Product Structure Variation Management via Master and Configuration Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer-aided design (CAD) programs for managing complex product variations face challenges in efficiently storing and processing data, leading to increased time, effort, and costs due to redundant data and difficulty in understanding design differences between variants.
Innovation Solution
A product management system utilizing a data manager and visualizer that organizes product structures with master and configuration objects in a hierarchical manner, minimizing redundant data by sharing common data across variants and allowing efficient identification and presentation of design differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If redundant data is added to capture design variations in CAD programs, then the ability to represent product variations is improved, but the amount of data storage and processing required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the product structure into master objects (defining common characteristics) and configuration objects (capturing specific variations). This segmentation allows the system to store only the variation data in configuration objects while referencing master objects for common data, reducing overall data quantity while maintaining the ability to represent all product variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges common data across multiple product variations by using master objects that can be referenced by multiple configuration objects. Instead of storing complete product data for each variation separately, the system merges shared characteristics into master objects, reducing redundant data storage while preserving the ability to represent each variation uniquely.
2Measurement precision
If complete data copying is performed for each design variation, then the accuracy of representing each variant is improved, but the time and effort to manage the model increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary variation data into configuration objects rather than copying complete product data. By taking out only the differing attributes into configuration objects and referencing master objects for common data, the system maintains accurate representation of each variant while significantly reducing the time and effort required to manage the model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates master objects that serve multiple functions by being referenced by multiple configuration objects representing different product variations. This multi-functionality allows a single master object to accurately represent common characteristics across all variants while avoiding the need to repeatedly copy and manage duplicate data for each variation.
3Loss of information
If detailed data is stored for each product variation, then the completeness of design information is improved, but the complexity of managing and processing the data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data management into two clear components: master objects for common characteristics and configuration objects for variations. This segmentation simplifies data management by allowing users to work with configuration objects for specific variations while master objects handle shared data, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces configuration objects as intermediaries between master objects and specific product variations. These intermediary configuration objects link master objects to specific variations, allowing the system to maintain complete design information while simplifying data management through a clear hierarchical structure that separates common and variant data.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for managing variations in a product structure for a product comprising a data manager and a visualizer. The data manager is configured to manage variations in the product structure using a model. The model includes a group of master objects having a primary hierarchical organization and a group of configuration objects having a number of secondary hierarchical organizations. Each secondary hierarchical organization in the number of secondary hierarchical organizations is associated with the primary hierarchical organization and configured to represent a variant of the product. A number of configuration objects in a secondary hierarchical organization represents a number of variations in the product structure for the product. The visualizer is configured to visually present, in a graphical user interface, information for an object selected from one of a master object in the group of master objects and a configuration object in the group of configuration objects.