Product network management system and method
First Claim
1. A method for managing product networks, the method comprising:
- receiving, at one or more computer systems, a request to access one or more product files stored as database elements in a central database, wherein the database elements are produced from a multiplicity of different native authoring programs providing a multiplicity of different file types;
retrieving, by one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, the database elements from the central database;
receiving, at the one or more computer systems, information linking one or more requirement trees produced by requirement management software to the database elements; and
generating, by the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a metafile according to a common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements;
wherein one or more sections of the metafile are configured to retrieve one or more portions of the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software according to a requirements tree context manager evaluating a set of predetermined rules to determine which portions of the one or more requirements trees are exposed to the users; and
wherein the generating, by the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, of the metafile according to the common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements comprises exposing one or more subtrees of the one or more requirements trees.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to an integrated computerized product lifecycle manager and requirements manager system for associating high-level requirements data with everyday product lifecycle management activities. The system includes a networked database comprised of one or more central computerized data servers, and a plurality of user computers (terminals, workstations) connected to the central server or servers by a computer data network. The server or servers will usually run multiple software modules such as database modules, various product lifecycle management modules, data viewer and decoder modules, and requirements management modules all operating in an integrated manner so that selected portions of the requirements tree, from the top high-level requirements to more detailed low level requirements, can be presented to users in a context relevant manner. The invention additionally includes context management module by which selected portions of the requirements data may be exposed or redacted according to organizational needs.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for managing product networks, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one or more computer systems, a request to access one or more product files stored as database elements in a central database, wherein the database elements are produced from a multiplicity of different native authoring programs providing a multiplicity of different file types; retrieving, by one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, the database elements from the central database; receiving, at the one or more computer systems, information linking one or more requirement trees produced by requirement management software to the database elements; and generating, by the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a metafile according to a common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements; wherein one or more sections of the metafile are configured to retrieve one or more portions of the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software according to a requirements tree context manager evaluating a set of predetermined rules to determine which portions of the one or more requirements trees are exposed to the users; and wherein the generating, by the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, of the metafile according to the common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements comprises exposing one or more subtrees of the one or more requirements trees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for managing product networks, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
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code for receiving a request to access one or more product files stored as database elements in a central database, wherein the database elements are produced from a multiplicity of different native authoring programs providing a multiplicity of different file types; code for retrieving the database elements from the central database; code for receiving information linking one or more requirement trees produced by requirement management software to the database elements; and code for generating a metafile according to a common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements; wherein one or more sections of the metafile are configured to retrieve one or more portions of the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software according to a requirements tree context manager evaluating a set of predetermined rules to determine which portions of the one or more requirements trees are exposed to the users; and wherein the code for the generating of the metafile according to the common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements comprises code for exposing one or more subtrees of the one or more requirements trees. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for managing product networks, the system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory, in communication with the processor, and configured to store a set of instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to; receive a request to access one or more product files stored as database elements in a central database, wherein the database elements are produced from a multiplicity of different native authoring programs providing a multiplicity of different file types; retrieve the database elements from the central database; receive information linking one or more requirement trees produced by requirement management software to the database elements; and generate a metafile according to a common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements; wherein one or more sections of the metafile are configured to retrieve one or more portions of the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software according to a requirements tree context manager evaluating a set of predetermined rules to determine which portions of the one or more requirements trees are exposed to the users; and wherein the generating of the metafile according to the common metafile type configured to be viewed by users without the native authoring programs based on the database elements and the information linking the one or more requirement trees produced by the requirement management software to the database elements comprises exposing one or more subtrees of the one or more requirements trees. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification