Automatically generated and updated graphical rendering of processes

• US 9,600,785 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bogusky, James M., Emmett, Mary Ann, Hallock, Donald A., Lake, Arden Steuart, Palmeri, Joseph Paul, Paradies, James I., Sipperley, William Madison
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heffington, John M
• Application Number:
  US13/017,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,241 Days
• Field of Search: 715/854, 715/771
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/40 Software arrangements specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. user interfaces or toolboxes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/75 Structural analysis for program understanding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

This disclosure relates to tools for optimizing complex processes or systems, such as flow process charts and, more specifically to the automatic graphical renderings of processes. In an exemplary embodiment, the process is a complex process including hundreds or thousands of operations. In an exemplary embodiment, a device displays a first view that includes a complete progression diagram automatically generated from data stored in a database, and at least some directional lines of the complete progression diagram unintelligibly overlap. In response to a selection of a particular operation in the complete progression diagram, in an exemplary embodiment, the display toggles to a second view that includes a focus diagram. In an exemplary embodiment, an edit to the focus diagram is checked in real-time and rejected if the edit orphans an object currently undergoing the process on a live production line.

Claims

1. A manufacturing process management system comprising:

a manufacturing production facility; and

a client device, coupled to a server, the server coupled to a database storing data relating to the manufacturing production facility, wherein the client device comprises a display and a user input tool, and wherein the client device is configured to render on the display;

a first view, the first view comprising a complete progression diagram automatically generated from data stored in the database, wherein the complete progression diagram includes an initial operation, which serves as an origin to the progression diagram, at least one originating operation, a directional line linking nodes representing the initial operation with the originating operation, and a second directional line linking the node representing the originating operation to nodes representing corresponding subsequent operations, wherein the directional lines represent the outcomes of the originating operations, and wherein at least some of the directional lines overlap; and

a second view comprising a focus diagram automatically generated based on a selection, via the user input tool, of a particular operation in the complete progression diagram, wherein the focus diagram is a separate progression diagram including only those directional lines that represent outcomes of the particular operation, wherein said only those directional lines link nodes representing the particular operation to nodes representing only those corresponding subsequent operations directly based on said outcomes of the particular operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the originating operations and the subsequent operations are operations of a process controlling a live production line located at the manufacturing production facility.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the focus diagram is editable.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a tracking system communicatively coupled to the server;

wherein the tracking system tracks at least one object moving through the live production line;

wherein the client device is further configured to transmit a request to the server in response to receiving, via the user input tool, instructions to add or delete a directional line between two nodes depicted in the focus diagram, the two nodes representing two operations; and

wherein the request to the server includes a request for the server to communicate with the tracking system to determine whether the object is undergoing either of said two operations and determine whether linking of the two operations orphans the object in the live production line.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the client device is selected from the following:

a smart phone, a desktop computer, a workstation, a laptop, and a portable electronic reader.

6. A manufacturing process management system comprising:

a manufacturing production facility; and

a client device, coupled to a server, the server coupled to a database storing data relating to the manufacturing production facility, wherein the client device comprises a display and a user input tool, and wherein the client device is configured to render on the display;

a first view, the first view comprising a complete progression diagram automatically generated from data stored in the database, wherein the complete progression diagram includes an initial operation, which serves as an origin to the progression diagram, at least one originating operation, a directional line linking nodes representing the initial operation with the originating operation, and a second directional line linking the node representing the originating operation to nodes representing corresponding subsequent operations, wherein the directional lines represent the outcomes of the originating operations, and wherein at least some of the directional lines overlap; and

a second view comprising a focus diagram automatically generated based on a selection, via the user input tool, of a particular operation in the complete progression diagram, wherein the focus diagram is a separate progression diagram including only those directional lines that represent outcomes of the particular operation, wherein said only those directional lines link nodes representing the particular operation to nodes representing only those corresponding subsequent operations directly based on said outcomes of the particular operation;

a tracking system communicatively coupled to the server;

wherein the tracking system tracks at least one object moving through a live production line;

wherein the client device is further configured to transmit a request to the server in response to receiving, via the user input tool, instructions to add or delete a directional line between two nodes depicted in the focus diagram, the two nodes representing two operations; and

wherein the request to the server includes a request for the server to communicate with the tracking system to determine whether an object is undergoing either of said two operations and determine whether linking of the two operations orphans the object in the live production line.