Multi-tiered structure for storing and displaying product and process variants

Abstract

A computer based system is provided that is capable of displaying component and process structures for configurable product classes stored in a data structure. Product classes in the data structure are represented by product nodes. Components, which are abstractions of concrete items used in the product, are represented by component nodes. Component nodes are mapped to each product class with which the component is associated, and are associated with one or more component variants, which are concrete items used in the manufacture of a particular product variant. Process nodes, which are abstractions of actual steps required to produce a product variant, known as process variants, are represented by process nodes. The computer based system can display several alternative views of the data structure. For example, upon receiving a selection for a particular product class, the computer based system converts and can graphically display all component and process nodes associated with that product class. Alternatively, the system can receive input of a product variant and display all component variants used in its production, which is its bill of materials.

We claim: 
     
       1. A computer based system for displaying components and processes associated with configurable product classes, comprising a display, a memory, a central processor and a user interface, wherein said memory has a data structure, said data structure comprises:
 a) a product layer comprising at least one product, wherein each product is represented by a product class;   b) a node structure layer comprising
 at least one component node, wherein each of said at least one component node represents a component, and wherein said each of said at least one component node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in which said component is used, and 
 at least one process node, wherein each of said at. least one process node represents a process, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in whose manufacture said process is used, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is also linked to the respective one of said at least one component node representing a component used in said process represented by said each of said at least one process node; 
   c) a variant layer comprising
 at least one component variant, wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with one of said at least one component node, and wherein said each of said at least one component variant represents a concrete item that is used in a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one component node associated with said each of said at least one component variant is linked; 
 at least one process variant, wherein each of said at least one process variant is associated with one of said at least one process node, and wherein said each of said at least one process variant represents actual production steps used in the manufacture of a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one process node associated with said each of said at least one process variant is linked; 
   d) an application view layer comprising
 at least one application view node, wherein each of said at least one application view node is linked to a product class, and wherein said each of said at least one application view node comprises at least one of 
 a collection of all component nodes that are linked to the product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked, and 
 a collection of all process nodes that are linked to said product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked; and 
   
       wherein said user interface is used to receive a selection of one of said at least one application view node, and wherein said central processor converts said selected application view node into a graphical representation for visual display on said display. 
     
     
       2. The computer based system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with a selection condition that indicates which of said at least one component variant is used in said specific product variant according to specific product characteristics of said specific product variant. 
     
     
       3. The computer based system of  claim 2 , wherein said user interface is used to receive a selection of said specific product variant, and wherein said central processor employs said selection condition for each of said at least one component node linked to the product class of said specific product variant to determine all component variants associated with said selected product variant in said data structure, which is the bill of materials for said specific product variant, and wherein said central processor displays said bill of materials for said specific product variant on said display. 
     
     
       4. The computer based system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one product is a plurality of products, and wherein said plurality of products are arranged based on the hierarchical relationship between product classes. 
     
     
       5. The computer based system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one component node is a plurality of component nodes, and wherein said plurality of component nodes are arranged based on the hierarchical relationship between components. 
     
     
       6. The computer based system of  claim 5 , wherein said hierarchical relationship between components depicts the decomposition of components into sub-components. 
     
     
       7. The computer based system of  claim 6 , wherein there are a plurality of decompositions of a particular component into sub-components. 
     
     
       8. The computer based system of  claim 7 , wherein selection of one of said plurality of decompositions for a particular component into sub-components is based on the plant where the product associated with said particular component is manufactured. 
     
     
       9. A method of graphically displaying components and processes associated with configurable products stored in a data structure, the data structure comprising:
 a) a product layer comprising at least one product, wherein each product is represented by a product class;   b) a node structure layer comprising
 at least one component node, wherein each of said at least one component node represents a component, and wherein said each of said at least one component node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in which said component is used, and 
 at least one process node, wherein each of said at least one process node represents a process, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in whose manufacture said process is used, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is also linked to the respective one of said at least one component node representing a component used in said process represented by said each of said at least one process node; 
   c) a variant layer comprising
 at least one component variant, wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with one of said at least one component node, and wherein said each of said at least one component variant represents a concrete item that is used in a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one component node associated with said each of said at least one component variant is linked; 
 at least one process variant, wherein each of said at least one process variant is associated with one of said at least one process node, and wherein said each of said at least one process variant represents actual production steps used in the manufacture of a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one process node associated with said each of said at least one process variant is linked; 
   d) an application view layer comprising
 at least one application view node, wherein each of said at least one application view node is linked to a product class, and wherein said each of said at least one application view node comprises at least one of 
 a collection of all component nodes that are linked to the product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked, and 
 a collection of all process nodes that are linked to said product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked; 
   
