WO2020039246A1

WO2020039246A1 - Multiuser multilingual system for generating orders and manufacturing windows and doors

Info

Publication number: WO2020039246A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/060659
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oleksandr ROMANYEYEV
Original assignee: Romanyeyev Oleksandr
Priority date: 2018-12-03
Filing date: 2018-12-27
Publication date: 2020-02-27
Also published as: EP3891684A1; UA122556C2

Abstract

This invention refers to digital computing and data processing media specially adapted for creating orders and manufacturing windows and doors. A user request is processed by combining this request with data from update data packages provided by manufacturers in the declared system. The final result of processing a user request is translated into a set of predefined human languages and can be accessed from user terminals of all categories of users involved in the work with this order and from the manufacturer terminals involved in the order processing.

Description

MULTIUSER MULTILINGUAL SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ORDERS AND MANUFACTURING WINDOWS AND DOORS

Technical field

This invention refers to digital computing and data processing media specially adapted for the specific functions. In more details, the solution refers to remote data processing systems presented simultaneously in human language and electronically. More specifically, the system refers to the technical solutions used for business activities, namely for the processing of orders for manufacturing windows and doors.

Background

The technical solution can be applied in the field of digital communication with the use of information software and hardware solutions with a multiuser interface developed to create orders for manufacturing windows and/or doors.

The following types of systems are known for creating orders and for further manufacturing of windows and doors:

- direct online shops of manufacturers fully integrated with the specialized manufacturer’s software,

- specialized systems of specific manufacturers for professional use with or without a web interface.

Such solutions are characterized by setting a plurality of predefined parameters, such as a variety of product options, types of proposed designs, and available interface languages. The existing systems do not support multi-user access to the order being created. Thus, the technicality of such solutions is limited to the creation of unidirectional data flow by the information systems where one user (a professional or a client) inputs the data into the system in order to get the calculation (offer and/or order) back from the manufacturer's software. In case of a successful deal with the client, the software in use enables further transformation of specific order data (sizes, colors, type of opening, etc.) in a machine-readable format that is used directly for the manufacturing process. Such systems require users deep understanding of the variety of window installation situations. Therefore, there are a number of risks imposed on users that are associated with errors in measurements and configurations of windows, the data of which are entered into Internet resources or local software of known solutions. Otherwise, the client is fully tied to the professional - his advice, his responsibility for the configuration/ size, etc.

Separate consideration should be given to existing online services with window-based web- configurators. Such services, when they are not manufacturers’ own online shops (described above), are professional intermediaries in the commercial sense, which:

a) do not allow placing a real online order and are used only for the approximate price calculation. In reality, such web-configurators do not form a part of the information system but should be regarded as a sort of marketing tools, or

b) are used by professionals as a tool for collecting data from the clients - in the case where they allow the direct placement of online orders and are not part of a specific manufacturer’s software. Similarly to the systems described above, such online services do not allow multiple users to access the generated request.

As a conclusion, known solutions have a local application, that is, they operate in a certain limited area, the size of which is determined by the expediency of solving logistic problems, and/or limited by the category of users, pertaining to a certain linguistic form of communication

The prior art technical solution of the Google Sheets spreadsheet is well-known, providing access to the created spreadsheet documents for the real-time co-editing. The spreadsheet document has a plurality of columns and rows as well as a structure similar to the Microsoft Office Excel table processor. The document/spreadsheet created with this technical solution provides the multi-user access for its simultaneous viewing and editing. The entered editorial corrections are saved in the document and can be accessed by all users who were granted the relevant access.

This solution is aimed at processing table data without further transfer to external resources. That is, the data entered in the spreadsheet can be read and processed on the Google server only, and the document is sent manually. That is, the task of processing a created document outside Google Sheets is feasible with a human resource usage, and therefore, technically, this problem is not solved. That is, the translation of the information set out in a human language is carried out by involving an external specially tailored tool/resource for such purposes. The disadvantage of this known technical solution is the ability to change language of the interface but the content remaining unchanged when changing interface language.

