US 6,295,513 B1 · Network-based system for the manufacture of parts with a virtual collaborative environment for design, developement, and fabricator selection

Abstract

The invention relates generally to a comprehensive, integrated computer-based system and method for undertaking an engineering design and development effort in a virtual collaborative environment, identifying qualified fabricators for manufacturing a part design based on fabricator capability information stored in a global registry database substantially maintained by the fabricators themselves, and conducting a virtual bidding process whereby electronic representations of three dimensional model and specification data are provided by a central server. The central server further supports the bidding process by providing quasi-real time audio, video and graphics, and the contracts negotiation and formalization steps.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A server-based system for a fabricator evaluating detailed manufacturing instructions contained within a request for a propsal to view a part design model, comprising:

a memory for storing a part design model provided by a designer seeking a proposal for manufacturing the part represented by the part design model, said memory resident at a first location. said designer resident at a second location and said fabricator resident at a third location. where the first location is separate from both the second and third locations;
and
a server system for enabling a fabricator connected over a packet-switched network to access said part design model;
said server system having a software component for presenting the part design model to the fabricator through said network using a graphical user interface and where said software component is resident at said server system and accessible by said software component includes a substantially planform indenpendent client side application to be run on the system of the fabricator. where said application permits the manipulation of the part design model.

1 more element

A process for obtaining information for a fabricators registry comprising the steps of:

providing one or more fabricator manager applications to at least one fabricator, where the one or more fabricator manager applications:
1) assist the at least one fabricator in managing the fabricator'business;
2) reside in a central repository;
and
3) are accessed through a global open network.
receiving data from the at least one fabricator, where the data is the result of the at least one fabricator using the one or more fabricator manager applications;
aggregating the received data into a fabricator registry;
and
providing access to the fabricator registry to at least one designer, where at least one of:
a) the at least one designer accesses at least a portion of the received data in the fabricator registry;
and
b) the entiry providing the fabricator manager applications accesses at least a portion of the received data in the course of providing services to one or more customers.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network-based system for the manufacture of parts with a virtual collaborative environment for design, developement, and fabricator selection

Life of this patent

Network-based system for the manufacture of parts with a virtual collaborative environment for design, developement, and fabricator selection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43