Mechanical-electrical template based method and apparatus

A method for use with pre-existing electronically stored electrical and mechanical schematics where the electrical schematic indicates a control system to be used to control mechanical components corresponding to the mechanical schematics, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one electronic visual display screen;
• b) displaying at least a segment of the mechanical schematics via the at least one display screen;
• c) when at least one mechanical component is selected on the mechanical schematics, identifying components on the electrical schematics associated with the selected mechanical component on the mechanical schematic;
• and
• d) displaying at least the identified electrical components via the at least one display screen.

A method for use with pre-existing electronically stored electrical and mechanical schematics where the electrical schematic indicates a control system to be used to control mechanical components corresponding to the mechanical schematics, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a specification that associates electrical components with mechanical components controllable by the electrical components wherein the specification includes a set of templates where each template includes a mechanical template icon sub-set and an associated electrical template icon sub-set where the electrical icon sub-set includes icons corresponding to electrical components for controlling mechanical components corresponding to the mechanical template icon sub-set;
• b) providing a visual interface;
• c) displaying at least a segment of the mechanical schematics via the interface;
• d) when at least one mechanical component is selected on the mechanical schematics, identifying components on the electrical schematics associated with the selected mechanical component on the mechanical schematic, the step of identifying components on the electrical schematics including using the specification to associate mechanical schematic components with electrical schematic components;
• and
• e) displaying at least the identified electrical components.

A method for identifying at least a section of a first schematic associated with at least a section of a second schematic wherein each of the first and second schematics includes a set of components for configuring a system to perform a process and wherein the components of the first and second schematics are first and second different types, respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) identifying the components of the first type included in the first section of the first schematic;
• b) using a processor to perform the steps of:
• (1) examining the second schematic to identify at least one instance of components of the second type that are associated with the identified components of the first type;
• and
• (2) when at least one instance of components of the second type is identified, rendering the at least one instance accessible.