, each record of said reference database containing manufacturer, model and article type information for a respective class of articles and not containing article identifiers that uniquely identify any particular article belonging to any class of articles;

an asset management database comprising a second multiplicity of records, each record of said asset management database containing manufacturer, model, article type, and article identifier information for a respective article, each article identifier uniquely identifying each article in an inventory;

software for controlling said display monitor to display a list of entries in said display window in response to input of a search word comprising a sequence of alphanumeric characters uniquely identifying a particular manufacturer in said search field on said first screen via said operator input interface, each of said entries comprising a manufacturer identifier identifying said particular manufacturer, a different model number representing respective models of equipment manufactured by said particular manufacturer, and a respective designation identifying one of a multiplicity of article types by which said respective model of equipment is classified, all of said information being retrieved from said reference database; and

software for selecting one of said entries listed in said display window in response to input of an entry selection via said operator input interface,

wherein said graphical user interface changes from said first screen to a second screen in response to said selection of said one of said entries, said second screen comprising an empty data field for entry of an article identifier uniquely identifying an article made by said particular manufacturer and having the model number for said selected entry, filled data fields containing the manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for said selected entry, and an activation area that is selectable via said operator input interface, and

wherein said system further comprises software for creating a new record containing the information appearing in said fields on said second screen at the time when said activation area is selected after entry of said article identifier and storing said new record in said asset management database in response to selection of said activation area, said entry in said empty data field being treated as an article identifier of the article to be classified.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said second screen comprises other empty data fields for entry of other article information for said article identified by said article identifier, said other article information being stored in said asset management database in association with said article identifier in response to selection of said activation area via said operator input interface.

8. A system comprising:

a display monitor;

an operator input device;

memory storing a reference database comprising a multiplicity of records, each record containing manufacturer, model and article type information for a respective class of articles and not containing article identifiers that uniquely identify any particular article belonging to any class of articles; and

a computer programmed to perform the following steps;

controlling said display monitor to display a graphical user interface on said display screen, said graphical user interface comprising a first screen comprising a search field and a display window;

controlling said display monitor to display a list of entries in said display window in response to input of a search word comprising a sequence of alphanumeric characters uniquely identifying a particular manufacturer in said search field via said operator input device, each of said entries comprising a manufacturer identifier identifying said particular manufacturer, a different model number representing respective models of equipment manufactured by said particular manufacturer, and a respective designation identifying one of a multiplicity of article types by which said respective model of equipment is classified, all of said information being retrieved from said reference database;

controlling said display monitor to visually indicate a selected one of said entries listed in said display window in response to input of an entry selection via said operator input interface;

controlling said display monitor to change said graphical user interface from said first screen to a second screen following the input of said entry selection, said second screen comprising an empty data field for entry of an article identifier uniquely identifying an article made by said particular manufacturer and having the model number for said selected entry, and filled data fields containing the manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for said selected entry; and

loading said manufacturer identifier, said model number and said article type in association with said article identifier in an asset management database in memory in response to input of a load data command via said operator input device.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said second screen comprises other empty data fields for entry of other article information for said article identified by said article identifier, said computer being further programmed to store said other article information in said asset management database in association with said article identifier in response to input of said load data command via said operator input interface.

10. A method for adding a record identifying and describing an article having a unique article identifier to an asset management database containing digital data, comprising the following steps:

determining the manufacturer and model number of said article;

inputting a search word comprising a sequence of alphanumeric characters uniquely identifying the particular manufacturer of said article in a search field on a first screen of a graphical user interface;

displaying a pop-up pick list on said first screen in response to said inputting step, said pick list comprising a list of entries, each of said entries comprising a manufacturer identifier identifying said particular manufacturer, a different model number representing respective models of equipment manufactured by said particular manufacturer, and a respective designation identifying one of a multiplicity of article types by which said respective model of equipment is classified, wherein none of said entries includes an article identifier uniquely identifying said article;

interacting with said graphical user interface to select the one of said listed entries that identifies the model number of said article;

displaying a second screen in response to said selection of said one of said entries, said second screen comprising an empty data field for entry of an article identifier uniquely identifying said article, filled data fields containing the manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for said selected entry, and an activation area that is selectable by said selecting means;

interacting with said graphical user interface to enter said article identifier of said article in said empty data field and then select said activation area; and

storing in said asset management database a new record containing the information appearing in said fields on said second screen at the time when said activation area is selected, said new record comprising the manufacturer identifier, the model number, the article identifier and the article type for said article.