The computer system known from the prior art for multiplexing web requests for improved performance is disclosed in US Patent No. 9406082 (B2). A known request multiplexing system accepts multiple asynchronous requests from a client to multiple server endpoints and multiplexes the requests of the client into a single request to a new server endpoint. The new endpoint demultiplexes the client’s requests on the server, calls the pre-existing separate endpoints to get the correct response for each request, combine the responses into a single multiplexed response, and return the combined response to the client. Users receive the information about the new and/or modified lists, sales, offers, transaction status, etc., and sellers receive the information about the sales, new and/or modified lists, open offers, etc.

The disadvantage of this solution is the limitation of its use to a specific circle of users and manufacturers. Adding new users and manufacturers is limited to language barriers, and the lack of tracking the user’s geographical location makes this system inefficient for remote manufacturers, in particular, window and door manufacturers. Thus, there is a need for a multiuser multilingual system for generating orders and manufacturing windows and doors, which has no disadvantages of a known prior art solution.

Summary

Certain terms will be further given, characterizing the present invention, with the explanation of their content within the scope of this application. The disclosure of the following definitions is provided for clear understanding of the point of the present invention and is intended for a clearer and unambiguous understanding of the further description. In case of disputed issues regarding the existence of analogous definitions in other fields of knowledge or invention whose content differs from the following, this description should prevail.

Server is a computing device in a local or global network that provides its users with its computing and medium resources as well as access to installed services.

Tag (identifier) is a part of a digital request to the web- configurator during operations of search, creation and modification of data packages. The tag characterizes the request feature influencing the result of the operation being performed.

Frame is a dialog box on a user terminal of the system. The frame receives data from a user (or its terminal), generates requests to the web-configurator, and displays the processing result from the web- configurator. The data transmitted by the frame contains tags for language, geographical location, user type, authorization status etc.

Web-configurator is a network tool that has its own address in the network. The web- configurator saves a plurality of frames and displays them via user terminal interface in order to receive user requests. It processes the user requests in several stages, at each stage it combines the user request and the results of its processing in the update packages and returns these packages to the user. Manufacturer's data exchange module is a two-way network communication tool on the server. It serves to exchange the digital data packages between a manufacturer’s terminal and the server.

First update package is a digital data package used by the frames in order to generate a request. It includes the product configuration parameters available in the user’s region.

First combined update package is the result of the combination of the user request and the first update package. Essentially it contains the manufacturer's price offer for the product, a configuration for which was chosen by the user. The technical implementation of the first combined update package is possible by identifying common parts found in the sub-packet headers, tags, check boxes, or other between the user request and the first update package. Parts with the same, for example, sub-packet headers are combined with each other, forming the first combined update package.

Second combined update package is a data package based on the first combined update package and data for modification or specification of the configuration of the product entered into the frames by a user from a plurality of users who were granted access to the order. In other words, the second combined update package contains the updated order information to be approved by the customer or another user authorized by him. The principle of implementing the second combined update package is similar to the implementation of the first combined upgrade package. The difference lies in other information content.

Third combined update package is a data package based on the third update package and data from the user containing the information required for the confirmation of the possibility to fulfil this order. In other words, the third combined update package is a data for the final approved order which are available to specific categories of users.

Third update package is a digital data package from a manufacturer used by the frames to show possibilities to produce windows by the user request. From user’s point of view, this package is a confirmation and/or clarification of technological limitation of the manufacturer, terms of supply, price, warranty and etc. regarding manufacturing of a specific version of the order with parameters which were confirmed by the customer or his authorized representative. From technical point of view, the third update package is is the result of a logical check on the truth of the output of the second combined update package and the user data containing the information necessary to confirm the ability to execute this order.

Database is an orderly data archive and their description on a server disk resource. It can be located on remote, cloud and other resources.

Multilingual processing module is a data translation service hosted mainly on the server and containing text information inherent in a particular linguistic environment for translation from one human language into at least one other human language, with the provision of the results digitally.

