System design, proposal and programming method and apparatus

• US 7,359,870 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kein, Louis, Heberlein, Erich, Hadfield, John, Robb, Rich, Simons, Jon, Wielebski, Wayne, Retlich, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart; Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US09/672,934
• Time in Patent Office: 2,756 Days
• Field of Search: 705/25, 705 26- 27, 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32022 Ordering, remote ordering, enter article and operations needed, create jobfile
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32035 Compose, configure article and order
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A technique is provided or integrating system design, sales, and manufacturing functions. Systems including networked and programmable electrical components, such as motor control centers, and other electrical power control arrangements are designed, and a database is created for the design, including component and system designation data. The database may further include configuration information, settings, and so forth. The database is used as a tool in establishing a sales solicitation proposal from which sales of the system are offered. The same database is then used to program the various components of the system, such as through a temporary network link or via a permanent data network once the system is assembled.

Claims

1. A method for selling engineered electrical systems, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a database for an electrical system comprising a plurality of programmable devices, the database including device designation data;

soliciting an order for the system;

assembling the system including the plurality of programmable devices in accordance with the order;

coupling the assembled system to a network; and

configuring memory objects within the devices by downloading, after assembly of the system and via the network, at least the device designation data from the database into respective memory objects of the devices.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of designing the electrical system including the plurality of programmable devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device designation data includes data representative of a physical location of a device in the system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device designation data includes data representative of a function of a device in the system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of soliciting the order includes computing price data based upon the database.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of storing the database in a computer coupled to the system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the system includes a plurality of subassemblies, at least a portion of the subassemblies including at least one programmable device, and wherein the memory objects of the programmable devices are configured after arrangement of the devices in the subassemblies.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the memory objects of the programmable devices are configured prior to arrangement of the subassemblies in the system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the memory objects of the programmable devices are configured after arrangement of the subassemblies in the system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmable devices include electrical power switching devices mounted within an enclosure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the system includes a motor control center.

12. A method for coordinating sales and manufacturing of electrical systems, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a system design database including data representative of programmable components and component layout for an electrical system;

assembling the system components in accordance with the component layout;

coupling the assembled system to a network; and

programming the programmable components by downloading information from the database, after assembly of the system and via the network, into respective memory objects of the programmable components.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the database includes data representative of a physical location of each programmable component in the system in accordance with the layout.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of programming the programmable components is performed following final assembly of the components in the system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of assembling the system includes coupling the programmable components to a data network in the system for accessing data from each programmable component.

16. A method for selling engineered electrical systems, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a database for an electrical system comprising a plurality of programmable devices, the database including device designation data, the device designation data including data representative of a physical location of a device in the system;

assembling the system including the plurality of programmable devices;

coupling the assembled system to a network; and

configuring memory objects within the devices by downloading at least the device designation data from the database, after assembly of the system and via the network, into the memory objects.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the device designation data includes data representative of a function of a device in the system.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising the further step of storing the database in a computer coupled to the system.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the system includes a plurality of subassemblies, at least a portion of the subassemblies including at least one programmable device, and wherein the memory objects of the programmable devices are configured after arrangement of the devices in the subassemblies.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the memory objects of the programmable devices are configured prior to arrangement of the subassemblies in the system.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the memory objects of the programmable devices are configured after arrangement of the subassemblies in the system.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising the further step of designing the electrical system including the plurality of programmable devices.

23. A method for coordinating sales and manufacturing of electrical systems, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a system design database including data representative of programmable components and component layout for an electrical system, the programmable components being programmed by downloading a portion of the database into each programmable component;

soliciting a sale of the system based upon the system design;

assembling the system components in accordance with the component layout; and

programming the programmable components by downloading at least device designation data from the database, after assembly of the system and via a network, into respective memory objects of each programmable component.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the portion of the database includes data representative of a physical location of each programmable component in the system in accordance with the layout.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of programming the programmable components is performed following final assembly of the components in the system.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of assembling the system includes coupling the programmable components to a data network in the system for accessing data from each programmable component.

27. A method for coordinating sales and manufacturing of electrical systems, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a system design database including data representative of programmable components and component layout for an electrical system, the programmable components being programmed by downloading a portion of the database into each programmable component;

assembling the system components in accordance with the component layout;

coupling the assembled system to a network; and

programming the programmable components by downloading at least the device designation data from the database, after assembly of the system and via the network, into respective memory objects of each programmable component.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the portion of the database includes data representative of a physical location of each programmable component in the system in accordance with the layout.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of programming the programmable components is performed following final assembly of the components in the system.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of assembling the system includes coupling the programmable components to a data network in the system for accessing data from each programmable component.