Collaborative data management system for engineering design and construction projects

• US 8,818,935 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation (Fluor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation (Fluor Corporation)
• Inventors: Reisdorf, Matthew John
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, HANH B
• Application Number:
  US13/301,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20130132334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/610, 707/611, 707/620
• US Class Current: 707/609
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

A collaborative data management system for engineering, design, and construction (EDC) projects is presented. The system includes a storage medium, a processor, executable code, a display, and an input device. The storage medium stores a plurality of EDC data objects and a plurality of relationship objects. The EDC data objects represent parameters relevant to EDC projects. The relationship objects represent relationships between EDC data objects. The processor and executable code are communicatively coupled with the storage medium and are configured to (i) display the relationship objects on the display and (ii) allow a user to manage synchronization of the EDC objects with the input device.

Claims

1. A collaborative data management system for engineering, design, and construction (EDC) projects, comprising:

a storage medium storing a plurality of EDC data objects and a plurality of relationship objects;

wherein each of the relationship objects represents a relationship between ones of the plurality of EDC data objects;

wherein the plurality of EDC data objects includes;

(i) a first EDC data object that represents a first value for a first parameter, the first value defined by a first user; and

(ii) a second EDC data object that represents a second value for the first parameter, the second value defined by a second user;

wherein the plurality of relationship objects includes a first relationship object that represents a priority relationship between the first EDC data object and the second EDC data object, wherein the priority relationship is defined as a function of a life-cycle phase of an EDC project;

a processor communicatively coupled with the storage medium;

a display and input device communicatively coupled with the processor; and

executable code communicatively coupled with the processor and configured to;

(i) display the plurality of relationship objects on the display;

(ii) allow a user to manage synchronization of the EDC objects with the input device; and

(iii) redefine the first relationship object during the life-cycle of the EDC project.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage medium is distributed.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the distributed storage medium is load balanced.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage medium is accessible via a wide area network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of EDC data objects represent computer automated design (CAD) drawings, cost calculations, time calculations, design parameters, construction parameters, materials, work personnel, design engineers, vendors, and equipment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of EDC data objects are stored in a standard format.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of EDC data objects are organized in a plurality of files.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first EDC data object is stored at a first location of a first file and the second EDC data object is stored at a second location of the first file.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second relationship object that represents a relationship between the first EDC object and a third EDC object; and

a third relationship object that represents a relationship between the second EDC object and the third EDC object.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable code is configured to display the plurality of relationship objects in a table format.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable code is configured to display the plurality of relationship objects in a tree format.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of relationship objects includes a second relationship object that describes a functional relationship between the first EDC data object and the second EDC data object.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of relationship objects includes a second relationship object that describes a matching relationship between different ones of the plurality of EDC data objects.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable code is configured to identify and display a synchronization status related to a relationship object.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, display, and input device comprise a client computer.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of metadata objects corresponding to the plurality of EDC data objects, wherein the metadata objects represent at least one of the following:

date created, date last modified, user responsible for last modification, life-cycle phase, and synchronization status.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of relationship objects is defined by a metadata object that represents a life-cycle phase of one of the plurality of EDC data objects.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the executable code is configured to track and display prior revisions of the EDC data objects.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first value of the first EDC data object is different than the second value of the second EDC data object.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first value is defined by the first user during a first project phase, and wherein the second value is defined by the second user during a second project phase.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first user is different than the second user.