GB2248325A

GB2248325A - Resource control computer apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2248325A
Application number: GB9020897A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Flynn; Shemas Eivers
Original assignee: UKEN
Current assignee: UKEN
Priority date: 1990-09-25
Filing date: 1990-09-25
Publication date: 1992-04-01
Also published as: GB9020897D0; BE1002347A6

Abstract

A resource control apparatus comprises a plurality of microcomputers (1), each having a network interface (6) for communication with a network (2) which includes a file server (3). A random access memory circuit (8) of each microcomputer (1) is utilised by a processor (4) for creation of a table of primary or operations data associated with each unit of secondary data generated during preparation of a resource control report. The table, together with the secondary data, is transmitted to the file server 3 on completion of the operations so that the processor 4 directs printing 11 of a resource control report at the same time as the information is available on the file server 3 for access by other microcomputers. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Resource Control Computer Apparatus" The present invention relates to a resource control computer apparatus for generating documents such as resource schedules, bills of quantities, bills of materials, tenders for projects or critical path analysis documents.

Where there are large amounts of resources including materials and labour for in a project, the data processing involved in generating such outputs generally becomes quite complex and it is necessary to process a large amount of data. This is especially true where the resource control apparatus must interface with other apparatus to provide integrated information and to receive additional information to assist in generating outputs. Because of the complexity of the task, this work is generally not attempted using microcomputers connected in a network.

The invention is directed towards providing a resource control computer apparatus which includes a number of microcomputers connected in a network and which carries out resource control operations efficiently with relative ease of retrieval of data.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of efficiently processing resource control data for generating resource control outputs in an apparatus comprising a plurality of microcomputers and a file server connected in a network, each microcomputer having a processor, a random access memory and a fixed disk, the method comprising steps of:: the processor receiving operations data from the network and storing the operations data in the fixed disk; the processor retrieving said operations data from the fixed disk and processing the data to generate secondary data for use in generating a resource control report, said processing operations involving creating a table of operations data in the random access memory circuit and storing in the table a unit of operations data as it is utilised in generating an item of secondary data, and completing the table when an item of secondary data has been generated; the processor transmitting the generated tables and the secondary data to the file server in the network; the processor generating a report using the secondary data.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a resource control apparatus comprising a plurality of microcomputers and a file server connected in a network, wherein the processor of each microcomputer is operable to perform the steps of; receiving operations data from the network and storing the operations data in the fixed disk; retrieving said operations data from the fixed disk and processing the data to generate secondary data for use in generating a resource control report, said processing operations involving creating a table of operations data in the random access memory circuit and storing in the table a unit of operations data as it is utilised in generating an item of secondary data, and completing the table when an item of secondary data has been generated;; the processor transmitting the generated tables and the secondary data to the file server in the network; the processor generating a report using the secondary data.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is block diagram of portion of the resource control computer apparatus of the invention; Fig 2 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig 1 there is as illustrated a portion of a resource control computer apparatus of the invention. The computer apparatus comprises a number of microcomputers connected to a serial ring network bus 2 with shared access to a file server 3. Each microcomputer 1 comprises a processor 4 which receives inputs via a keyboard 5 and a network interface 6 which interfaces with the network bus 2. Non-volatile memory, namely, a fixed disk drive 7 is connected to the processor 4 and volatile memory, namely, a random access memory circuit 8 is also connected to the processor 4. The processor 4 is adapted to provide outputs to a printer 11, a visual display unit (VDU) 12 and outputs via the network interface 6.

In operation, the resource control computer apparatus generates resource control outputs including project status reports, tender reports, bills of quantities, bills of materials and other outputs on receipt of primary or operations data. The operations data may be received at any of the microcomputers 1 and may be inputted directly into the file server 3 or may be received via a remote communications link. The operations data may include databases having elements comprising a number of fields. One element may, for example, comprise the field of a part identification number, a price for the part, batch quantities of the part and a labour rate for working with the part. Other operations data may include target dates for projects, the total number of personnel available working on a project and details of machines for use in a project.

