EP1208516A4 - Systeme et procede de configuration de produit - Google Patents

Systeme et procede de configuration de produit

Info

Publication number
EP1208516A4
EP1208516A4 EP99968500A EP99968500A EP1208516A4 EP 1208516 A4 EP1208516 A4 EP 1208516A4 EP 99968500 A EP99968500 A EP 99968500A EP 99968500 A EP99968500 A EP 99968500A EP 1208516 A4 EP1208516 A4 EP 1208516A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
user
product
configuration
profile
computer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99968500A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1208516A1 (fr
Inventor
Mason Hale
David Peckham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Frog Design Inc
Original Assignee
Frog Design Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Frog Design Inc filed Critical Frog Design Inc
Publication of EP1208516A1 publication Critical patent/EP1208516A1/fr
Publication of EP1208516A4 publication Critical patent/EP1208516A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a system and method for selecting a product
  • microprocessors different amounts of memory, different size hard drives, different
  • WWW World Wide Web
  • Another conventional system may permit the consumer to
  • the consumer receives the product configuration, the consumer may modify it as
  • the consumer is selecting the configuration, to ensure that the selected configuration
  • CD-ROM drive has a CD-ROM drive, a typical hard drive and a removable-media optical drive in a
  • the configuration selected by the consumer can not be built. Even worse, the
  • the late detection of an incompatibility may also cause the delivery of
  • each different type of person may be easily ordered by the large corporation with a
  • a software programmer may require a faster
  • microprocessor and more memory in a computer than a receptionist so that the client
  • the user profile may still be able to recommend an appropriate computer
  • a configuration system and method are provided in which the configuration of
  • a product may be recommended based on user input (need based). The recommended
  • the final configuration recommended to the user may be manufactured by the
  • the system may also store a user profile generated based on the user
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a World Wide Web (WWW) based configuration system
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a screen shot of the user interface of a
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating more details about the configuration
  • Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically configuring a
  • Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating more details about the interaction of the
  • Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a more details of the profile development
  • Figures 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a base profile and a modified
  • Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for ranking the attributes of parts
  • Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of parts being ranked in
  • Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for rule checking in accordance
  • Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating the interactions of the user with the
  • the invention is particularly applicable to a WWW-based system for
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a World Wide Web (WWW) based
  • a computer system 22 such as a web server, may
  • server 22 may be connected to a communications network 26, such as the Internet and
  • the communications network More particularly, the World Wide Web (WWW).
  • WWW World Wide Web
  • the computer system 28 of the consumer which may be a personal computer
  • a display device 30 may include a display device 30, a chassis 32, and one or more user input devices, such
  • the chassis 32 may house a permanent storage
  • a hard disk drive such as a hard disk drive, an optical drive, a tape drive or the like which may store a software application 38 which may be a browser application.
  • the consumer may connect to the web server 22 over the
  • communications network 26 and receive graphical data, known as a web page, which
  • the browser application 38 may be displayed on the display device 30.
  • the browser application 38 may also be displayed on the display device 30.
  • the browser application 38 may also be displayed on the display device 30.
  • configuration system may also require a password so that only individuals with an
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a screen shot of the user interface of a
  • the web page 50 may include a profile input region 52, a
  • input region 52 requests various information about the computer needs of the user from
  • the recommendation region 54 displays various information about a
  • the configuration modification region 56 permits the user of the configuration system to
  • the profile input region 52 may include a drop-down menu region 58 and a
  • slider region 60 which permit the user to interact with the configuration system
  • a user profile which may be stored for later retrieval. For example, a
  • job titles such as an accountant, a programmer and a sales manager so that each type
  • an engineer may require a more expensive, faster computer system than a
  • the corporate client may submit the user profile for the type of
  • the drop-down menu region 58 may
  • responses in the drop-down menu may include, for example, "Graphics and Video
  • a base user profile may then be
  • the slider region 60 may include one or more sliders 64 which permit the user
  • drop-down menus and the sliders may include any techniques for gathering information from the user about his requirements and needs for the
  • configuration system may modify the user profile, as described below.
  • the final user may modify the user profile, as described below.
  • the user profile may be stored for future use.
  • the user profile may also be modified by the user
  • the recommendation region 54 displays the computer system selected by the user
  • the user of the configuration system may modify the
