Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-30
2004-08-31
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2116)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
C713S002000, C713S100000, C700S090000, C700S091000, C700S092000, C700S093000, C700S094000, C700S095000, C700S096000, C705S026640, C705S027200, C705S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06785805
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to network-based methods for configuring and building integrated systems, such as integrated test, automation, and/or measurement systems. The methods may be internet or intranet-based applications that configure and price an integrated system in response to selection of system features and/or system configurations by a network user. The methods may be implemented as part of a build-to-order internet application.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated systems are widely used in industry to fulfill a number of needs. For example, integrated systems are used in the test, measurement and automation industries to automate research, design, test, and measure physical and electrical signals. These types of integrated systems may be referred to collectively as “integrated TMA systems.” During the research, development, manufacturing, and testing of products, a variety of scientific instrumentation and sensors are used for measuring and generating a wide range of physical signals including, but not limited to, temperature, pressure, power signals, RF signals, and biomedical signals. Thus, as used herein, the terms “measurement” and “generation” refer to measurement and generation of both high and low frequency bandwidth signals including, for example, measurement and generation of relatively higher frequency RF signals and relatively lower frequency temperature signals.
Scientific instruments used for these measurements and signal generation may include equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, waveform generators, and data acquisition instruments. To automate signal measurement and generation, a controller (e.g., a personal computer or workstation) may be interfaced to such scientific instruments to control these instruments with custom written software. The process of mounting, cabling, and interfacing these instruments, test racks, components, and sensors together, and developing and installing software to control the system so that the system can perform automated test and measurement is known as “systems integration.”
It is a common practice for corporations to outsource system integration of test, measurement, and automation systems to companies that specialize in system integration, known as systems integrators. This outsourcing process generally requires a systems integrator to become familiar with the needs of the outsourcing company. After collecting and analyzing these needs, the systems integrator manually generates and delivers a price quote and project details for the development effort to the outsourcing company. If the outsourcing company decides to contract the systems integration with the systems integrator, the outsourcing company manually informs the system integrator that they will award them the contract based on their written proposal and then sets up payment and delivery terms. The systems integrator then acquires components for the system from various component vendors and assembles the integrated system. This outsourcing process typically requires several months from the initial decision to outsource a systems integration project to the delivery of the assemble integrated system. The assembled price of an outsourced integrated system typically must cover the manpower costs associated with the bidding and component procurement process.
The internet is used for searching, selecting, and ordering components used in test, measurement, and automation systems. Several component vendors offer online selection tools that assist a user in identifying individual components available from the specific component vendor to fit the user's specified application (e.g., measurement function, number of channels, etc.). Other third parties offer online selection tools to assist a user in choosing components from multiple component vendors. A few component vendors use the internet to offer pre-configured systems that the user cannot change, or to provide price quotes for selected parts or components. Still other companies offer the ability to get online quotes for built-to-order printed circuit boards that may be used in these systems. For example, a user may enter specifications for a printed circuit board (e.g., number of holes, number of traces on the board, etc.), and obtain an online quote for the cost of a printed circuit board meeting these specifications.
Development of custom software drivers for use with integrated systems and/or instrument hardware typically requires a customer to write requests for quotes, forward these requests to software developers, and wait for a response. This process is typically time-consuming and may be repeated several times before the customer finds the right software solution.
In the personal computer industry, several computer vendors offer the ability for the customer to place an online order for a personal computer that is based on the customer's computing needs. The customer first selects components for a personal computer (“PC”) through a web browser. A server then calculates the price for the PC based on the entered selections. If the customer decides to order the system, the PC vendor then builds the PC based on the customer's entered specifications, and ships the computer to the customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed herein are network-based configuration methods for systems integration over a network such as the Internet, for test, measurement, and automation (TMA) environments. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for providing integrated systems for test, measurement and automation (TMA) environments, including providing a plurality of selectable configuration options to a user through a network where the selectable configuration options representing features for a TMA system, receiving information representing configuration options selected by a user, assembling a plurality of TMA components to produce a TMA system that satisfies the user-selected configuration options, providing systems integration for the TMA system to produce an integrated TMA system, and fulfilling an order for the user-configured TMA system with the integrated TMA system. In addition, the TMA components comprise hardware components, software components, or a combination of both. And the plurality of TMA components comprise one or more third party TMA hardware components, one or more third party TMA-related software components, or a combination hereof. Still further, the network may be, for example, the Internet.
In more detailed embodiments, the method may further include generating a price for the TMA system based upon the user-selected configuration options prior to the assembling step and that price may be automatically calculated. Furthermore, the price may be generated using an adaptive formula, the adaptive formula being capable of adapting itself based on the user-selected configuration options. Also, the method may further include tracking the status of assembly and fulfillment, and making the status available to the user. And this tracking status may be automatically provided. Still further, the assembly and fulfillment may be performed by two or more respective departments in at least first and second successive steps, with automatic status notification between a first department responsible for the first step following receipt of the order and a second department responsible for the second step of the completion. In addition, the method may determine an estimated completion date for the integrated TMA system based on the user-selected configuration options and provide estimated completion date to the user. In addition, the estimated completion date may be determined using an adaptive formula, the adaptive formula being capable of adapting itself based on historical completion times for previously assembled and fulfilled integrated TMA systems.
In still further detailed embodiments, the method may include generating a graphical depiction of the integrated TMA system based on the user-selected configuration options
Gamez Cesar R.
Hinkle, Jr. Francis E.
House Richard W.
Gaffin Jeffrey
O'Keefe Egan & Peterman, LLP
Patel Nitin
VI Technology, Inc.
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