System, method and computer program product for collaborative engineering using component and file oriented tools
US7194489B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99954
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Conventional file-based engineering design data for an engineering model are represented by a plurality of components. The plurality of components are kept in stores, which reside on servers. Each store contains the components that correspond to the elements of one design file. The stores also maintain a history of changes made to the components. A plurality of client computers are bidirectionally connected to the servers. Each client computer may obtain the current version of the components and may send locally edited versions of the components back to the servers to replace the current versions in the stores. At the client computer, the user interacts with the components using conventional file-based software. Before the locally edited versions of the components are committed to the servers to replace the current versions, a synchronization and merging process occurs whereby the latest version of the components are downloaded to the client computer and are compared to the locally edited version of the components to detect resolvable (compatible) and unresolvable (incompatible) conflicts. The commit process is performed only if no unresolvable conflicts exist between the two versi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.