  • the modification region 56 may include one or more attributes of the
  • the modification region 56 are set to the positions representing the current attributes of
  • a rule checker in the configuration system may check to ensure that
  • the user may desire a hard disk, a tape
  • Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating more details about a configuration
  • the configuration system may receive
  • the configuration system 70 may include an input receiver 72 which
  • the user profile generated may be stored in a user profile database 76 so that the
  • user profile may be later used to produce a recommended computer system.
  • generated user profile may also be fed into a recommender 78 which uses the user
  • the parts database 80 may contain a list of
  • the rule engine 82 using rules stored in a rules database
  • 84 may determine if a particular configuration can be actually manufactured. In other words,
  • the rule engine ensures that various limitations are not exceeded. For example,
  • a particular type of chassis may be only able to house a particular type of microprocessor due to overheating concerns.
  • the rule checking process will be
  • the configuration system combines typical need-based
  • the configuration system also permits the profile
  • Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 100 for recommending a
  • the part ranking process 104 be a profile generation process 102 and a part ranking process 104.
  • process may occur constantly as new parts data is received so that the parts data is
  • step 106 may provide the configuration system in step 106 with information about the user's needs in connection with the product to be purchased
  • step 108 may generate a user profile in step 108.
  • each part of the product is assigned an
  • step 112 the
  • configuration system ranks the available parts for each part of the product on a
  • step 114 the configuration system
  • based on the user profile and the percentages assigned to each part, may recommend a
  • the configuration system may
  • Figure 5 is a flowchart 120 illustrating more details about the interaction of the
  • step 122 the user answers questions
  • step 124 based on the needs of the user
  • the configuration system recommends a configuration to
  • step 126 the user reviews the configuration and determines if the
  • the method may loop back to
  • step 122 so that the user may redefine his needs or the method may go to step 130 in
  • Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating more details of the profile development
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a base profile and a modified
  • step 142 the user makes choices using the
  • step 144 the configuration system selects a base profile
  • a base profile 146 shown in Figure 7 A may be
  • the base profile 146 may contain a plurality of attributes of the computer
  • This base profile may then be modified based on the user's responses
  • step 148 the user may make choice via the sliders and in step 150, the configuration system may modify the base profile.
  • the configuration system may modify the base profile. For example, the
  • each percentage associated with each attribute is multiplied by 1.1 to
  • the modified profile is generated. Then in step 154, the modified profile may be used for the
  • the user profile As described above, the user profile
  • Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for ranking the attributes of parts
  • Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of
  • step 162 the attributes for one
  • step 164 for
  • a percentage rank is calculated. In particular, for each part, a
  • the max- min values calculated for the hard drives may be 0%, 0% and 100%.
  • step 166 the ranks of each part may be compared to
  • Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method 170 for rule checking in
  • This rule checking process may occur automatically
  • step 172 the configuration to ensure it does not violate any of the rules.
  • configuration system may select parts whose values most closely match the user
  • step 174 the configuration system may check the proposed
  • card may be incompatible with a specific version of an operating system so the rule
  • one part may require another part to function properly.
  • Part Number Part there may be three parts such as Part Number Part
  • a rule may define a compatibility problem between parts 11111 and 22222
  • proposed configuration contains parts 11111 and 22222, the configuration system may
  • the configuration system may also be implemented using the SCSI controller card in this example.
  • the configuration system may also be implemented using the SCSI controller card in this example.
  • number of spaces in the chassis may limit the number of a particular type of devices
  • step 176 the rule engine determines if any rule has been violated. If no rule
  • step 178 the configuration of the computer system is optimal
  • step 180 the rule checking method is completed. If a rule is violated, then in step 180, the rule checking method is completed. If a rule is violated, then in step 180, the rule checking method is completed. If a rule is violated, then in step 180, the rule checking method is completed. If a rule is violated, then in step 180, the rule checking method is completed. If a rule is violated, then in step 180, the rule checking method is completed. If a rule is violated, then in step 180, the
  • rule engine may identify the conflicting parts and in step 182, may adjust the
  • the configuration system may
  • Figure 11 is a flowchart 190 illustrating the interactions of the user with the
  • step 192 the system checks
  • step 194 checks for any rules
  • step 196 the user may wish to further change the configuration by
  • step 198 moving a slider to change a part in step 198. If the user changes a part, the rule
  • step 200 If a rule has been violated at any time, in step 200, the
  • step 202 the configuration system may move the slider back to
  • configuration system may base a recommendation on a user's needs, but may also

