System, graphical user interface (GUI), method and program product for configuring an assembly line

• US 7,660,641 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bournas, Redha M., Salkeld, David J., Asaka, Shunichi, Kawamura, Tateo, Noller, David G. Jr., Ward, John L. Jr., Peters, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Application Number:
  US10/896,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/91, 700/104, 700 51- 52, 700/2, 700/11, 700/23, 700/96, 717/164, 717/108, 717/166, 707/100, 706/20, 702/2, 702/13, 702/81, 702/84, 703/7, 703/22
• US Class Current: 700/95
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration

Abstract

Under the present invention, a GUI is provided that allows an assembly line to be both graphically and dynamically configured. In general, the GUI allows a designer or the like to “graphically” configure: a hierarchy of categories representing the assembly line; the process points along the assembly line; the different events that can be triggered at the process points; the actions that are taken in response to the events; the processes (sequences of actions) for the events; and the input parameters for the events and the actions. In a typical embodiment, the GUI is maintained on a system that is separate from the central computer controlling the assembly line. This not only allows the assembly line to be configured remotely, but also without ceasing operation of the line.

Claims

1. A system for graphically and dynamically configuring a physical assembly line, comprising:

a tree configurator for configuring the assembly line as a hierarchy of categories;

a process point configurator for configuring process points along the assembly line;

an event configurator for configuring events to be triggered from the process points;

an action configurator for configuring actions to be taken in response to the events being triggered;

a process configurator for configuring processes associated with the events, wherein each of the processes comprises a sequenced list of the actions to be taken in response to one of the events being triggered;

a parameter configurator for configuring input parameters for the events and the actions, and

a storage system for storing a completed configuration of the assembly line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the point configurator defines associations between the events and the processes at the process points.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tree configurator defines where the processes fit into the hierarchy of categories.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the assembly line comprises a manufacturing assembly line.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an event to action manager for receiving a triggered event from a process point, and for determining a corresponding set of actions to be taken based on the processes.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a storage system for storing a catalogue of the events, a catalogue of the actions, and the processes, wherein the event to action manager accesses the storage system upon receiving the triggered event to determine the corresponding set of actions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is embodied within a graphical user interface.

8. A computer device executing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for configuring a physical assembly line, comprising:

a tree configuration page for configuring the assembly line as a hierarchy of categories;

a process point configuration page for configuring process points along the assembly line;

an event configuration page for configuring events to be triggered from the process points;

an action configuration page for configuring actions to be taken in response to the events being triggered;

a process configuration page for configuring processes associated with the events, wherein each of the processes comprises a sequenced list of the actions to be taken in response to one of the events being triggered; and

a parameter configuration page for configuring input parameters for the events and the actions,

wherein a completed configuration provided via the GUI is independent of a computer controlling the assembly line.

9. The GUI of claim 8, wherein the point configuration page allows associations between the events and the processes at the process points to be defined.

10. The GUI of claim 8, wherein the tree configuration page allows the processes to be fit into the hierarchy of categories.

11. The GUI of claim 8, wherein the assembly line comprises a manufacturing assembly line.

12. The GUI of claim 8, further comprising an event to action manager for receiving a triggered event from a process point, and for determining a corresponding set of actions to be taken based on the processes.

13. The GUI of claim 12, further comprising a storage system for storing a catalogue of the events, a catalogue of the actions, and the processes, wherein the event to action manager accesses the storage system upon receiving the triggered event to determine the corresponding set of actions.

14. A computer-implemented method performed on at least one computer for graphically and dynamically configuring a physical assembly line, comprising:

graphically configuring on at least one computer the assembly line as a hierarchy of categories;

graphically configuring on at least one computer process points along the assembly line;

graphically configuring on at least one computer events to be triggered from the process points;

graphically configuring on at least one computer actions to be taken in response to the events being triggered;

graphically configuring on at least one computer processes associated with the events, wherein each of the processes comprises a sequenced list of the actions to be taken in response to one of the events being triggered;

graphically configuring on at least one computer input parameters for the events and the actions; and

outputting on at least one computer a completed configuration of the assembly line.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of graphically configuring the process points comprises graphically defining associations between the events and the processes at the process points.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of graphically configuring the assembly line comprises graphically fitting the processes into the hierarchy of categories.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the assembly line comprises a manufacturing assembly line.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a triggered event from a process point on an event to action manager, and determining a corresponding set of actions to be taken based on the processes on the event to action manager.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing the events, the actions and the processes in a storage system; and

accessing the storage system from the event to action upon receiving the triggered event to determine the corresponding set of actions.

20. A program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for graphically and dynamically configuring a physical assembly line, which when executed, comprises:

program code for configuring the assembly line as a hierarchy of categories;

program code for configuring process points along the assembly line where;

program code for configuring events to be triggered from the process points;

program code for configuring actions to be taken in response to the events being triggered;

program code for configuring processes associated with the events, wherein each of the processes comprises a sequenced list of the actions to be taken in response to one of the events being triggered;

program code for configuring input parameters for the events and the actions; and

program code for outputting a completed configuration of the assembly line.

21. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program code for configuring process points defines associations between the events and the processes at the process points.

22. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program code for configuring the assembly line defines where the processes fit into the hierarchy of categories.

23. The program product of claim 20, wherein the assembly line comprises a manufacturing assembly line.

24. The program product of claim 20, further comprising an event to action manager for receiving a triggered event from a process point, and for determining a corresponding set of actions to be taken based on the processes.

25. The program product of claim 24, further comprising a storage system for storing a catalogue of the events, a catalogue of the actions, and the processes, wherein the event to action manager accesses the storage system upon receiving the triggered event to determine the corresponding set of actions.