Categories of (professional) users is the classification of incoming user requests based on a tag which assigns the requests to those of customers, representatives of manufacturers and distributors, measurement and installation specialists, commercial agents, etc. The tag is set on the first request of a user with simultaneous relevant data entry in the database but may be changed later on.

Order is an object comprising one or more data package versions of a user request, starting with the initial user request, and created via the multiuser access to the web- configurator using the frames on the remote user terminals.

The technical problem which addresses this invention is a possibility to process orders regardless of the language (human language) of a user and of the geographic location of a user.

This technical problem is solved by creation of a multiuser multilingual system for generating orders and manufacturing windows and doors which includes: a server configured to receive at least one user request sent from at least one user terminal,

in compliance with the technical solution

the server comprises:

- web- configurator,

- database where the data for each user includes at least a user status tag, a user request language tag, a geographical location tag,

- data exchange module,

- multilingual processing module,

wherein the web-configurator is configured so that to receive at least one user request entered using a plurality of frames, to determine the moment of completion of receiving the user request by setting a tag for all frames completion, to determine availability of user information in the database user register, to determine user’s status from his request, to detect a language of the user request by identifying the language tag of the request, to define his geographical location by location tag of the request, to define the order parameters from the request, to receive the first update package from the data exchange module, to form the first combined package based on the user request and an update package, to send the first combined package to the database, to form and provide access to the second and the third combined packages based on the first and the second combined update packages respectively as well as on the data received from the manufacturer's data exchange module, to transmit the data packages to the multilingual processing module and to receive the processed packages from the latter,

wherein the data exchange module is configured to determine the user’s geographical location tag, to provide the web- configurator with the first update package containing the data to be exchanged for the user request, to receive the first combined package from the web-configurator and the multilingual processing module, to provide data for the formation of the second and the third combined update packages to the web- configurator,

wherein the multilingual processing module is configured to determine user’s language tag from the request, to perform a translation of the data of the first, the second and the third (combined) update packages into a predefined set of human languages.

In one of the embodiments of the system, the data exchange module is configured to exchange the data with the user terminal of at least one manufacturer.

To clarify the implementation of the claimed system, a user request entered via the plurality of the frames includes data related to orders and manufacturing of windows and doors selected from an unbounded list such as height, width, frame material, color, hardware, glazing etc.

The technical result achieved by implementation of the claimed system is in decrease of the errors that are possible when processing a user request due to the multiuser access to the system, that is access of the end customer, installation specialists, manufacturers and other categories of users. Besides, implementation of the invention creates a unified system of users of different categories, each of them is from a certain geographical region among the plurality of geographical regions, having a relevant linguistic environment

The following is a cause-effect relationship between the set of features of the claimed solution and the technical result based on the best embodiment of the invention. Given that the claimed technical solution can be modified and have alternative embodiments, the following description is provided as an example to characterize its essence and possibilities of embodiment. It should be obvious that the provided detailed description is not intended for limiting the claimed solution to the said specific embodiments but rather includes all modifications, equivalents and alternatives that fall within the essence and extent of the patent protection defined by the claims of the system. Brief Description of the Drawing

The essence and the best embodiment of this invention are explained by the accompanying Figure. This Figure is not limiting for this technical solution, and therefore certain modifications and amendments will be understood by a specialist based on the detailed description provided.

The Figure depicts the software and hardware part of the claimed system and the information flows associated with the operation of this system. Thus Figure reference numbers 1-5 and 8, 9 characterize the software and hardware part of the claimed system.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

As can be seen from the Figure, the server (1) contains a web- configurator, the input of which receives a plurality of requests from the users of different categories. The web- configurator (2) is in communication with:

- database (3), in particular, for keeping records of users with their distribution into certain specified categories,

- with the multilingual processing module (4) in order to receive intermediate and final results of processing user requests translated into a relevant plurality of human languages, and

- with the data exchange module (5) for the bidirectional data exchange.

