FR2863385A1 - Object`s e.g. watch, exploded image producing process for use in e.g. watch making field, involves producing exploded view of image of object in response to value of exploded view of object - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves storing an interactive vector image representing a part of an object, in a database. Information related to object parts are stored in the database. An exploded view of the image is produced in response to a value of an exploded view of the object in a browsing interface within a web server (5). The interface includes a coding unit for displaying the information related to an object part when the part is assigned. An independent claim is also included for a system for producing an exploded image of an object.

Description

- 1-

  FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and a system for dynamically producing an image in an exploded view of an object. object consisting of a plurality of pieces. It finds a particularly interesting application in the field of watchmaking. However, the invention is of a broader scope because it can be applied to the fields of aeronautics, automotive, household appliances, energy, transport, ...

  Currently, the watch brands send to their network of official agents and authorized retailers large catalogs containing all the technical information of the products. There are assembly / disassembly instructions, exploded drawings of each model, associated part numbers and their designation etc. The updating of these catalogs is regular, using additional leaflets sent regularly to the network. When a retailer wishes to order certain parts, he identifies them and sends a purchase order to his local agent who, according to his stocks, orders the parts in his turn to the Brand. This process is long, painful and expensive. It gives rise to many errors, omissions and ambiguities. It can however be fully ensured by the use of dedicated applications on CD-ROM or on the Internet.

  Watch brands are known that use CD-ROM systems to supply their distribution network with parts and components. The aim is a better service for agents and retailers and a reduction or elimination of extremely heavy direct and indirect costs related to the day-to-day management of global after-sales service (phone inquiries, errors, omissions in the - 2 - orders, inquiries on availability etc.) while valuing the Brand with the network which acts as a true prescriber to the final customers. These systems on Cd-rom can control watch components (boxes, bracelets, movements, ...) from an exploded view. Other systems on the Internet also offer exploded viewable in Acrobat PDF or Bitmap format, in files often weighing more than 4 MB, which is hardly acceptable by users.

  When using Bitmap technology, for example, motion splits integrate too many parts to be displayed with good resolution. The quality is very average since viewing small parts is almost impossible.

  The present invention aims at a system consisting of putting all the components of a brand at the disposal of its network (agents, sales outlets, service centers) in a simple and intuitive way.

  consultation, order etc. The quality of the exploded views should be excellent with a good level of resolution.

  Another object of the invention is to enable the Brand to ensure in the most autonomous way the updating of its own data, whether references to parts or graphic data as components and data. 'burst.

  The object of the invention is also a system able to communicate properly with an internal production management system of the customer (the Brand) in order to transmit information managed by him (billing addresses, delivery addresses, prices, references, etc.) and Do not generate redundant data within the customer's company. - 3-

  At least one of the above-mentioned objects is reached with a dynamic method of producing an image in an exploded view of an object consisting of a plurality of parts, said method comprising the following steps: for each part of said object, storage in a database of an interactive vector image representing said part, - storage in said database of a set of information relating to the parts of the object, and - in response to a display instruction in an exploded view of said object in a navigation interface within a web server, producing an exploded image in which the parts of said object are displayed in vector format according to a predetermined layout. In addition, said navigation interface contains encoding means for displaying said information relating to a part when said part is designated. By way of example, a piece is designated when said piece is pointed by means of a pointing tool of a microcomputer such as a mouse.

  According to the invention, the burst is realized in real time within the server. The database keeps only vector images of the unit parts.

  In addition, we use vector technology.

  Technology that is difficult to master but infinitely more flexible than Bitmap technology. The print quality is excellent regardless of the resolution. The visual quality is also excellent regardless of the magnification. The proposed zoom is of very high quality.

  With the system according to the invention, each vector image of a part can be saved independently. The exploded assembly is performed at the server. For example, when only a part of a watch has been concretely modified, to update the database, it is no longer necessary to completely develop a new burst as in the prior art. It suffices with the system according to the invention to modify in the database only the image of the incriminated part.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the interactive vector images of the parts are stored in the database in the form of a library of hierarchical unitary parts.

  Preferably, the database is updated by importing files by means of a management interface linking the web server to remote storage means. These storage means are for example a database of the customer marketing the objects. The customer remains autonomous. Imported images can be in SWF format with sizes ranging from 20KB for black and white images to 80KB for color images. However, the file size may be larger, for example up to 120-150 KB depending on the complexity of the exploded.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the navigation interface consists of a compiled Flash file adapted to manage the display and the manipulation of the images in exploded view. In addition, each image in exploded view can consist of a compiled Flash file.

