Capturing system interactions

• US 7,920,988 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Guldan, David A., Hagen, Cole D., Moretti, Anthony D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; John H
• Application Number:
  US12/270,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/90, 702/127, 702/184, 714/38
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for capturing interactions in a system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a first component of the system and receiving a selection of a second component of the system. The method further includes receiving a selection of an interaction between the first component and the second component, and displaying a list of functions performed by the selected interaction.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for capturing interactions in a system being executed by a processor, wherein the processor performs steps comprising:

receiving a selection of a first component of the system;

receiving a selection of a second component of the system;

receiving a selection of an interaction between the first component and the second component;

displaying a list of functions performed by the selected interaction;

receiving a selection of a function in the list;

retrieving a phrase describing the selected function;

generating, based on the retrieved phrase, a sentence for the interaction, the sentence describing how the first selected component interacts with the second selected component in performing the selected function; and

generating a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) document for the system by populating the FMEA document based on the first selected component, on the second selected component, on the selected function, and on the generated sentence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the phrase is retrieved from a library of phrases describing functions performed by interactions between components in the system.

3. The method of claim 1, further including generating an interaction report for the system, the interaction report listing the first component, the second component, and the generated sentence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the functions in the list are contained in a library of functions describing interactions between components in the system.

5. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer instructions stored therein for causing a computer processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving a selection of a first component of the system;

receiving a selection of a second component of the system;

receiving a selection of an interaction between the first component and the second component;

displaying a list of functions performed by the selected interaction;

receiving a selection of a function in the list;

retrieving a phrase describing the selected function;

generating, based on the retrieved phrase, a sentence for the interaction, the sentence describing how the first selected component interacts with the second selected component in performing the selected function; and

generating a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) document for the system by populating the FMEA document based on the first selected component, on the second selected component, on the selected function, and on the generated sentence.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the phrase is retrieved from a library of phrases describing functions performed by interactions between components in the system.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, the method further including generating an interaction report for the system, the interaction report listing the first component, the second component, and the generated sentence.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the functions in the list are contained in a library of functions describing interactions between components in the system.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an input device for receiving user input;

a display device;

a component database containing information about components of a system;

an interaction function library containing information about functions performed by interactions between the components of the system, and storing a library of phrases describing the functions; and

a processor in communication with the input device, the display device, the component database, and the interaction function library, the processor being configured to;

receive, via the input device, a selection by the user of a first component of the components of the system;

receive, via the input device, a selection by the user of a second component of the components of the system;

receive, via the input device, a selection by the user of an interaction between the first component and the second component;

identify functions performed by the selected interaction contained in the interaction function library;

display, via the display device, a list of the identified functions;

receive, via the input device, a selection by the user of a function in the list;

retrieve a phrase describing the selected function from the interaction function library;

generate, based on the retrieved phrase, a sentence for the selected interaction, the sentence describing how the first selected component interacts with the second selected component in performing the selected function;

generate a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) document for the system by populating the FMEA document based on the first selected component, on the second selected component, on the selected function, and on the generated sentence; and

display the FMEA document via the display device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the processor being further configured to generate an interaction report for the system, the interaction report containing the first component, the second component, and the generated sentence.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the processor being further configured to display the interaction report.