Product information providing apparatus, product information providing method, and program and recording medium therefor

• US 20020103562A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kishimoto, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A product information providing apparatus is connected to a product information management apparatus having product information management data. The product information providing apparatus is capable of bidirectional communication via a communication network to a remote terminal, and includes receiving means for receiving from the remote terminal a request command requesting transmission of product information management data concerning a specified product via the communication network. Also, the product information providing apparatus includes obtaining means for obtaining from the product information management apparatus, in response to the request command, the product information management data concerning the specified product. The product information providing apparatus further includes transmitting means for transmitting to the remote terminal the obtained product information management data concerning the specified product.

Claims

1. A product information providing apparatus capable of transmitting/receiving data through a communication network, comprising:

a communication link to a product information management apparatus having product information management data;

a receiver for receiving, through said communication network from a remote terminal, a request command requesting transmission of product information management data related to a specified product;

wherein said communication link is effective for obtaining from said product information management apparatus, in response to said request command, the product information management data related to said specified product; and

a transmitter for transmitting the product information management data related to said specified product to said remote terminal.

2. A product information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said product information management data of said product information management apparatus includes status information in accordance with the progress of a design operation.

3. A product information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type and amount of product information management data transmitted from said transmitter is dependent on the identification of the user of said remote terminal.

4. A product information providing method for obtaining product information management data from a product information management apparatus having said product information management data, said product information providing method being further effective for transmitting said product information management data through a communication network, said method comprising:

a receiving step of receiving, from a remote terminal through said communication network, a request command requesting transmission of product information management data concerning a specified product;

an obtaining step of obtaining from said product information management apparatus, the product information management data concerning said specified product in response to said request command; and

a transmitting step of transmitting to said remote terminal the obtained product information management data concerning said specified product.

5. A product information providing method according to claim 4, wherein said product information management data of said product information management apparatus includes status information in accordance with the progress of a design operation.

6. A product information providing method according to claim 4, wherein the type and amount of product information management data transmitted is dependent on the identification of the user of said remote terminal.

7. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the method steps as set forth in claim 4.

8. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein the computer program as set forth in claim 7.