  Advantageously, when a part is selected, the Web server prepares and transmits a request for control of the selected part to a part order management server, in response to a command order from the user. The selection can consist of a click of the mouse. The dealer can therefore directly order via the Internet any part he has selected on the exploded view. In this way, room identification errors are avoided. The saving of time is not negligible compared to a command by fax in particular.

  According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for dynamically producing an exploded image of an object consisting of a plurality of parts, said system comprising: a database for storing a vector image interactive of each piece of said object, and for storing a set of information relating to the parts of the object, - a web server comprising a general interface defining a web browser window, an exploded navigation interface for developing in response to a set of instructions display device, an exploded image in which the parts of said object are displayed in vector format according to a predetermined arrangement, said navigation interface containing encoding means for displaying said information relating to a part when said part is designated.

  Preferably, the web server further comprises means for controlling via the Internet parts that have been selected on the image in exploded view.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description of an embodiment which is in no way limitative, and the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the architecture overall in which integrates the system according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a view of a navigation window of a general interface according to the invention; and FIG. 3 is a view of an exploded management window according to the invention.

  Although the invention is not limited thereto, a system for broadcasting technical documentation for spare parts in watchmaking will now be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a broadcasting platform 1 according to the invention in which there is a Web server 5 adapted to broadcast data contained in the database 6 of the RDBMS type such as for example SQL SERVER. The data to be disseminated are exploded views of watches marketed by the client 2. In general, the client 2 has an ERP server 9 ("Enterprise Resources Planning" in English) such as Movex, Precix, SAP, JDE, Pro-Concept ERP or others. The server 9 manages the client database 8 of RDBMS type such as for example SQL Server, Informix, Oracle Sybase, DB2 or others.

  The platform 1 also includes a station 7 for managing and updating the database 6. The data of this database 6 is updated regularly from data from the client database 8, and the web server 5 makes it possible to broadcast them in real time.

  The data contained in the database 6 are of two kinds. There are graphical data that are vector images of the spare parts. Each spare part is associated with an independent image. These images are arranged in the form of a library of unitary spare parts hierarchical according to several categories such as crown, bracelet, link, etc. There are also textual data corresponding to a description of each spare part contained in the library. When an agent wants to view the explosion of a watch, an application in the Web server retrieves the set of images necessary for real-time production of the exploded. The latter is then constituted within the web server. Said application is therefore able to associate and display a group of vector images to constitute a finite explosion, each image being associated interactively with a description of the database 6. Thus, the database 6 does not preserve not finished bursts, but each image representing a given piece.

  Such an arrangement makes exploding fully dynamic. Client 2 can, completely independently, develop or modify the image of a room without handling any finite bursts. The same image can be used for different exploded. The management of exploded is then finer and simplified.

  The agents of the client 2 can access the web pages by means of microcomputers 4 via the Internet. The system according to the invention makes available to the distribution networks (subsidiaries, agents, offices, retailers) or end customers all the spare parts listed in the catalog of the customer 2. The customers are not necessarily at home. comfortable with computers, the system of the invention provides advanced features that achieve an optimal degree of ergonomics. For example, the selection of pieces can be done by simply clicking the mouse in the exploded.

  In Figure 2 is shown a navigation window as viewed via the Internet.

  The Web server 5 is developed under MACROMEDIA COLDFUSION (dynamic pages, interpreted code), and communicates with MACROMEDIA FLASH files through a gateway MACROMEDIA FLASH REMOTING COMPONENTS. It communicates with the SOL SERVER 6 database to store and retrieve data that it needs, through a MICROSOFT ODBC gateway.

  Said application within the web server 5 comprises a set of MACROMEDIA FLASH files and it consists mainly of three interfaces included in each other. - 8-

  The first interface is a general interface 10, consisting of multiple files (Javascript, Jpeg, Css) and developed under DREAMWEAVER / COLDFUSION. Since this is a technology called SERVERSIDE, the COLDFUSION (CF Tags) code does not appear in page sources when they are viewed in a browser. It contains only XHTML or HTML instructions. The code COLDFUSION is indeed visible and viewable only in an author environment, and therefore on the Web server 5 since it is not a compiled technology. The COLDFUSION code is interpreted by the hosting server (COLDFUSION under WINDOWS NT or LINUX OS) which translates it in real time (the interpreter) for the diffusion towards the browsers of the agents. One can also consider the use of a code other than COLDFUSION, such as for example ASP or PHP technology, or even CGI. The general interface 10 contains an exploded navigation interface in the form of a compiled FLASH file of type * .SWF.

