Interactive system for managing parts and information for parts

• US 8,935,286 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Westerman, Everett A. Jr., Deal, Allison N., Bridgford, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Phuong Thao
• Application Number:
  US13/162,217
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705, 707/780, 707/956, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 707/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/215 Improving data quality; Data cleansing, e.g. de-duplication, removing invalid entries or correcting typographical errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing parts. A number of identifiers is received for an unidentified part. A determination is made as to whether the number of identifiers sufficiently matches a number of corresponding identifiers in a plurality of identifiers in a code stored in a database of codes associated with parts. The code is associated with the part. In response to the number of identifiers matching the number of corresponding identifiers in the plurality of identifiers in the code, a repository storing related information for the parts is accessed to obtain the related information for the part using a code identified for the part.

Claims

1. A parts management system, the system comprising:

a storage device;

a database of codes stored in the storage device, wherein the codes in the database are associated with parts in which each of the codes comprises a corresponding plurality of identifiers strung together, wherein, for each of the plurality of identifiers, a given identifier in a particular string comprises a different type of identifier for a corresponding part relative to other identifiers in the particular string, the particular string being for a particular code in the codes; and

a computer system configured to receive a number of identifiers for an unidentified part;

determine if the number of identifiers sufficiently matches a number of identifiers in the particular string, wherein sufficiently matching comprises at least one of the number of identifiers matching at least one particular identifier in the particular string;

the computer system being further configured to identify the unidentified part as an identified part based on sufficiently matching; and

access a repository storing related information for the identified part;

wherein, when the number of identifiers does not sufficiently match, the computer system is configured to obtain a portion of the related information associated with a number of codes containing the number of identifiers;

wherein the computer system is configured to display at least a portion of the information in the portion of the related information obtained using the number of codes in a desired format;

wherein, when a user input provides a new number of identifiers, the computer system is configured to determine if the new number of identifiers sufficiently matches the number of identifiers in the particular string;

wherein, when the user input does not provide a new number of identifiers, the computer system is configured to determine if the user input identifies the unidentified part based on the information displayed; and

wherein, when the user input identifies the unidentified part, the computer system is configured to search the repository for the related information and display the related information.

2. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein the related information for the identified part is associated with the particular code.

3. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein the related information for the identified part is stored in a number of locations in the repository for the identified part and wherein a portion of the related information stored at each of the number of locations is associated with the particular code.

4. The parts management system of claim 1,

wherein the particular string is one of plurality of strings of a collection that is an arrangement of a number of parts representing one of an assembly or an object of an aircraft;

wherein the collection has a hierarchical structure; and

wherein the collection is a tree-type collection of the number of parts.

5. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identifiers comprises a part number, a serial number, a commercial activity and government entity code, a casting number, a universal product code, a color identifier, an image identifier, a manufacturing identifier, an audio signature identifier, and a thermal signature identifier.

6. The parts management system of claim 5, wherein the identified part is for an object selected from one of an aircraft, a wing, a landing gear assembly, a global positioning system receiver, a fuel pump, a wiring harness, and an electronic flight bag.

7. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein the related information for the identified part comprises a history for the identified part, information about the identified part, information for operating the identified part, information for performing maintenance for the identified part, identifiers for the identified part, a timeline for manufacturing the identified part, design data, specifications, a number of maintenance manuals, statistical data, requirements for manufacturing the identified part, a current location of the identified part, a list of past locations for the identified part, and a number of materials for the identified part.

8. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein the identified part is selected from one of an assembly comprised of components that form the assembly and a component in the assembly.

9. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein the related information for the identified part is stored in a number of locations in the repository for the identified part and wherein a location in the number of locations is associated with the particular code identified for the identified part.

10. The parts management system of claim 1, wherein a first particular identifier in the particular string is assigned by a first entity, wherein a second particular identifier in the particular string is assigned by a second entity different than the first entity, and wherein the first entity and the second entity use different systems for identifying and tracking information about the parts.

11. A method performed by a computer for managing parts, the method comprising:

providing a database of codes stored in a storage device, wherein the codes in the database are associated with parts, in which each of the codes comprises a corresponding plurality of identifiers strung together, wherein, for each of the plurality of identifiers, a given identifier in a particular string comprises a different type of identifier for a corresponding part relative to other identifiers in the particular string, the particular string being for a particular code in the codes;

receiving a first identifier for an unidentified part;

comparing the first identifier to a first plurality of identifiers of the particular string;

responsive to a match between the first identifier and at least one of the first plurality of identifiers, identifying the unidentified part as an identified part, accessing a repository storing related information for the parts to obtain the related information for the identified part;

when the first identifier does not sufficiently match, obtaining a portion of the related information associated with a number of codes containing the first identifier;

displaying at least a portion of the information in the portion of the related information obtained using the number of codes in a desired format;

when a user input provides a new first identifier, determining if the new first identifier sufficiently matches the first plurality of identifiers of the particular string;

when the user input does not provide a new first identifier, determining if the user input identifies the unidentified part based on the information displayed; and

when the user input identifies the unidentified part, searching the repository for the related information and displaying the related information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the related information for the identified part is stored in a number of locations in the repository and wherein a portion of the related information stored at each of the number of locations is associated with the particular code identified for the identified part.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying at least a portion of the related information in a desired format in a graphical user interface; and

receiving user input entered through the graphical user interface, wherein the user input comprises at least one of a selection that further identifies the unidentified part based on the portion of the related information displayed and a new number of identifiers for the unidentified part.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

displaying a number of potential parts for the identified part in the graphical user interface.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving the user input entered through the graphical user interface, wherein the user input comprises a selection of one of the number of potential parts for the identified part.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving user input, wherein the user input comprises new related information for the identified part;

storing the new related information for the identified part in a location in the repository;

determining whether the location for the new related information is associated with a code for the identified part;

responsive to an absence of an association between the location for the new related information and the code for the identified part, identifying the code associated with the identified part using at least one of the new related information for the identified part and the related information stored in the repository for the identified part; and

creating the association between the location for the new related information and the code identified for the identified part.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the first identifier comprises:

receiving the first identifier from a device, wherein the device is selected from at least one of a user input device, a scanner, a barcode scanner, a radio frequency identification reader, and an optical identification scanner.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein a first particular identifier in the particular string is assigned by a first entity, wherein a second particular identifier in the particular string is assigned by a second entity different than the first entity, and wherein the first entity and the second entity use different systems for identifying and tracking information about the parts.