Method and apparatus for generating and managing parts-configuration information
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorToshihiro Kamino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An information output device, an information display device, and an information management system for the efficient management of the parts of an industrial product. Information about the parts constituting the product is included in a table at the engineering stage. In the subsequent production stage or service stage, information may be added or altered when some of the parts are aggregated as an assembly or a set. A section is provided in the tables for each of the parts constituting the product according to a plurality of display modes, so that part configuration information such as part configuration diagrams needed in engineering, production, and service may be displayed as trees.
Claims20
An information display device for displaying at least one chart pertaining to a product of an organization, said device comprising a first display unit adapted to display a first table depicting a plurality of parts of the product,
- wherein the organization comprises a plurality of departments;
- wherein the first table depicts a plurality of hierarchies;
- wherein each hierarchy comprises parts of the plurality of parts and describes hierarchical relationships among the parts of the plurality of parts;
- wherein each part appears in at least one hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchies;
- and
- wherein each department is uniquely associated with a corresponding entire hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchies;
- wherein being uniquely associated with an entire hierarchy means being uniquely associated with all parts and all hierarchical relationships comprised by the entire hierarchy;
- wherein the corresponding entire hierarchy to which each department is uniquely associated is department specific such that no other department of the plurality of departments is associated with the corresponding entire hierarchy;
- wherein each corresponding entire hierarchy comprises level numbers denoting hierarchical levels in each corresponding entire hierarchy;
- and
- wherein each part has an associated level number that is specific to each corresponding entire hierarchy in which each part appears, as depicted in the first table.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.