Software-based system and method for changing structural feature designations

• US 8,555,183 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mohan, Varinder K., Sebby, Norman A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US12/365,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly

Abstract

A software-based system for changing structural feature designations within a production environment includes a menu page component adapted to support a menu page; an information document component interfacing with the menu page component and adapted to support at least one information document having structural feature designations of structural features; and an edit component interfacing with the information document component and adapted to view and edit the structural feature designations to expedite flow of materials in the production environment.

Claims

1. A system for changing structural feature designations within a production environment including plurality of components implemented using a processor embedded in a computer, comprising:

a database component to provide electronic planning datasets corresponding to production of a structure;

an information document component to display a schematic representation of the structure including a plurality of selectable items, each corresponding to a site of the structure;

a legend component to display a legend including a build code in response to a selection of a first one of the selectable items corresponding to a first one of the sites of the structure, the build code corresponding to a structural feature designation of a fastener opening to be implemented when preparing the first site of the structure for installation of a part; and

an edit component to enable a user to view and change the structural feature designation of the build code in real time in the production environment in response to a selection of an edit option in connection with one of the selectable items, wherein releasing the change to the structural feature designation into a planning system results in a new planning configuration control.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a login component to support a login window.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the login window comprises at least one of a user ID entry box, a password entry box, a submit button or a change password link.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a document selection component to facilitate selection from among a plurality of information documents supported by the information document component.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a file menu provided on a menu page;

a document series provided on the file menu; and

a document selection menu having a plurality of document selections corresponding to the plurality of information documents selectable from the document selection menu.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the information document component comprises a graphic feature representation component to support the display of the schematic representation of the structure.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the information document component comprises a change record component to support a change record associated with changes made to the structural feature designation.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the structural feature designation to be implemented when preparing the first site of the structure for installation of the part is indicative of a manner of drilling at the first site.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the edit component is to display a location of the first site separately from the structural feature designation.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device embedded in a computer comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed for changing structural feature designations within a production environment, cause the computer to at least:

provide electronic planning datasets corresponding to production of a structure;

display a schematic representation of the structure, the schematic representation including a plurality of selectable items each corresponding to a site of the structure;

display a legend including a build code in response to a selection of a first one of the selectable items corresponding to a first one of the sites of the structure, the build code corresponding to a structural feature designation of a fastener opening to be implemented when preparing the first site of the structure for insertion of a part; and

enable a user to view and change the structural feature designation of the build code in real time in the production environment in response to an edit option in connection with one of the selectable items, wherein releasing the change to the structural feature designation into a planning system results in a new planning configuration control.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10 wherein the instructions cause the computer to display a file menu on a menu page, a document series on the file menu and a document selection menu having a plurality of document selections corresponding to a plurality of information documents selectable from the document selection menu.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10 wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computer to maintain a change record storing changes made to the structural feature designation.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10 wherein the structural feature designation is selectable from one or more predefined build codes.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 13 wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computer to enable the user to view and change the structural feature designation by providing an edit window having at least one build code drop menu corresponding to the structural feature designation and wherein the one or more predefined build codes is selectable from the at least one build code drop menu.

15. A method for changing structural designations within a production environment, comprising:

providing electronic planning datasets corresponding to production of a structure;

displaying a schematic representation of the structure including a plurality of selectable items each corresponding to a site of the structure;

displaying a legend including a build control code in response to a selection of a first one of the selectable items corresponding to a first one of the sites of the structure, the build control of the structure code corresponding to a structural feature designation of a fastener opening to be implemented when preparing the fastener opening at the first site of the structure for installation of a part;

enabling a user to select and change the structural feature designation of the build control code in real time in the production environment; and

releasing the change to the structural feature designation into a planning system as a new planning configuration control.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the structural feature designation to be implemented when preparing the first site of the structure for installation of the part is indicative of a manner of drilling at the first site.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing customer access to the structural feature designation.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the build control code comprises identifying information associated with a fastener to be installed at the first site.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the schematic representation includes a line along which the first site is located.