A manufacturer terminal from the plurality of manufacturer terminals (8) provides preliminary information included in the first and the second (combined) update packages, and updated data on the production possibilities and delivery terms for the third combined update package. The material embodiment of the manufacturer terminal may be a digital electronic computing device, configured to be connected to the communication network.

Reference numbers 6, 7, 10 and 11 mean information flows.

The data exchange in the system (11) schematically determines the direction of digital flows within the server. In the further description of this invention, an appropriate explanation will be provided for each individual case of the data exchange within the server. The position of data exchange with reference number (11) is provided in the Figure to explain the invention and is not limiting. That is, one skilled in the art covering the claimed invention shall understand the interaction of the hardware and software part of the claimed system within the server.

The multiuser multilingual system for generating orders and manufacturing windows and doors belongs to remote resources, access to which is provided by communication channels. In particular, the claimed system allows for a multiuser access via Internet or similar networks configured to exchange the data between user terminals and a server.

The system functions on a server (1) which has an entry point for receiving and delaying at least one user request (6). The server shall be understood as one or more computers. Preferably, the user request (6) is sent from the user terminal. The system allows for simultaneous access of two or more users to it. By setting access, as described below, two or more users can familiarize themselves with/process/make suggestions for the same order saved on the server. To avoid excessive loads on the server because of too many simultaneous requests received by the entry point of the server, a limit may be set up with regard to the number of received user requests. The delay time is set up for the requests which exceed the specified limit. This allows for the postponement of the processing of the user's incoming request for a certain period of time, which is required for processing at least one user request that was received earlier. This allows avoiding the loss of the user request and ensures the smooth operation of the server.

The server (1) contains web-configurator (2), characterized by an interface with a plurality of frames. Each frame shown in the Figure within the set of frames having tags (9) corresponds to a certain predefined part of a user request (6). In particular, the frames are used to enter data on orders for manufacturing windows and doors selected from an unbounded list: height, width, material, color, hardware etc. The division of a user request into frames allows for parallel processing of the user request for each of the frames separately. It also allows for doing sampling of a plurality of user requests for a certain range of values in frames. To simplify the description, a transmission of the user request from a single user terminal will be described but one skilled in the art will understand the process of transmitting and processing the multiple user requests as such processes are performed in parallel.

Moreover, the web-configurator (2) is configured so that to receive at least one user request (6), which is distributed over a plurality of frames (9). Preferably the tags are singled out from the user request, defining a particular feature or part of the request. It is achieved by the presence of certain tags. The frames are filled until all tags from the user request have been used. After that, the tag is set to mark filling out a plurality of frames for the entire request. In such a way entry of user request entry is provided.

And, the web- configurator is linked to the database (3). The database includes a number of registers, each of which corresponds to a particular data category. Such registers include, in particular, user register, update package register, manufacturer register etc. The said registers contain data packages that can be supplemented or deleted. It is also possible to create new categories of registers in case of introduction of changes to the database. The web- configurator sends a search query to the database user registry. The search query should be understood as the request for the presence of a saved entry about the user in the user register. In case of absence of such entry, the user is assigned a new entry in the database user register.

The user register saves the data on each user including at least a user status tag, a user request language tag, and a user's location tag. The user status tag shall be understood as a digital symbol (a bit sequence) for assigning users to clients (customers), measurers, installers, sales agents, distributors, etc. In case of absence of user information in the user register, a relevant entry should be created with the transfer of necessary information from the user request. Furthermore, the web- configurator is configured to determine the language of the user request by identifying the language tag of the user request. This tag can be chosen by the user before the request is created. For this, the user selects the language (to be understood as human language) to create a user request. Multilingual processing module (4) defines the language tag of the user request. In such a way, the system defines the language for translation from which the data of the first update packages and subsequent combined packages provided in human language will be translated into the languages from the predefined set of human languages. The need for the translation into other languages from the set of languages is dictated by the necessity to provide access to the user request for the manufacturers who, due to certain circumstances, are not able to read the texts written in a language other than their own language of communication but which are able to provide their services.

