Methods and systems for exchanging information, such as information related to material substitutions and specification supersedures
OwnerPhyllis R. Budkainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for providing up-to-date materials and processes information. In one embodiment, a computer-based system allows suppliers in a global supplier base to access current information about materials and processes used in the manufacture of parts and assemblies. Such information can include material substitutions and specification supersedures. In one aspect of this embodiment, the computer-based system allows a company that orders parts and assemblies from these suppliers to periodically update this information to ensure the suppliers have access to current information.
Claims76
A method in a computer system for providing information related to materials for manufacturing parts and assemblies, the method comprising:
- receiving a first request for a first display page from a first computer;
- in response to the received first request, providing the first display page to the first computer, the first display page being configured to receive information related to first and second materials, the second material being substitutable for the first material;
- receiving the information related to first and second materials from the first computer;
- storing the received information;
- receiving a second request for a second display page from a second computer;
- and
- in response to the received second request,
- retrieving at least a portion of the stored information;
- generating the second display page, the second display page containing at least a portion of the retrieved information;
- and
- providing the second display page to the second computer.
A method in a computer system for providing information related to specifications usable in connection with manufacturing, the method comprising:
- receiving a first request for a first display page from a first computer;
- in response to the received first request, providing the first display page to the first computer, the first display page being configured to receive information related to first and second specifications, the second specification superseding the first specification;
- receiving the information related to the first and second specifications from the first computer;
- storing the received information;
- receiving a second request for a second display page from a second computer;
- and
- in response to the received second request,
- retrieving at least a portion of the stored information;
- generating the second display page, the second display page containing at least a portion of the retrieved information;
- and
- providing the second display page to the second computer.
A method in a computer system for providing information related to domestic specifications usable in connection with parts and assemblies provided by a foreign supplier for a domestic company, the method comprising:
- receiving a first request for a first display page from a first computer, the first computer being associated with the domestic company;
- in response to the received first request, providing the first display page to the first computer, the first display page being configured to receive information related to a first material specification or a first process specification;
- receiving the information related to the first material specification or the first process specification from the first user computer;
- storing the received information in a database;
- receiving a second request for a second display page from a second computer, the second computer being associated with the foreign supplier;
- and
- in response to the received second request,
- retrieving at least a portion of the stored information from the database;
- generating the second display page, the second display page containing at least a portion of the stored information;
- and
- providing the second display page to the second computer.
A method in a computer system for obtaining information related to a specification usable in connection with manufacturing from a server computer, the method comprising:
- requesting a first display page from the server computer;
- in response to the request, receiving the first display page from the server computer, the first display page being configured to receive at least one specification identifier;
- receiving from a user a first specification identifier, the first specification identifier identifying a first specification;
- sending the first specification identifier to the server computer;
- in response to sending the first specification identifier, receiving a second display page from the server computer, the second display page containing a second specification identifier, the second specification identifier identifying a second specification that relates to the first specification.
A computer system for providing information related to domestic specifications usable in connection with parts and assemblies provided by a foreign supplier for a domestic company, the computer system comprising:
- means for receiving a first request for a first display page from a first computer, the first computer being associated with the domestic company;
- means for providing the first display page to the first computer in response to the received first request, the first display page being configured to receive information related to a first material specification or a first process specification;
- means for receiving the information related to the first material specification or the first process specification from the first user computer;
- means for storing the received information in a database;
- means for receiving a second request for a second display page from a second computer, the second computer being associated with the foreign supplier;
- means for retrieving at least a portion of the stored information from the database in response to the received second request;
- means for generating the second display page in response to the received second request, the second display page containing at least a portion of the stored information;
- and
- means for providing the second display page to the second computer in response to the received second request.
A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to provide information related to a specification usable in connection with manufacturing, the information being provided by a method comprising:
- receiving a first request for a first display page from a first computer;
- in response to the received first request, providing the first display page to the first computer, the first display page being configured to receive information related to a first material specification or a first process specification;
- receiving the information related to the first material specification or the first process specification from the first user computer;
- storing the received information in a database;
- receiving a second request for a second display page from a second computer;
- and
- in response to the received second request,
- retrieving at least a portion of the stored information from the database;
- generating the second display page, the second display page containing at least a portion of the stored information;
- and
- providing the second display page to the second computer.
A computer-readable medium containing a display page configured to provide information related to a material substitution, the display page comprising:
- a material specification identifier field for identifying a first material specification associated with a first material;
- and
- a material information portion, the material information portion providing information related to the first material including a second material specification, the second material specification associated with a second material, the second material being substitutable for the first material.
A computer-readable medium containing a display page configured to provide information related to a specification, the display page comprising:
- a specification identifier field for identifying a first specification;
- and
- a specification information portion, the specification information portion providing information related to the first specification including:
- an indication of whether the first specification has been superseded;
- and
- when the first specification has been superseded, a second specification, the second specification superseding the first specification.
A method for providing information related to a first material usable in connection with parts and assemblies provided by a supplier for a company, the method comprising:
- receiving from the company an indication of a second material that is substitutable for the first material;
- storing a mapping between the first material and the second material;
- receiving from the supplier a request for information relating to the first material;
- in response to receiving the request,
- retrieving the stored mapping between the first and second materials;
- and
- providing an indication that the second material is substitutable for the first material.
A method for providing information related to a first specification usable in connection with parts and assemblies provided by a supplier for a company, the method comprising:
- receiving from the company an indication of a second specification that supersedes the first specification;
- storing a mapping between the first specification and the second specification;
- receiving from the supplier a request for information relating to the first specification;
- in response to receiving the request,
- retrieving the stored mapping between the first and second specifications;
- and
- providing an indication that the second specification is substitutable for the first specification.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.