NETWORK-BASED DESIGN SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20030085921A1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: AVERY, JOHN ARLEY, GHOSH, ASISH, WHEELER, SCOTT THOMAS
• Granted Patent: US 6,741,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/751
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3835 Designing moulds, e.g. using CAD-CAM
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32238 Scheduler triggers generation of nc program for actual selected machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35008 Www cad, world wide design and manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35034 Adapt design to customer feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• 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 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A network based product design system and method allows product design. The system comprises a central processing unit is for product design; at least one communication link allows selective two-way communication to the central processing means; and a network selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party through the at least one communication link. Each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party. The method for designing a product over a network comprises displaying a model on a central processing unit, the model being representative of the product that is to be designed; permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit over communication links; and selectively interconnecting and communicating the product design through the central processing unit to at least one party over the at least one communication links.

Claims

1. A network based product design system for product design, the system comprising:

a network-based central processing unit capable of product design;

at least one communication link that allows selective two-way communication to the central processing unit; and

a network that selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party through the at least one communication link,

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the network selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party in real time.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the network selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party in near real time.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication link comprises the Internet.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication link comprises at least one of phone modem, network connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises computer-aided design tools capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided design tools.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises computer-aided manufacturing tool capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided manufacturing tools.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises computer-aided engineering tool capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided manufacturing tools.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises at least one of computer-aided design tools, computer-aided engineering tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using at least one of the computer-aided design tools, computer-aided engineering tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises graphic user interface capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the graphic user interface.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit archives the input by each party, wherein each party may accesses achieved input.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises transfer functions to analyze and evaluate the input with regard to the product design.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit comprises quality-related, analytical tools to analyze and evaluate the product design.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit communicates information concerning design and manufacture of tools and molds.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit communicates information concerning design and manufacture of tools and molds for plastic-formation processes.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the central processing unit communicates information concerning design and manufacture of tools and molds for plastic-formation processes comprises tool and mold design and manufacture by at least one of machining, electro-discharge machining, and welding.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit communicates information concerning design and manufacture of tools and molds, and the central processing unit provides evaluation and analysis of mold filing and mold cooling.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the central processing unit provides evaluation and analysis of mold filing and mold cooling using computer-related steps, processes, analogies, and transfer functions, and the transfer functions comprises transfer functions that are at least one of originally provided in the network-based design system, created by the network-based design system, modified by the network-based design system, or combinations thereof.

19. A network based product design system for product design, the system comprising:

a central processing unit that is capable of product design, the central processing unit comprises at least one of transfer functions and quality-related, analytical tools to analyze and evaluate the product design;

at least one communication link that allows selective two-way communication to the central processing unit in at least near real time, wherein the at least one communication link comprises at least one of phone modem, network connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof; and

a network that selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party through the at least one communication link,

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party, the central processing unit comprises at least one of graphic user interface, computer-aided design tools, computer-aided engineering tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools, wherein each party may make input to the product design using at least one of the graphic user interface computer-aided design tools, computer-aided engineering tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools.

20. A network based product design system for product design, the system comprising:

a central processing unit that is capable of product design, the central processing unit comprises at least one of transfer functions and quality-related, analytical tools to analyze and evaluate at least one of product design, and design and manufacture of tools and molds for plastic-formation processes, the manufacture of tools and molds comprising at least one of machining, electro-discharge machining, and welding, the central processing unit also comprising tools for evaluation and analysis of mold filing and mold coolingusing computer-related steps, processes, analogies, and transfer functions, and the transfer functions comprises transfer functions that are at least one of originally provided in the network-based design system, created by the network-based design system, modified by the network-based design system, or combinations thereof;

at least one communication link that allows selective two-way communication to the central processing unit in at least near real time, wherein the at least one communication link comprises at least one of phone modem, network connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof; and

a network that selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party through the at least one communication link,

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party, the central processing unit comprises at least one of graphic user interface, computer-aided design tools, computer-aided engineering tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools, wherein each party may make input to the product design using at least one of the graphic user interface computer-aided design tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools.

