Spreadsheet-based templates for supporting the systems engineering process

• US 8,744,821 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XLDyn, LLC
• Original Assignee: XLDyn, LLC
• Inventors: Oh, Kong Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Cedric D
• Application Number:
  US13/217,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 703/6, 715/212
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/10 Numerical modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

A spreadsheet environment is used as a graphical user interface (GUI) for depicting and interacting with the various aspects of a system. In particular, the spreadsheet environment supports using OMG SysML to model a system, and to execute tasks associated with the systems engineering process. The spreadsheet environment also supports the use of pre-defined templates whose contents and features are common to a multiplicity of projects that a company or company unit may undertake, and which can be made specific or modified based on a project'"'"'s needs.

Claims

1. A method of modeling a system comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising:

using a computer to provide a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the system, wherein at least one component is a subsystem comprising a plurality of elements;

using an add-in in the spreadsheet environment that provides user interface elements in the spreadsheet environment to manage the shape objects, relationships between the shape objects, and data associated with a system model in the spreadsheet environment, wherein at least one of the relationships between the shape objects comprises a connection between at least two shape objects defined using a graphic connector element having a property comprising respective identities of the at least two shape objects;

using the spreadsheet environment to interact with a plurality of applications for working with the system;

using the spreadsheet environment to generate a plurality of diagrams of the system in a graphical system modeling language;

using the spreadsheet environment to diagram a plurality of system models for system simulation, process automation, and performance index calculations;

using a macro in the spreadsheet environment to perform at least one action on at least one of the system models; and

storing the system model using a templated workbook in the spreadsheet environment, the templated workbook comprising data representing a physical view and a functional view of the system model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising persisting the templated workbook in a database.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising checking in and removing an access restriction to the portion of the templated workbook.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking out and restricting access to a portion of the templated workbook.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the spreadsheet environment to define a callout representing a dependency relationship.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing data from the system model to a system engineering tool.

7. A method of modeling a system comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising:

using a computer to provide a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the system, wherein at least one component is a subsystem comprising a plurality of elements;

using an add-in in the spreadsheet environment that provides user interface elements in the spreadsheet environment to manage the shape objects, relationships between the shape objects, and data associated with a system model in the spreadsheet environment, wherein at least one of the relationships between the shape objects comprises a connection between at least two shape objects defined using a graphic connector element having a property comprising respective identities of the at least two shape objects;

using the spreadsheet environment to interact with a plurality of applications for working with the system;

using the spreadsheet environment to generate a plurality of diagrams of the system in a graphical system modeling language;

using the spreadsheet environment to diagram a plurality of system models for dynamic system simulation, process automation, and performance index calculations;

using a macro in the spreadsheet environment to perform at least one action on at least one of the system models;

storing the system model using a templated master workbook in the spreadsheet environment, the templated master workbook comprising a plurality of worksheets;

receiving a user selection of the templated master workbook and a worksheet of the plurality of worksheets; and

copying the selected worksheet to a client workbook.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising marking the selected worksheet as being checked out.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving an update to the selected worksheet and updating the client workbook.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising requesting approval of the update to the selected worksheet.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to receiving approval of the update to the selected worksheet, updating the templated master workbook.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing status information regarding whether a worksheet is checked in or checked out.

13. A computer system comprising:

a processor configured to receive and to execute processor-executable instructions;

a memory device in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to model a system comprising a plurality of components by

using the processor to provide a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the system, wherein at least one component is a subsystem comprising a plurality of elements;

using an add-in in the spreadsheet environment that provides user interface elements in the spreadsheet environment to manage the shape objects, relationships between the shape objects, and data associated with a system model in the spreadsheet environment, wherein at least one of the relationships between the shape objects comprises a connection between at least two shape objects defined using a graphic connector element having a property comprising respective identities of the at least two shape objects;

using the spreadsheet environment to interact with a plurality of applications for working with the system;

using the spreadsheet environment to generate a plurality of diagrams of the system in a graphical system modeling language;

using the spreadsheet environment to diagram a plurality of system models for system simulation, process automation, and performance index calculations;

using a macro in the spreadsheet environment to perform at least one action on at least one of the system models; and

storing the system model using a templated workbook in the spreadsheet environment, the templated workbook comprising data representing a physical view and a functional view of the system model.

14. The computer system of claim 13, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for persisting the templated workbook in a database.

15. The computer system of claim 14, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for checking in and removing an access restriction to the portion of the templated workbook.

16. The computer system of claim 13, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for checking out and restricting access to a portion of the templated workbook.

17. The computer system of claim 13, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for using the spreadsheet environment to define a callout representing a dependency relationship.

18. The computer system of claim 13, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for providing data from the system model to a system engineering tool.

19. A computer system comprising:

a processor configured to receive and to execute processor-executable instructions;

a memory device in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to model a system comprising a plurality of components by

using a computer to provide a spreadsheet environment;

defining a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment, the shape objects representing the components of the system, wherein at least one component is a subsystem comprising a plurality of elements;

using an add-in in the spreadsheet environment that provides user interface elements in the spreadsheet environment to manage the shape objects, relationships between the shape objects, and data associated with a system model in the spreadsheet environment, wherein at least one of the relationships between the shape objects comprises a connection between at least two shape objects defined using a graphic connector element having a property comprising respective identities of the at least two shape objects;

using the spreadsheet environment to interact with a plurality of applications for working with the system;

using the spreadsheet environment to generate a plurality of diagrams of the system in a graphical system modeling language;

using the spreadsheet environment to diagram a plurality of system models for dynamic system simulation, process automation, and performance index calculations;

using a macro in the spreadsheet environment to perform at least one action on at least one of the system models;

storing the system model using a templated master workbook in the spreadsheet environment, the templated master workbook comprising a plurality of worksheets;

receiving a user selection of the templated master workbook and a worksheet of the plurality of worksheets; and

copying the selected worksheet to a client workbook.

20. The computer system of claim 19, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for marking the selected worksheet as being checked out.

21. The computer system of claim 19, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for receiving an update to the selected worksheet and updating the client workbook.

22. The computer system of claim 21, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for requesting approval of the update to the selected worksheet.

23. The computer system of claim 22, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for, in response to receiving approval of the update to the selected worksheet, updating the templated master workbook.

24. The computer system of claim 19, the memory device storing further processor-executable instructions for storing status information regarding whether a worksheet is checked in or checked out.