Connection of the user terminal to a data exchange network allows for the receipt of the data on the user’s geographical location and an automatic filling of the geographical location tag. The user can independently set a tag on the user’s geographical location in case if the place of delivery of the ordered product markedly differs from the current user’s geographical location. This tag is subject to reading when the server receives the user request. Therefore, the geographical location tag determination is ensured by the web- configurator from the user request.

The user request includes the order parameters concerning, for example, window width, window height, number of insulated pane chambers, opening type, profile type, color, etc.

In more details, from user’s point of view, the request includes: the names of the order parameters, e.g. profile systems, insulated glazing units, sealants and others; information about the manufacturer (the executor), in particular the commercial name, the address of the head office, the address of the production facilities, etc., and the value of the parameters themselves. After the web- configurator provides definition of the order parameters from a user request using available tags, each parameter is distributed through the relevant frames. The moment of the latest data transfer from the user request to the web- configurator is the moment of user request receipt.

Users creating initial requests may be of different categories - a customer, a manufacturer or a distributor, a commercial agent, or a measurement and installation specialist. That is why a user is identified according to the tag set by the user when accessing the server.

Upon receipt of the user request, the data exchange module provides the first update package to the web-configurator. This first update package includes a dataset with assigned categories corresponding to the order parameters. In particular, in this first update package, a relevant manufacturer indicates the cost of the configured windows/doors. This first update package is integrated into the user request to form the first combined package for further transmission to the multilingual processing module. If more than one manufacturer is involved in the system, there should be the transmission of the number of update packages corresponding to the number of manufacturers involved.

Besides, the web- configurator allows for the formation of the first combined update package based on the user request and the update package. The first combined package includes a combination of user request data and the first update package. That is, based on the provided first update package and the user request, the price offer is made for the value of the product or service indicated in the user request. Then the first combined package is sent to the database and to the multilingual processing module. The multilingual processing module provides translation of the first combined package into a number of predefined languages. The first combined package is to be sent to the data exchange module.

The generated first combined package is stored in the database in the update package register, which includes the data related to the order version created by the initial user (requester). The initial user can provide limited access to this order for other specific users (such as measurers, directly to the customer if the initial order is generated by a professional user, or on the contrary to the manufacturer or distributor in case of the generation of an order directly by the customer or commercial agent). The limited access is provided by setting request parameters (or tags) allowing other users to find and look into this request. In some cases, the provision of limited access is determined by the user in a targeted way, where the initial user provides an opportunity for certain specified users to familiarize themselves with the request. Other users who have got access to this order (that is the user request) can create new requests with changed parameters from the unbounded list (specified size, color, etc.) that are stored in the database as other versions of this order. The changes related to user request clarification, as well as update packages, are stored in the database and may be provided to other users with relevant authorization/ access to this user request.

The data exchange module is configured to exchange the data with the user terminal of at least one manufacturer (8). The manufacturer's offers can cover options for fulfilling orders with different parameters influencing the price, operational characteristics and appearance of the final product. Thus, based on the data of the first update package from the multilingual processing module, the further generation of the second combined update package is carried out, where the user is able to clarify the configuration of the structures in the request for subsequent choice by the customer. The clarification of the configuration of the structure in the request should be understood as change of at least one parameter that was previously entered by a user through the frames when creating the request via the web- configurator. Moreover, the second combined update package is provided to the web- configurator. In case if more than one manufacturer is involved in the system, the number of other combined update packages is formed corresponding to the number of manufacturers involved.

After sending the data for the second combined package and its formation in the web- configurator, the users who have been granted access to this request/order are able to provide the data for the formation of the third combined update package with the information necessary for the confirmation of the possibility to fulfil this order. A system user approving the order version on behalf of the customer (either the customer himself or a professional user) sends a request for the selected order version to the manufacturer terminal through the data exchange module. As a result of this exchange, data is obtained from the user terminal for the further generation of the third combined update package.