  The second interface is an exploded navigation interface 11 containing all the code necessary for the management of the display and the manipulation of interactive exploded. It is able to establish communications with the general interface 10. This communication makes it possible in particular to import, dynamically, a set of vector images listed in the database 6 to constitute and display a corresponding interactive burst in Exploded browsing interface 11.

  Finally, the third interface is the burst 12 itself which is controlled and displayed in the browsing interface exploded 11. It is a FLASH file containing all the components of the exploded. This file contains very little computer code.

  In order to avoid the uncontrolled diffusion of an explosion on the Web, this FLASH explosion is equipped with an empirical and simple protection system, not based on cryptology, which forbids its display when it does not exist. is not consulted in the browsing interface exploded 11. Thus, an indelicate person wishing to view without authorization any explode recovered in the cache of a computer will not be able to access it, the display area will remain empty.

  Furthermore, when an agent points to a part of exploded 12, the exploded navigation interface 11 retrieves from the database 6 and displays in a window 13 the description associated with this part.

  FIG. 3 shows a window for the management and update of exploded data by means of an application housed within station 7. The client can thus update the database 6 himself. This management and update application can be installed in one or several workstations connected to the ERP server of the client and to the database 6. It more precisely makes it possible to update the non-centralized elements and data directly on the server. ERP of the customer (visuals of products, parts, user accounts, titles collections ...), and - to ensure an integrity check of the descriptive data coming from the client's ERP server every day, before they are passed on in the database 6 (new references, prices ...).

  The management and update application also includes a module for creating and importing exploded objects. From station 7, the customer can easily and autonomously manipulate each vector image of each room. The customer can design himself, without using the computer specialists who designed the system, its interactive exploded. The system according to the invention thus makes it possible, starting from existing unitary components (FLASH) in the library, or new unitary components (FLASH) to constitute or modify splits.

  The management and update application is based on two technologies. It is compiled, exploitable in a single station or in a network and developed under WINDEV. Of course, any other development technology such as VISUAL BASIC, C ++ or BORLAND DELPHI can be considered.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

- 11-CLAIMS   1. A method of dynamically producing an exploded image of an object consisting of a plurality of parts, said method comprising the following steps: for each part of said object, storage in a database of an image interactive vector representation representing said part, storage in said database of a set of information relating to the parts of the object, and in response to a display instruction in an exploded view of said object in a navigation interface within a web server, developing an exploded image in which the parts of said object are displayed in vector format according to a predetermined arrangement, said navigation interface containing encoding means for displaying said information relating to a part when said part is designated.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive vector images of the parts are stored in the database in the form of a library of hierarchical unitary parts.   3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the database is updated by importing files by means of a management interface linking the web server to remote storage means.   4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the designation consists in pointing said piece by means of a pointing tool of a microcomputer. - 12-   5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the navigation interface consists of a compiled Flash file adapted to manage the display and manipulation of the images in exploded view.   6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each image in exploded view consists of a compiled Flash file.   7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when a part is selected, the web server prepares and transmits a request for control of the selected part to a part order management server, in response to a command order from the user.   8. A system for dynamically producing an exploded image of an object consisting of a plurality of parts, said system comprising a database for storing an interactive vector image of each part of said object, and for storing an assembly. information relating to the parts of the object, - a web server comprising a general interface defining a web browser window, an exploded navigation interface for developing in response to a display instruction, an exploded view image in which the parts said object is displayed in vector format according to a predetermined arrangement, said navigation interface containing encoding means for displaying said information relating to a part when said part is designated. 13-   9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the database comprises a library in which the interactive vector images of the parts are stored in the form of hierarchical unitary parts.   10. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it further comprises a management interface linking the web server to remote storage means so as to update the database by importing files.   11. System according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the navigation interface consists of a compiled Flash file capable of managing the display and manipulation of images in exploded view.   12. System according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that each image in exploded view consists of a compiled Flash file.   13. System according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the web server further comprises means for controlling via the Internet parts that have been selected on the image in exploded view.