System and method for automatically customizing a product

• US 7,233,885 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Large Drives LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pellegrino, Brian, Larabee, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US10/877,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 703/7, 703/1, 705/26, 705/27, 700/98, 713/168, 713/202
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a computer-assisted method for specifying a customized product, the method comprising: responsive to a request for product information from a user, identifying the product; if a standard product corresponds to the identified product: automatically initiating transmission of at least one document related to the standard product to the user in real-time; and if no standard product corresponds to the identified product: electronically forwarding the request for product information to an engineering entity. Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a computer-assisted method for designing a product, the method comprising: receiving a value for at least one design parameter related to a product from a user; if a value for each design parameter received from the user is within a pre-determined set for the design parameter, automatically designing predetermined aspects of the product responsive to the at least one of the design parameter value; and electronically providing a document regarding a designed product to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-assisted method for designing an electric motor, the method comprising:

automatically authenticating a pre-approved user, the pre-approved user utilizing an Internet browser;

receiving a value for a first design parameter related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user;

automatically providing to a user interface a pre-determined set of alternatives for a second design parameter, wherein at least one value is selectable from the pre-determined set of alternatives, the pre-determined set of alternatives generated responsive to the value of the first design parameter;

if a value for each design parameter received from the pre-approved user is within a pre-determined set for that design parameter;

automatically designing predetermined aspects of the electric motor responsive to at least one of the design parameter values; and

electronically providing a document regarding a designed electric motor to the user, the document selected from a dimensioned drawing of the electric motor, a performance curve of the electric motor, and a customer data sheet of the electric motor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

if a value for a design parameter received from the pre-approved user is not within a pre-determined set for the design parameter, electronically providing the user with a pre-determined suggestion for the value for the design parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

if a value for a design parameter received from the pre-approved user is not within a pre-determined set for the design parameter, electronically forwarding a request for an electric motor design to an engineering entity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pre-approving a user for requesting information related to the electric motor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically initiating transmission of at least one dimensioned drawing of the electric motor to the pre-approved user in real-time if each design parameter value related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user is within a pre-determined set for that parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating electronic transmission of at least one dimensioned drawing of the electric motor to the pre-approved user if at least one value of a design parameter related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user is not within a pre-determined set for that parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically initiating transmission of at least one performance curve of the electric motor to the pre-approved user in real-time if each design parameter value related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user is within a pre-determined set for that parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating electronic transmission of at least one performance curve of the electric motor to the pre-approved user if at least one design parameter value related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user is not within a pre-determined set for that parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically initiating transmission of at least one customer data sheet of the electric motor to the pre-approved user in real-time if each design parameter value related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user is within a pre-determined set for that parameter.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating electronic transmission of at least one customer data sheet of the electric motor to the pre-approved user if at least one design parameter value related to the electric motor from the pre-approved user is not within a pre-determined set for that parameter.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically validating at least one design parameter value related to the electric motor.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

electronically receiving an order for the electric motor from the user.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically providing at least one engineering drawing to a purchasing entity responsive to an order for the electric motor.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically providing an engineering drawing related to the electric motor to a manufacturing entity.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically ordering materials for the electric motor.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically scheduling manufacturing of the electric motor.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically scheduling delivery of the electric motor to the user.

18. A user interface comprising:

an authentication element adapted to receive a pre-approved user identification parameter value and a pre-approved user authentication parameter value;

a data entry element adapted to receive a value for each of a plurality of design parameters of an electric motor, the values provided by a pre-approved user;

a document request element adapted to;

if each of said user-provided values is within a predetermined set for the corresponding design parameter, automatically request an automatic design of predetermined aspects of the electric motor and a real-time transmission to the user of a rendering of at least one document related to and consistent with the automatic design of the electric motor, the document selected from a dimensioned drain of the electric motor, a performance curve of the electric motor, and a customer data sheet of the electric motor.

19. The user interface of claim 18, wherein said document request element is adapted to:

if a user-provided value is not within the predetermined set for a corresponding design parameter, automatically request transmission of said user-provided design parameter values to an engineering entity for design of predetermined aspects of the electric motor and transmission to the user of a rendering of at least one document related to and consistent with the automatic design of the electric motor.

20. The user interface of claim 18, wherein said document request element is adapted to:

if a user-provided value is not within the predetermined set for a corresponding design parameter, automatically request transmission of said user-provided design parameter values to an engineering entity for generation by the engineering entity of a suggestion for the user-provided value.

21. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the at least one document comprises a quotation.

22. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the at least one document comprises a dimensioned drawing.

23. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the at least one document comprises a performance curve.

24. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the at least one document comprises a customer data sheet.

25. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

a first data entry element adapted to accept a value of a first design parameter related to the electric motor; and

a second data entry element adapted to accept a value of second design parameter related to the electric motor, the value of the second design parameter selectable from a pre-determined list, the pre-determined list generated responsive to the value of the first design parameter.

26. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

a configuration input element adapted to accept a configuration of the electric motor.

27. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

an engineering request element adapted to electronically communicate information related to the electric motor to an engineering module adapted to automatically design the electric motor if each of said user-provided values is within a predetermined set for the corresponding design parameter.

28. The user interface of claim 18, wherein said user interface is adapted to cause a display of a second user interface, the second user interface adapted to automatically communicate information related to the electric motor to an engineering entity adapted to design the electric motor if a user-provided value is not within a predetermined set for the corresponding design parameter.

29. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

a materials ordering element adapted to electronically communicate information related to the electric motor to a purchasing entity adapted to purchase parts related to the electric motor.

30. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

a manufacturing communications element adapted to electronically communicate information related to the electric motor to a manufacturing entity adapted to schedule a manufacturing activity related to the electric motor.

31. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

a logistics communications element adapted to electronically communicate information related to the electric motor to a shipping entity adapted to schedule a delivery activity related to the electric motor.

32. The user interface of claim 18, further comprising:

a user prompting element adapted to prompt the user regarding at least one design parameter related to the electric motor.