The first, second, and third update packages to be transferred to the user pass through the multilingual processing module, while translating the information contained in the packages into one of the human languages defined by the relevant package tag. It is important to translate the parameters that are predefined and, in particular, are used in the frames. Digital values input via the frames to determine at least part of the parameters, does not require a translation. If a parameter provides text value options, e.g. profile color specification, then such data are translated by the multilingual processing module.

If required, the declared system can be combined with an external means to carry out the translation. In this case, the required message is generated based on any intermediate or final message (a part of an update package) to be sent to the external means for performing the translation. This involves integrating the completed translation into a web-configurator for further processing.

The web-configurator provides creation and granting access to the third combined package based on the second combined update package received from the data exchange module. The third combined package is characterized by the updated data - confirmation of the technological capability of this manufacturer to manufacture the product of the given parameters or the proposed alternative version of the order in case of limitations, the timing of manufacture, adjusted price if necessary, etc., where the updated data comes from the manufacturer’s terminal. Such updated data may concern the presence or absence of certain materials, order lead-time etc. Thus, the third combined update package contains relevant information about the order fulfilment terms. If multiple manufacturers are involved, a plurality of third combined update packages may be involved in the bidding.

The data exchange module is configured to determine the user’s geographical location tag. This allows to involve for the operation of the system such professional users who work in the location defined by the user who created the initial request.

Besides, the third combined update package also undergoes processing in the multilingual processing module. The package is the output data of the system (10) and is available in any language from a predefined set of human languages from user terminals of all categories of the users involved in the work with this order as described above: clients (customers), measurers, installers, sales agents, distributors, etc.

The claimed system can be implemented as a software-hardware tool, in which the data processing is performed through the software and hardware. A specialist in the field of data processing shall understand the algorithms forming the principle basis of this invention, as well as possible modifications and developments falling within the scope of the claims. In addition, based on the description provided, the specialist shall understand the effect of the combination of essential features of the invention claims on the problem solution and on the discovery of new technical properties.

List of references on the Figure

1 - server

2 - web-configurator

3 - database

4 - multilingual processing module

5 - data exchange module

6 - user request

7 - data exchange with at least one manufacturer terminal

8 - plurality of manufacturer terminals

9 - plurality of frames with tags

10 - output data of the system

11 - data exchange in the system

Claims

1. A multiuser multilingual system for generating orders and manufacturing windows and doors comprising:

a server configured to receive at least one user request sent from at least one user terminal,

characterized in that

the server comprises:

- web- configurator,

- database comprising a user register where the data for each user includes at least a user status tag, a user request language tag, user’s geographical location tag,

- data exchange module,

- multilingual processing module,

and, the web- configurator is configured to receive at least one user request entered via a plurality of frames, to determine the moment of completion of the user request receipt by setting a tag for full data entry into the plurality of the frames, to determine user information availability in the database user register, to determine his status from the request by user’s status tag, to define language of the user request by identifying the language tag from the user request, to determine user’s geographical location tag from the user request by a geographical location tag, to define the order parameters based on the user request, to receive the first update package from the data exchange module, to form the first combined update package based on the user request and the update package, to send the first combined package to the database, to form and provide access to the second and the third combined update packages based on the first and second combined update packages respectively as well as on the data received from the manufacturer's data exchange module, to transmit the data packages to the multilingual processing module and to receive the processed packages from the latter,

and, the data exchange module is configured to determine user’s geographical location tag, to provide the web-configurator with the first update package containing the data to be integrated into the user request, to receive the first combined package from the web- configurator and the multilingual processing module, to provide data for the formation of the second and the third combined update package to the web- configurator, and, the multilingual processing module is configured to determine the language tag of the user request, to perform data translation of the first, second and third update packages provided in human language into a predefined set of human languages.

2. System of claim 1, characterized by the data exchange module is configured to exchange the data with a user terminal of at least one manufacturer.

3. System of any one of the above claims characterized in that the user request entered through a plurality of frames includes the data regarding the order and manufacture of windows and doors selected from the unbounded list such as: height, width, material, color, hardware etc.