21. A method for designing a product over a network, the method being capable of product design, the method comprising:

displaying a product model on a central processing unit capable of product design, the model being representative of the product that is to be designed;

permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit for designing the product over at least one communication link; and

selectively interconnecting and communicating the product design through the central processing unit over the at least one communication link,

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of selectively interconnecting and communicating comprises selectively interconnecting selectively interconnecting and communicating the central processing unit to at least one party in real time.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of selectively interconnecting and communicating comprises selectively interconnecting selectively interconnecting and communicating to at least one party in near real time.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit over communication links comprises permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit over the Internet.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit over communication links comprises permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit over communication links over at least one of phone modem, network connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof.

26. A method according to claim 21, further comprising designing a product using computer-aided design tools capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided design tools.

27. A method according to claim 21, further comprising designing a product using at least one of computer-aided engineering tools and computer-aided manufacturing tools capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided manufacturing tools.

28. A method according to claim 21, further comprising designing a product using graphic user interface capable of product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using graphic user interface.

29. A method according to claim 21, further comprising achieving input by the central processing unit, wherein each party may accesses achieved input.

30. A method according to claim 21, further the step of analyzing and evaluating input for product design using transfer functions.

31. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of analyzing and evaluating input for product design using quality-related, analytical tools.

32. A method for designing a product over a network, the method being capable of product design, the method comprising:

displaying a product model on a central processing unit for designing products, the model being representative of the product that is to be designed;

permitting two-way communication to the central processing unit over communication links in at least near real time, wherein the at least one communication link comprises at least one of phone modem, network connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof;

selectively interconnecting and communicating the product design through the central processing unit over the at least one communication link;

allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party; and

analyzing and evaluating the product design using at least one of transfer functions and quality-related, analytical tools;

.

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party, the central processing unit comprises at least one of graphic user interface, computer-aided design tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools, wherein each party may make input to the product design using at least one of the graphic user interface computer-aided design tools, and computer-aided manufacturing tools.

33. A network based product design system for product design, the system comprising:

network-based central processing means capable of product design;

communication link means that allows selective two-way communication to the central processing means; and

network means that selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing means to at least one party through the at least one communication link means,

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing means is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network means being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the network means selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing means to at least one party in real time.

35. A system according to claim 33, wherein the network means selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing means to at least one party in near real time.

36. A system according to claim 33, wherein the communication link means comprises the Internet.

37. A system according to claim 33, wherein the communication link means comprises at least one of phone modem, network means connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof.

38. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means comprises at least one of computer-aided engineering tools and computer-aided design means for product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided design means.

39. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means comprises computer-aided manufacturing means for product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the computer-aided manufacturing means.

40. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means comprises at least one of computer-aided design means, computer-aided engineering tools, and computer-aided manufacturing means for product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using at least one of the computer-aided design means and computer-aided manufacturing means.

41. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means comprises graphic user interface means for product design, wherein each party may make input to the product design using the graphic user interface means.

42. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means archives the input by each party, wherein each party may access achieved input.

43. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means comprises transfer functions to analyze and evaluate the input with regard to the product design.

44. A system according to claim 33, wherein the central processing means comprises quality-related, analytical tools to analyze and evaluate the product design.

45. A network means based product design system for product design, the system comprising:

central processing means that is capable of product design, the central processing means comprises at least one of transfer functions and quality-related, analytical tools to analyze and evaluate the product design;

communication link means that allows selective two-way communication to the central processing means in at least near real time, wherein the at least one communication link means comprises at least one of phone modem, network means connection, communication, radio communication and other wireless communication systems, cellular communication, satellite communication, web access communication, and Internet access communication, and combinations thereof; and

network means that selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing means to at least one party through the communication link means,

wherein each party that is connected to the central processing means is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network means being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party, the central processing means comprises at least one of graphic user interface means, computer-aided engineering tools, computer-aided design means, and computer-aided manufacturing means, wherein each party may make input to the product design using at least one of the graphic user interface means, computer-aided design means, and computer-aided manufacturing means.