       the method comprising the steps of
 i) receiving a selection of one of said at least one application view node from a user interface; 
 ii) converting said one of said at least one application view node into a graphical representation for visual display; and 
 iii) displaying said graphical representation on a display. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with a selection condition that indicates which of said at least one component variant is used in said specific product variant according to specific product characteristics of said specific product variant. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said user interface is used to receive a selection of said specific product variant, and wherein said central processor employs said selection condition for each of said at least one component node linked to the product class of said specific product variant to determine all component variants associated with said selected product variant in said data structure, which is the bill of materials for said specific product variant, and wherein said central processor displays said bill of materials for said specific product variant on said display. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one product is a plurality of products, and wherein said plurality of products are arranged based on the hierarchical relationship between product classes. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one component node is a plurality of component nodes, and wherein said plurality of component nodes are arranged based on the hierarchical relationship between components. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said hierarchical relationship between components depicts the decomposition of components into sub-components. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein there are a plurality of decompositions of a particular component into sub-components. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein selection of one of said plurality of decompositions for a particular component into sub-components is based on the plant where the product associated with said particular component is manufactured. 
     
     
       17. A computer based system for displaying components and processes associated with hierarchical product classes, comprising a display, a memory, a central processor and a user interface, wherein said memory has a data structure, said data structure comprises:
 a) a product layer comprising at least one product, wherein each product is represented by a product class;   b) a node structure layer comprising
 at least one component node, wherein each of said at least one component node represents a component, and wherein said each of said at least one component node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in which said component is used, and 
 at least one process node, wherein each of said at least one process node represents a process, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is linked to the product class representing the respective one of said at least one product in whose manufacture said process is used, and wherein said each of said at least one process node is also linked to the respective one of said at least one component node representing a component used in said process represented by said each of said at least one process node; 
   c) a variant layer comprising
 at least one component variant, wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with one of said at least one component node, and wherein said each of said at least one component variant represents a concrete item that is used in a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one component node associated with said each of said at least one component variant is linked; 
 at least one process variant, wherein each of said at least one process variant is associated with one of said at least one process node, and wherein said each of said at least one process variant represents actual production steps used in the manufacture of a specific product variant of the respective one of said at least one product represented by the product class to which said one of said at least one process node associated with said each of said at least one process variant is linked; 
   d) an application view layer comprising
 at least one application view node, wherein each of said at least one application view node is linked to a product class, and wherein said each of said at least one application view node comprises at least one of 
 a collection of all component nodes that are linked to the product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked, and 
 a collection of all process nodes that are linked to said product class to which the respective one of said each of said at least one application view node is linked; 
   
       the computer based system further comprising
 i) means for receiving a selection of one of said at least one application view node from a user interface; 
 ii) means for converting said selected application view node into a graphical representation for visual display; and 
 iii) means for displaying said graphical representation on a display. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer based system of  claim 17 , wherein each of said at least one component variant is associated with a selection condition that indicates which of said at least one component variant is used in said specific product variant according to specific product characteristics of said specific product variant. 
     
     
       19. The computer based system of  claim 18 , wherein said user interface is used to receive a selection of said specific product variant, and wherein said central processor employs said selection condition for each of said at least one component node linked to the product class of said specific product variant to determine all component variants associated with said selected product variant in said data structure, which is the bill of materials for said specific product variant, and wherein said central processor displays said bill of materials for said specific product variant on said display. 
     
     
       20. The computer based system of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one product is a plurality of products, and wherein said plurality of products are arranged based on the hierarchical relationship between product classes. 
     
     
       21. The computer based system of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one component node is a plurality of component nodes, and wherein said plurality of component nodes are arranged based on the hierarchical relationship between components. 
     
     
       22. The computer based system of  claim 21 , wherein said hierarchical relationship between components depicts the decomposition of components into sub-components. 
     
     
       23. The computer based system of  claim 22 , wherein there are a plurality of decompositions of a particular component into sub-components. 
     
     
       24. The computer based system of  claim 23 , wherein selection of one of said plurality of decompositions for a particular component into sub-components is based on the plant where the product associated with said particular component is manufactured. 
     
     
       25. A computer based system for displaying components and processes associated with configurable product classes, comprising a display, a memory, a central processor and a user interface, wherein said memory has a data structure, said data structure comprises:
 a) a product layer comprising a product represented by a product class;   b) a node structure layer comprising
 a component node, wherein said component node represents a component, and wherein said component node is linked to said product class, and 
 a process node, wherein said process node represents a process, and wherein said process node is linked to said product class, and wherein said process node is also linked to said component node; 
   c) a variant layer comprising
 a component variant, wherein said component variant is associated with said component node, and wherein said component variant represents a concrete item that is used in a specific product variant of said product represented by said product class; 
 a process variant, wherein said process variant is associated with said process node, and wherein said process variant represents actual production steps that are used in the manufacture of a specific product variant of said product represented by said product class; 
   d) an application view layer comprising
 an application view node, wherein said application view node is linked to said product class, and wherein said application view node comprises at least one of said component node and said process node; 
   
       wherein said user interface is used to receive a selection of said application view node, and wherein said central processor converts said selected application view node into a graphical representation for visual display on said display. 
     
