US 7,096,164 B1 · Automatic design and sale of complex multi-vendor electronic and mechanical systems

Abstract

The automation of design and sale of electronic and mechanical components is accomplished by allowing a user to design a plan for their electronic and mechanical component needs using specialized software. The software utilizes predefined models of components to aid the user in designing a system where all the components are compatible, even in cases where the components are made by different manufacturers. This is accomplished by creating a model for each proposed piece of equipment in the system, the model having properties and rules, wherein the rules define conditions and actions. Then an object is created for each piece of equipment in the system. Selections for values for the properties are received for each of the pieces of equipment. Any rules that have as a condition the properties for which value selections are received are executed. Finally, testing may be undertaken to determine if a proposed configuration is valid by examining results of the rule execution.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for adding a connection between pieces of equipment in a design of an equipment-based system, the pieces of equipment each having a model and containing one or more ports, the method comprising:

comparing port detail, payload, protocol, signal types, and cabling requirements in the model for the ports of the pieces of equipment;
indicating the connection is not valid if ports are not available for connection;
indicating the connection is valid if a fixed connection rule is available for the connection of said ports of said pieces of equipment;
indicating the connection is not valid if said protocol and signal type carried by both of said pieces of equipment are not compatible, and a converter is not available to bridge the gap between said incompatible protocol and/or signal types;
indicating the connection is not valid if a medium at said pieces of equipment is not compatible, and a converter is not available to bridge the gap between said incompatible media;
indicating the connection is not valid if the connection is listed in a compatibility issues table and no resolution code is listed which can be executed;
and displaying an indication of whether the configurations valid.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic design and sale of complex multi-vendor electronic and mechanical systems

Life of this patent

Automatic design and sale of complex multi-vendor electronic and mechanical systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9