METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING COMPONENT OBJECTS USED IN A PLURALITY OF COMPOSITE OBJECTS
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method of managing component object data represented as a list identifying component physical objects that can be used in a plurality of composite physical objects, the method comprising:
- storing composite object data structures in a storage system, each composite object data structure linking data for a composite physical object to a component object data structure for each of a plurality of component physical objects used in the composite physical object;
providing a user interface to display the list of component physical objects and composite object data structures linked to the displayed list of component physical objects to enable a user to select composite object data structures and component object data structures to modify the list, and to enable a user to select stored composite object data structures to form or add to the list;
receiving a user selection of a displayed composite object data structure and modifying the list to remove component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure;
receiving a user selection of a stored composite object data structure and modifying the list to add component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure;
receiving a user selection of a component object data structure represented as a component physical object in the list; and
, one of;
using a processor to process the composite object data structure linked to the selected component object data structure to identify other component physical objects in the list used in the composite physical object and removing the identified component physical objects from the list;
ormodifying the composite object data structure in accordance with the removal or modification of the selected component object structure.
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Abstract
A composite physical object is formed of a plurality of component physical objects, which component physical objects can be used in a multiplicity of composite physical objects and a data management system and method is provided to manage the relationships. A user interface is provided to enable selection of component or composite objects for the addition or removal of component physical objects from the list. Because the relationship between component objects and composite objects is maintained, if a user selects to remove a component physical object from the list, its related component physical objects to be used in a composite object can be identified and also automatically removed. Similarly, operating the other way around, a user can select a composite object to be removed and this will result in the removal of all component physical objects in the list which are used in the composite object.
65 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of managing component object data represented as a list identifying component physical objects that can be used in a plurality of composite physical objects, the method comprising:
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storing composite object data structures in a storage system, each composite object data structure linking data for a composite physical object to a component object data structure for each of a plurality of component physical objects used in the composite physical object; providing a user interface to display the list of component physical objects and composite object data structures linked to the displayed list of component physical objects to enable a user to select composite object data structures and component object data structures to modify the list, and to enable a user to select stored composite object data structures to form or add to the list; receiving a user selection of a displayed composite object data structure and modifying the list to remove component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure; receiving a user selection of a stored composite object data structure and modifying the list to add component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure; receiving a user selection of a component object data structure represented as a component physical object in the list; and
, one of;using a processor to process the composite object data structure linked to the selected component object data structure to identify other component physical objects in the list used in the composite physical object and removing the identified component physical objects from the list;
ormodifying the composite object data structure in accordance with the removal or modification of the selected component object structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer apparatus for managing component object data represented as a list identifying component physical objects that can be used in a plurality of composite physical objects, the computer apparatus comprising:
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a data structure store storing composite object data structures in a storage system, each composite object data structure linking data for a composite physical object to a component object data structure for each of a plurality of component physical objects used in the composite physical object; a user interface apparatus adapted to display the list of component physical objects and composite object data structures linked to the displayed list of component physical objects to enable a user to select composite object data structures and component object data structures to modify the list, and to enable a user to select stored composite object data structures to form or add to the list; a processor adapted to; receive a user selection of a displayed composite object data structure and modifying the list to remove component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure; receive a user selection of a stored composite object data structure and modifying the list to add component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure; receive a user selection of a component object data structure represented as a component physical object in the list; and
, one of;use the composite object data structure linked to the selected component object data structure to identify other component physical objects in the list used in the composite physical object and removing the identified component physical objects from the list;
ormodify the composite object data structure in accordance with the removal or modification of the selected component object structure. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A storage medium storing computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out a method of managing component object data represented as a list identifying component physical objects that can be used in a plurality of composite physical objects, the code comprising:
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code for controlling a computer to store composite object data structures in a storage system, each composite object data structure linking data for a composite physical object to a component object data structure for each of a plurality of component physical objects used in the composite physical object; code for controlling a computer to provide a user interface to display the list of component physical objects and composite object data structures linked to the displayed list of component physical objects to enable a user to select composite object data structures and component object data structures to modify the list, and to enable a user to select stored composite object data structures to form or add to the list; code for controlling a computer to receive a user selection of a displayed composite object data structure and modifying the list to remove component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure; code for controlling a computer to receive a user selection of a stored composite object data structure and modifying the list to add component physical objects identified by links in the selected composite object data structure; code for controlling a computer to receive a user selection of a component object data structure represented as a component physical object in the list; and
, one of;code for controlling a computer to process the composite object data structure linked to the selected component object data structure to identify other component physical objects in the list used in the composite physical object and removing the identified component physical objects from the list;
orcode for controlling a computer to modify the composite object data structure in accordance with the removal or modification of the selected component object structure.
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Specification