Modification planning arrangement

• US 7,164,958 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valmet Technologies OY
• Original Assignee: Metso Paper Incorporated (Neles Oyj)
• Inventors: Tahkapaa, Mikko, Leino, Jorma, Airaksinen, Laura
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kasenge; Charles
• Application Number:
  US10/514,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 700/128, 700/96, 700/97, 700/98, 700/100, 700/105, 700/127, 709/246, 709/231, 716/1, 716/11, 703/1, 703/22, 715/502, 715/511, 715/513, 707/9, 707/10, 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/00 Other accessories for paper-making machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A modification planning arrangement and method for a paper, board, finishing, or pulp machine, which includes as parties, a customer (10), a main supplier (11) and at least one sub-supplier (12), as well as a server linked to them over a telecommunications network. Each party has terminal equipment and software for viewing an image stored in the server and for communication in a data network. The image-viewing software has a mark-up function for attaching a mark-up to an image and for storing the mark-up in the server as its own mark-up file in connection with the image. The main supplier has a high-level CAD system to make and process an original drawing. The arrangement includes conversion and management software for the original drawings (CAD), for storing the drawings in concept form (HPGL, PDF) in a server (EDMS), and includes a mark-up data updating system, for distributing automatically to all parties.

Claims

1. A modification planning arrangement for a paper, board, finishing, or pulp machine, which includes as parties to the arrangement, a customer, a main supplier and at least one sub-supplier, as well as a server linked to them over a telecommunications network, wherein each one of said parties is equipped with terminal equipment and software for viewing an image stored in the server and for communication taking place in a data network, the image-viewing software including a mark-up function for attaching a mark-up to an image and for storing the mark-up in the server as its own mark-up file in connection with the image, and in which the main supplier has at its disposal a high-level computer-aided design system, in order to make and process an original drawing, the improvement comprising:

the arrangement includes conversion and management software for the original drawing, for storing the necessary drawing in concept form in a selected server, and that the arrangement includes a mark-up data updating system for distributing it automatically to all the parties;

wherein the data-network has connections over a secure data-transfer link; and

a sales configurator integrated with the planning arrangement to determine at least in part a price of a final modification plan and to form a written tender, the final modification plan including a modular concept drawing or 3D model, and the written tender is sent by the main supplier over the secure data-transfer link to the customer, the tender including a technical specification, which incorporates an operating description and itemizes the components to be supplied, the extent of delivery, works, and the date and price of the delivery.

2. The modification planning arrangement of claim 1, wherein the data-network connections are mainly the Internet.

3. The modification planning arrangement of claim 2 wherein the viewing program and the updating function are JAVA®

applications, which are arranged to operate in connection with a browser.

4. The modification planning arrangement of claim 3, wherein the updating function includes the following components:

an update-data register located in the server, for storing an update notification; and

an agent application for each party, which is arranged to check the said register in the server at regular intervals and to trigger the mark-up data retrieval function of the viewing program accordingly.

5. The modification planning arrangement of claim 2 wherein at least the main supplier has an application for distributing automatically to the parties a new concept image formed from a corrected CAD image.

6. The modification planning arrangement of claim 1, wherein the main supplier has a product data system, and wherein at least one party in addition to the main supplier has at its disposal the main supplier'"'"'s product data system, in addition to the image viewing software.

7. The modification planning arrangement of claim 1, wherein the customer'"'"'s terminal equipment comprises a main supplier'"'"'s representative'"'"'s laptop computer, in which data security means are pre-installed.

8. The modification planning arrangement of claim 7 wherein the data security means comprises software and encryption parameters.

9. The modification planning arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement includes means by which the customer is connected, separately relative to the other parties, to its own subcontractor.

10. The modification planning arrangement of claim 1 wherein the format of the drawings stored in concept form is HPGL or PDF.

11. A method in the modification planning of a paper, board, finishing, or pulp machine, which includes as parties a customer, a main supplier, and at least one sub-supplier, and in which the planning takes place interactively as a simultaneous session between the parties, in such a way that the parties have at their disposal software and terminal equipments suitable for viewing and marking-up concept images and also for sending conversational/text messages, comprising the steps of:

the parties transmitting information to each other with the aid of said software and terminal equipments, the information including mark-up data and said messages, in such a way that the main supplier assembles a final plan at the end of the session, with the aid of the exchange of information, and wherein said mark-up data is automatically distributed to all parties by a mark-up data updating system;

using a sales configurator with the method to determine at least in part a price of the

final plan and to form a written tender, the final plan including a modular concept drawing or 3D model, and the written tender is sent by the main supplier over a secure data-transfer link to the customer, the tender including a technical specification, which incorporates an operating description and itemizes the components to be supplied, the extent of delivery, works, and the date and price of the delivery; and

providing to at least the customer, for the customer'"'"'s planning use, terminal equipment in the possession of a representative of the main supplier with pre-installed security means.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of making available to at least the customer at the session a product database created beforehand by the main supplier and concerning the subject of the modification.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of creating at least one concept image from a high-level CAD drawing, so that, with the aid of the mark-ups and information exchange made during the session, the main supplier creates a new concept image by making changes in the original drawing and converting said changed original drawing into a new concept image.