Referring specifically to Fig 2, operation of a microcomputer 1 to process the operations data is described in detail. In step 25, the processor 4 receives the operations data via the network interface 6 and directs simultaneous storage of the data in the fixed disk 7 in step 26. When all of the operations data is stored in the fixed disk 7, the processor 4 retrieves the data and carries out processing operations to generate resource control outputs as described above. This work is carried out according to procedures and algorithms, some of which are stored on-chip and others of which are stored on the random access memory circuit 8.For example, where the operations data comprises a specification for a construction project and a database of materials of labour, the processor 4 carries out sorting operations using the database entry and the specification of materials and labour to generate the required outputs. An intermediate step in generating the resource control outputs is generation of secondary data in step 27. The secondary data comprises information which is derived from the operations (or primary) data. An example of secondary data is cost per square foot for construction of a particular building. The operations data required to obtain this data would include the list of materials for building, the prices of the materials and the cost of labour.A simpler item of secondary data would be a quantity of bricks required in construction of a single storey of a building, in which case the operations data would include the dimensions of the building and sizes of the bricks. When the processor 4 generates the secondary data, it creates a table in the random access memory circuit 8 into which all operations data is stored as it is used. When the relevant item of secondary data has been generated, the processor 4 ceases to add items to the table by preventing transmission of write enable instructions and stores the table under a number associated with the secondary data which has been generated.

Subsequently, when further secondary data is being generated, additional tables are created, one for each item of secondary data.

As each table is completed, the processor 4 directs storage of the table in the fixed disk 7 and when all of the secondary data has been generated the processor 4 directs transmission of all of the tables from the fixed disk 7 to the file server 3 via the network interface 6 in step 28. In step 29 the processor 4 collates the secondary data according to a pre defined report layout and generates a report which is transmitted to the printer 11 for printing. In this way, the microcomputer 1 generates a report using all of the information which is available on the network and indeed from remote computer apparatus and prints the resultant report on a dedicated printer. At the same time, however, the secondary data tables are transmitted to the file server 3, where they may be accessed by any other microcomputer for verification or any other desired operation.For example, if a resource control report is generated at a computer apparatus on-site and the report is transmitted via telecommunications links to a head office computer apparatus, a user at the head office may check back on any data in the report so that problems may be identified. In this case, if there is an excessively high cost estimate for the construction of a building, a manager may retrieve via the network 2 the relevant tables for the secondary data so that the basis on which a report has been generated may be verified. As stated above, not only is the report but also all of the background information is available for inspection, not only at the particular microcomputer but at other microcomputers either, local or remote.

It would thus be appreciated that the invention provides a resource control computer apparatus which provides a comprehensive range of information in an efficient manner and in a versatile manner as many different users may access the information.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1. A method of efficiently processing resource control data for generating resource control outputs in an apparatus comprising a plurality of microcomputers and a file server connected in a network, each microcomputer having a processor, a random access memory and a fixed disk, the method comprising steps of:: the processor receiving operations data from the network and storing the operations data in the fixed disk; the processor retrieving said operations data from the fixed disk and processing the data to generate secondary data for use in generating a resource control report, said processing operations involving creating a table of operations data in the random access memory circuit and storing in the table a unit of operations data as it is utilised in generating an item of secondary data, and completing the table when an item of secondary data has been generated; the processor transmitting the generated tables and the secondary data to the file server in the network; the processor generating a report using the secondary data.

2. A resource control apparatus comprising a plurality of microcomputers and a file server connected in a network, wherein the processor of each microcomputer is operable to perform the steps of; receiving operations data from the network and storing the operations data in the fixed disk; retrieving said operations data from the fixed disk and processing the data to generate secondary data for use in generating a resource control report, said processing operations involving creating a table of operations data in the random access memory circuit and storing in the table a unit of operations data as it is utilised in generating an item of secondary data, and completing the table when an item of secondary data has been generated; the processor transmitting the generated tables and the secondary data to the file server in the network; ; the processor generating a report using the secondary data.

3. A resource control apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

4. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.