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Operations Research (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système (20) et un procédé de configuration dans lesquels une configuration de produit présentant une ou plusieurs parties peut être automatiquement recommandée à un utilisateur. La recommandation peut être basée sur les besoins de l'utilisateur. La configuration recommandée du produit est automatiquement testée en regard de violations de règles gouvernant la configuration. Le système (20) peut stocker un profil d'utilisateur de manière à ce que cet utilisateur puisse utiliser le même profil de manière répétitive.
EP99968500A 1998-12-18 1999-12-17 Systeme et procede de configuration de produit Withdrawn EP1208516A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11269298P 1998-12-18 1998-12-18
US112692P 1998-12-18
US46541299A 1999-12-16 1999-12-16
US465412 1999-12-16
PCT/US1999/030176 WO2000036544A1 (fr) 1998-12-18 1999-12-17 Systeme et procede de configuration de produit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1208516A1 EP1208516A1 (fr) 2002-05-29
EP1208516A4 true EP1208516A4 (fr) 2002-05-29

Family

ID=26810242

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99968500A Withdrawn EP1208516A4 (fr) 1998-12-18 1999-12-17 Systeme et procede de configuration de produit

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1208516A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2003535381A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000036544A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7526450B2 (en) 2000-04-19 2009-04-28 Sony Corporation Interface for presenting downloadable digital data content format options
CA2414587C (fr) * 2000-06-23 2013-12-31 Computer Sciences Corporation Systeme et procede de traitement des demandes de reglement
FR2827055B1 (fr) 2001-07-05 2005-02-04 Airbus Ind Procede pour struturer et gerer la configuration de produits industriels, notamment d'avions
US7386832B2 (en) 2001-08-31 2008-06-10 Siebel Systems, Inc. Configurator using structure to provide a user interface
US7580871B2 (en) * 2001-08-31 2009-08-25 Siebel Systems, Inc. Method to generate a customizable product configurator
US7650296B1 (en) 2001-08-31 2010-01-19 Siebel Systems, Inc. Configurator using structure and rules to provide a user interface
US7640548B1 (en) 2002-06-21 2009-12-29 Siebel Systems, Inc. Task based user interface
JP2004246396A (ja) * 2002-12-27 2004-09-02 Casio Comput Co Ltd 電子機器製造支援装置、製造依頼元端末装置、電子機器製造支援プログラム及び製造依頼元端末プログラム
KR101060487B1 (ko) * 2007-11-19 2011-08-30 서울대학교산학협력단 태그 클라우드를 이용한 콘텐츠 추천 장치 및 방법
JP6066791B2 (ja) * 2013-03-19 2017-01-25 日本ユニシス株式会社 商品情報提供システムおよび商品情報提供用プログラム
US10325063B2 (en) 2016-01-19 2019-06-18 Ford Motor Company Multi-valued decision diagram feature state determination

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4873643A (en) * 1987-10-22 1989-10-10 Andrew S. Crawford Interactive design terminal for custom imprinted articles
US5119307A (en) * 1989-12-22 1992-06-02 General Electric Company Method and system for automated bill-of-material generation
US5493490A (en) * 1992-05-05 1996-02-20 Clear With Computers, Inc. Electronic proposal preparation system for selling vehicles
US6041311A (en) * 1995-06-30 2000-03-21 Microsoft Corporation Method and apparatus for item recommendation using automated collaborative filtering
US5825651A (en) * 1996-09-03 1998-10-20 Trilogy Development Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for maintaining and configuring systems
US6035305A (en) * 1997-08-29 2000-03-07 The Boeing Company Computer-based method of structuring product configuration information and configuring a product
US5963939A (en) * 1997-09-30 1999-10-05 Compaq Computer Corp. Method and apparatus for an incremental editor technology

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
No Search *
See also references of WO0036544A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2003535381A (ja) 2003-11-25
WO2000036544A8 (fr) 2001-02-08
WO2000036544A9 (fr) 2001-11-01
WO2000036544A1 (fr) 2000-06-22
EP1208516A1 (fr) 2002-05-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11501220B2 (en) Automatic generation of narratives from data using communication goals and narrative analytics
US6236990B1 (en) Method and system for ranking multiple products according to user's preferences
US7006990B2 (en) Electronic product catalog systems
US9576009B1 (en) Automatic generation of narratives from data using communication goals and narrative analytics
US9697197B1 (en) Automatic generation of narratives from data using communication goals and narrative analytics
US8195531B2 (en) Modular E-commerce web site development system
US6199099B1 (en) System, method and article of manufacture for a mobile communication network utilizing a distributed communication network
US7788212B2 (en) System and method for personalization implemented on multiple networks and multiple interfaces
US7574659B2 (en) Computer graphic display visualization system and method
US8145544B2 (en) Method and system for demand and supply map/shopping path model graphical platform and supplying offers based on purchase intentions
US6356905B1 (en) System, method and article of manufacture for mobile communication utilizing an interface support framework
US9842092B1 (en) Multi-page website optimization
US20030167222A1 (en) Method and apparatus for marketing within a complex product space
US9268534B1 (en) Managing the release of electronic content using a template without version logic
US20080077471A1 (en) Controllable automated generator of optimized allied product content
WO2001075737A1 (fr) Interface efficace pour configurer un marche electronique
US20080091551A1 (en) Knowledge-based customizable product design system
US20140195463A1 (en) System and methods for generating and displaying optimized solutions to complex problems
WO2000036544A1 (fr) Systeme et procede de configuration de produit
WO2000054206A2 (fr) Systeme, methode et article fabrique pour configuration dynamique de reseau de communication mobile
JP2020194284A (ja) レコメンド装置、レコメンド方法、及びレコメンドプログラム
WO2011011170A1 (fr) Création et maintenance d'un catalogue de listages de commerce
US20140279170A1 (en) Systems and methods for an online fashion design marketplace
JP7122286B2 (ja) 決定装置、決定方法及び決定プログラム
KR102715345B1 (ko) 사용자 입력에 따라 질문 템플릿에 기초하여 리서치 양식을 생성하는 방법

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20010718

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20020204

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20030701