     
       26. A computer-based system comprising a memory having a data structure, said data structure comprising
 a representation of a product having product variants,   a component node linked to said product representation and associated with component variants used in the product variants, and   a process node linked to the component node and associated with actual production steps that are used in the manufacture of product variants.   
     
     
       27. A medium bearing a data structure, said data structure comprising:
 a representation of a product having product variants,   a component node linked to said product representation and associated with component variants used in the product variants, and   a process node linked to the component node and associated with specific production steps that are used in the manufacture of product variants.   
     
     
       28. A computer-based method comprising:
 representing products by a product class;   linking to the product class a component node that represents a component and a process node that represents a process, the process node being linked to the component node,   associating component variants with the component node, the component variants representing items that are used in the product variants, and   associating process variants with a process node that represent actual production steps that are used in the manufacture of the product variants of the product.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28 also including
 converting an application view node linked to the product class into a graphical representation for visual display.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29 also including
 receiving from a user interface a selection of an application view node.   
     
     
       31. A method comprising
 displaying a user interface,   receiving a selection by a user of an application view node that is linked to a product class and is associated with at least one of a component node associated with the product class or a process node associated with the product class,   the component node being associated with component variants and the process node being associated with process variants, the component variants representing items and the process variants representing actual production steps that are used in the manufacture of the product variants, and   converting the selected application view node into a graphical representation for visual display.   
     
     
       32. A computer implemented method for handling a product in a production process, wherein the product has a plurality of product variants, comprising:
 providing a plurality of component nodes, wherein each component node is an abstraction of a concrete item that is used in the product;   assigning at least one component variant to each component node, wherein each component variant specifies a concrete item that can be used for the manufacture of a particular product variant of the product, so that for a component node of the product only a component variant that is assigned to the component node can be selected;   connecting a plurality of component nodes through a plurality of process nodes, wherein a process node is an abstraction of the actual steps used to manipulate the components that it is linked to; and   assigning at least one process variant to each process node, wherein a process variant represents concrete operations used in the production process for the components linked to a corresponding process node.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
 associating at least one selection condition with each component node, wherein each selection condition specifies a product characteristic for which a specific component variant is used;   obtaining a bill of materials for a specified product variant by employing the selection conditions to determine the component variants that are used in the specified product variant.   
     
     
       34. A computer system for handling a product in a production process, wherein the product has a plurality of product variants, comprising the following means:
 a means for providing a plurality of component nodes, wherein each component node is an abstraction of a concrete item that is used in the product;   a means for assigning at least one component variant to each component node,   wherein each component variant specifies a concrete item that can be used for the manufacture of a particular product variant of the product, so that for a component node of the product only a component variant that is assigned to the component node can be selected;   a means for connecting a plurality of component nodes through a plurality of process nodes, wherein a process node is an abstraction of the actual steps used to manipulate the components that it is linked to; and   a means for assigning at least one process variant to each process node, wherein a process variant represents concrete operations used in the production process for the components linked to a corresponding process node.   
     
     
       35. The computer system of claim 34 comprising the further means:
 a means for associating at least one selection condition with each component node, wherein each selection condition specifies a product characteristic for which a specific component variant is used;   a means for obtaining a bill of materials for a specified product variant by employing the selection conditions to determine the component variants that are used in the specified product variant.   
     
     
       36. A computer system for handling a product in a production process, wherein the product has a plurality of product variants, comprising:
 a memory storing a data structure, wherein the data structure provides the following data:
 a) a plurality of component nodes, wherein each component node is an abstraction of a concrete item that is used in the product; 
 b) a plurality of component variants, wherein each component variant specifies a concrete item that can be used for the manufacture of a particular product variant of the product, so that for a component node of the product only a component variant that is assigned to the component node can be selected; 
 c) a plurality of process nodes, wherein each process node is an abstraction of the actual steps used to manipulate the components that it is linked to; 
 d) a plurality of process variants, wherein each process variant represents concrete operations used in the production process for the components linked to a corresponding process node; and 
   a processor executing the following steps:
 a) assigning at least one component variant to each component node; 
 b) connecting a plurality of component nodes through a plurality of process nodes; and 
 c) assigning at least one process variant to each process node. 
   
     
     
       37. The computer system of claim 36, wherein
 the data structure further provides a plurality of selection conditions, each selection condition specifying a component variant to be used for a specified product variant according to a product characteristic of the specific product variant; and   the processor obtaining a bill of materials for the specified product variant, the bills of materials comprising component variants that are determined by employing the selection conditions and that are used in the specified product variant.